Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBPD TriggersBPD EpisodeCopingHelping Someone With BPD
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
BPD Triggers
BPD Episode
Coping
Helping Someone With BPD
People with BPD have various triggers that can set their symptoms in motion. Common triggers include rejection or abandonment in relationships or the resurfacing of a memory of a traumatic childhood event.
This article covers the triggers of borderline personality disorder, how to cope with them, and ways to help someone during a BPD episode.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
How Borderline Personality Disorder Is Diagnosed
BPD Episode Triggers
A trigger is an event or situation that brings on symptoms. They can be internal, like a thought or a memory, or external, like an argument in a relationship or losing a job. Triggers that can lead to intense symptoms in a person with BPD include the following:
Relationships
In some cases, a person with BPD mayself-harm, act impulsively, or attempt suicide if the relationship they are in makes them feel rejected, criticized, or as though they may be abandoned.
For example, people with BPD may jump to negative conclusions if they reach out to a friend and don’t hear back in a short time. When that happens, their thoughts spin out of control, they conclude that they have no friends, and because of that, begin to experience intense emotions that may lead to self-harm.
Relationship Triggers and BPDRomantic relationships are not the only ones that can trigger a person with BPD to experience an episode. Their relationships with friends, family, and colleagues can also spark symptoms if they experience any sort of rejection, criticism, or threat of abandonment.
Relationship Triggers and BPD
Romantic relationships are not the only ones that can trigger a person with BPD to experience an episode. Their relationships with friends, family, and colleagues can also spark symptoms if they experience any sort of rejection, criticism, or threat of abandonment.
Trauma
Childhood trauma can play a role in both the development of BPD as well as future triggers. Research has found that people with BPD have high rates of childhood abuse, such as emotional and physical neglect and sexual abuse.
When a person with BPD is reminded of a traumatic event, either in their mind or through physical reminders such as seeing a certain person or place, their symptoms can become exacerbated (worsened) and their emotions intensify.
Criticism
Having BPD may cause a person to be extremely sensitive to any type of criticism. When someone with BPD is criticized, they don’t see it as an isolated incident but rather an attack on their character that paints an entire picture of rejection. When a person with BPD feels rejected, their symptoms can intensify and so can impulsive or self-harming behaviors.
Job Loss
Losing a job is a common trigger for people with BPD because it tends to bring up feelings of rejection and criticism. Since rejection and criticism are so largely triggering, any type of situation that makes them feel that way can worsen or bring on intense symptoms.
How Does Family History Contribute to a BPD Episode?Many people with BPD have a family history of childhood abuse or neglect. When memories of the events resurface, it can be quite triggering. Research has found that a family history of childhood abuse may also contribute to the development of BPD.
How Does Family History Contribute to a BPD Episode?
Many people with BPD have a family history of childhood abuse or neglect. When memories of the events resurface, it can be quite triggering. Research has found that a family history of childhood abuse may also contribute to the development of BPD.
During a BPD Episode
Each person with the disorder is unique and experiences their symptoms in different ways. Some common signs symptoms are worsening in a person with BPD include:
BPD and Substance AbuseWhen a person with BPD is having a flare-up of symptoms, they may engage in reckless or impulsive behaviors like substance use. Some research has shown that close to 53% of people with BPD develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lifetimes. People with both BPD and substance use disorder are more impulsive and engage in suicidal behavior more often than those who only have BPD.
BPD and Substance Abuse
When a person with BPD is having a flare-up of symptoms, they may engage in reckless or impulsive behaviors like substance use. Some research has shown that close to 53% of people with BPD develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lifetimes. People with both BPD and substance use disorder are more impulsive and engage in suicidal behavior more often than those who only have BPD.
Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Coping Through BPD Triggers
Once you have done that, you can avoid your triggers and practice other coping skills.
Therapy
There are several specialized evidence-based therapies found to be effective in helping people with BPD manage their disorder:
Can People With BPD Cope Without Medication?Although people with BPD are often prescribed antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood-stabilizing anticonvulsant medications, there is no medication formally approved for the treatment of BPD. Research has found that the most effective treatment is different therapies designed to help people with BPD recognize their emotions and react differently to negative thoughts and feelings.
Can People With BPD Cope Without Medication?
Although people with BPD are often prescribed antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood-stabilizing anticonvulsant medications, there is no medication formally approved for the treatment of BPD. Research has found that the most effective treatment is different therapies designed to help people with BPD recognize their emotions and react differently to negative thoughts and feelings.
Self-Care
There are several self-care techniques that you can adopt to help you cope and manage your disorder:
Pressing Pause on Negative EmotionsWhile it can be difficult to just force yourself to stop feeling a certain way, you can practice patience and pause to collect yourself when you do feel an overwhelming rush of negative emotions. By taking a step back from the situation and taking a few deep breaths, you may be able to calm your mind and, thus, lessen the negative emotions that are trying to take over.
Pressing Pause on Negative Emotions
While it can be difficult to just force yourself to stop feeling a certain way, you can practice patience and pause to collect yourself when you do feel an overwhelming rush of negative emotions. By taking a step back from the situation and taking a few deep breaths, you may be able to calm your mind and, thus, lessen the negative emotions that are trying to take over.
How to Help Someone Else During a BPD Episode
When someone you care about has BPD, it can be hard to know how to help them. However, there are things that you can do to support them with the ups and downs of their condition:
What to Do if Your Loved One With BPD Threatens SuicideIf your loved one threatens suicide, call 988 immediately to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It can also be helpful to recognize signs that your loved one is thinking about self-harming behaviors because they may not always voice them aloud. Suicidal actions or threats always warrant professional evaluation.
What to Do if Your Loved One With BPD Threatens Suicide
If your loved one threatens suicide, call 988 immediately to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It can also be helpful to recognize signs that your loved one is thinking about self-harming behaviors because they may not always voice them aloud. Suicidal actions or threats always warrant professional evaluation.
Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
Summary
To cope with the illness, it’s important to recognize triggers so that you can avoid them when possible. When symptoms do arise, seeking help or practicing self-care techniques may allow you to manage the symptoms and avoid overindulging in unhealthy behaviors.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bungert M, Liebke L, Thome J, Haeussler K, Bohus M, Lis S.Rejection sensitivity and symptom severity in patients with borderline personality disorder: effects of childhood maltreatment and self-esteem.Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul.2015 Mar 20;2:4. doi:10.1186/s40479-015-0025-xMiskewicz K, Fleeson W, Arnold EM, Law MK, Mneimne M, Furr RM.A Contingency-Oriented Approach to Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder: Situational Triggers and Symptoms.J Pers Disord.2015 Aug;29(4):486-502. doi:10.1521/pedi.2015.29.4.486Kulacaoglu F, Kose S.Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): In the Midst of Vulnerability, Chaos, and Awe.Brain Sci.2018 Nov 18;8(11):201. doi:10.3390/brainsci8110201National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline Personality Disorder.Trull TJ, Freeman LK, Vebares TJ, Choate AM, Helle AC, Wycoff AM.Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders: an updated review.Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2018;5:15. doi:10.1186/s40479-018-0093-9Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep.2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zBiskin RS.The Lifetime Course of Borderline Personality Disorder.Can J Psychiatry.2015 Jul;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702Ng FY, Bourke ME, Grenyer BF.Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Perspectives of Consumers, Clinicians, Family and Carers.PLoS One.2016 Aug 9;11(8):e0160515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160515Goodman M, Tomas IA, Temes CM, Fitzmaurice GM, Aguirre BA, Zanarini MC.Suicide attempts and self-injurious behaviours in adolescent and adult patients with borderline personality disorder.Personal Ment Health.2017 Aug;11(3):157-163. doi:10.1002/pmh.1375
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bungert M, Liebke L, Thome J, Haeussler K, Bohus M, Lis S.Rejection sensitivity and symptom severity in patients with borderline personality disorder: effects of childhood maltreatment and self-esteem.Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul.2015 Mar 20;2:4. doi:10.1186/s40479-015-0025-xMiskewicz K, Fleeson W, Arnold EM, Law MK, Mneimne M, Furr RM.A Contingency-Oriented Approach to Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder: Situational Triggers and Symptoms.J Pers Disord.2015 Aug;29(4):486-502. doi:10.1521/pedi.2015.29.4.486Kulacaoglu F, Kose S.Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): In the Midst of Vulnerability, Chaos, and Awe.Brain Sci.2018 Nov 18;8(11):201. doi:10.3390/brainsci8110201National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline Personality Disorder.Trull TJ, Freeman LK, Vebares TJ, Choate AM, Helle AC, Wycoff AM.Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders: an updated review.Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2018;5:15. doi:10.1186/s40479-018-0093-9Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep.2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zBiskin RS.The Lifetime Course of Borderline Personality Disorder.Can J Psychiatry.2015 Jul;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702Ng FY, Bourke ME, Grenyer BF.Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Perspectives of Consumers, Clinicians, Family and Carers.PLoS One.2016 Aug 9;11(8):e0160515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160515Goodman M, Tomas IA, Temes CM, Fitzmaurice GM, Aguirre BA, Zanarini MC.Suicide attempts and self-injurious behaviours in adolescent and adult patients with borderline personality disorder.Personal Ment Health.2017 Aug;11(3):157-163. doi:10.1002/pmh.1375
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bungert M, Liebke L, Thome J, Haeussler K, Bohus M, Lis S.Rejection sensitivity and symptom severity in patients with borderline personality disorder: effects of childhood maltreatment and self-esteem.Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul.2015 Mar 20;2:4. doi:10.1186/s40479-015-0025-xMiskewicz K, Fleeson W, Arnold EM, Law MK, Mneimne M, Furr RM.A Contingency-Oriented Approach to Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder: Situational Triggers and Symptoms.J Pers Disord.2015 Aug;29(4):486-502. doi:10.1521/pedi.2015.29.4.486Kulacaoglu F, Kose S.Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): In the Midst of Vulnerability, Chaos, and Awe.Brain Sci.2018 Nov 18;8(11):201. doi:10.3390/brainsci8110201National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline Personality Disorder.Trull TJ, Freeman LK, Vebares TJ, Choate AM, Helle AC, Wycoff AM.Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders: an updated review.Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2018;5:15. doi:10.1186/s40479-018-0093-9Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep.2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zBiskin RS.The Lifetime Course of Borderline Personality Disorder.Can J Psychiatry.2015 Jul;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702Ng FY, Bourke ME, Grenyer BF.Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Perspectives of Consumers, Clinicians, Family and Carers.PLoS One.2016 Aug 9;11(8):e0160515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160515Goodman M, Tomas IA, Temes CM, Fitzmaurice GM, Aguirre BA, Zanarini MC.Suicide attempts and self-injurious behaviours in adolescent and adult patients with borderline personality disorder.Personal Ment Health.2017 Aug;11(3):157-163. doi:10.1002/pmh.1375
Bungert M, Liebke L, Thome J, Haeussler K, Bohus M, Lis S.Rejection sensitivity and symptom severity in patients with borderline personality disorder: effects of childhood maltreatment and self-esteem.Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul.2015 Mar 20;2:4. doi:10.1186/s40479-015-0025-x
Miskewicz K, Fleeson W, Arnold EM, Law MK, Mneimne M, Furr RM.A Contingency-Oriented Approach to Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder: Situational Triggers and Symptoms.J Pers Disord.2015 Aug;29(4):486-502. doi:10.1521/pedi.2015.29.4.486
Kulacaoglu F, Kose S.Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): In the Midst of Vulnerability, Chaos, and Awe.Brain Sci.2018 Nov 18;8(11):201. doi:10.3390/brainsci8110201
National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline Personality Disorder.
Trull TJ, Freeman LK, Vebares TJ, Choate AM, Helle AC, Wycoff AM.Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders: an updated review.Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2018;5:15. doi:10.1186/s40479-018-0093-9
Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep.2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-z
Biskin RS.The Lifetime Course of Borderline Personality Disorder.Can J Psychiatry.2015 Jul;60(7):303-308. doi:10.1177/070674371506000702
Ng FY, Bourke ME, Grenyer BF.Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Perspectives of Consumers, Clinicians, Family and Carers.PLoS One.2016 Aug 9;11(8):e0160515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160515
Goodman M, Tomas IA, Temes CM, Fitzmaurice GM, Aguirre BA, Zanarini MC.Suicide attempts and self-injurious behaviours in adolescent and adult patients with borderline personality disorder.Personal Ment Health.2017 Aug;11(3):157-163. doi:10.1002/pmh.1375
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