How to Handle People With Borderline Personality

Approximately two percent of the general population suffer from borderline personality disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The Mayo Clinic refers to borderline personality disorder as "an emotional disorder that causes emotional instability, leading to stress and other problems." Some common symptoms of this mental illness include frequent mood changes, impulsive behavior and suicidal tendencies. If you know someone who suffers from borderline personality disorder, you must learn how to handle her with proper care.

Instructions

• 1

  Educate yourself about borderline personality disorder. Research the mental illness online or read books about it at your local library. Once you learn about the disorder, you can prepare yourself for her sudden bursts of anger and impulsive behavior. Recognize that she can't help her bad behavior.

• 2

  Exercise patience. Although it is easy to become impatient with her erratic behavior, it will make the situation worse. When she is having one of her outbursts, let her carry-on until the episode is over. Understand that she doesn't enjoy behaving badly and most likely feels scared and helpless.

• 3

  Inform him that his behavior was inappropriate after he finishes with one of his episodes. Explain why it was wrong, and how he should have acted instead. Be gentle when you are correcting him because someone with borderline personality disorder is very sensitive and may assume that you are rejecting him.

• 4

  Find time away for yourself. Dealing with someone with borderline personality disorder can become stressful. If you feel like you are on the edge, go to a quiet place, such as a park, to relieve your stress.

• 5

  Encourage her to get professional help. The three types of treatments for borderline personality disorder are psychotherapy, medication and hospitalization. If she chooses psychotherapy, a licensed therapist will teach her how to deal with her emotions in a constructive way, and how to improve her relationships. Medications can be given to her to help her cope with her depression, anxiety and impulsive actions. If she is suicidal, hospitalization may be the safest option for her.