12 Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms for People With BPD
Having Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is hard enough with all the symptoms that come with it. And due to having a lot of internal turmoil, they tend to try and cope in whatever way possible. When people with BPD are constantly coping in unhealthy ways, life becomes even more difficult in the long run.
In this article, we'll go over harmful and maladaptive coping mechanisms that someone with BPD often uses to avoid dealing with negative and intense emotions.
What Are Coping Mechanisms?
A coping method or mechanism is a pattern of action used to insulate or shield oneself from psychological harm caused by a problem in life. There are healthy and unhealthy coping methods.
Healthy coping mechanisms for BPD A good, adaptive, or healthy coping mechanism results in the problem being solved, or at the very least dealt with, in a way that decreases stress and suffering. Examples of this are engaging in problem-solving, asking for support, going for a walk, and expressing one's feelings.
Unhealthy coping mechanisms for BPD A bad, maladaptive, or unhealthy coping mechanism does not fix the problem in the long run and may even make things worse. In the short term, unhealthy coping mechanisms may appear to be having the desired impact. In this article, we're going to look deeper into 12 unhealthy coping methods someone with BPD often uses.
Detached self-soother
When someone is constantly shutting off their emotions by engaging in activities that will somehow soothe, stimulate or distract them from their feelings, it refers to a mode called detached self-soother. This mode is an emotionally detached person who tries to suppress and silence his/her emotions with a variety of coping methods. People with BPD often showcase this mode.
When someone is constantly emotionally detaching themselves, he or she loses control over their life. When unhealthy coping methods are used, the situation becomes more and more difficult in the long run. Someone who suffers from this trait should get help through therapy.
12 Unhealthy BPD coping methods
1. Fake love and intimacy Since the underlying problems of someone suffering from BPD lie mostly in relationships, it is no surprise that unhealthy ways of coping are also attached to it. Bonding with others and forming relationships are frequently forced as a result of the individual's idealization and a chronic feeling of emptiness.
By forcing love or lust relationships, which are often short-lived, the individual experiences intense emotions for a period of time. Since people with BPD often have low self-esteem, they rely on the opinion of others to be able to feel good. Within this dating period, when all needs are met, and the individual feels loved and good about themselves. Due to splitting and coming to the understanding that the person is not ideal, the relationship quickly comes to an end. This cycle is often seen by people with BPD, and it can be addicting since finding new love, intimacy, and also breaking up releases chemicals in the brain.
It could be speculated that someone with BPD manipulates people for 'fake love' and intimacy, but even if this is the case, it's important to understand that the individual with BPD truly believes in the other person being the 'one' because of their idealization. Most of the time, their whole world revolves around that person. And at the end of the cycle, they may feel as if they deceived the other and themselves.
2. Music Music as an unhealthy coping method? Yes, from my own experience, I've added this to the list. Don't get me wrong, music is, in my opinion, one of the best things there is in life, and I'm definitely not saying you shouldn't use music as a way of coping. Music is powerful, and it can affect your mood in a lot of different ways. Even sad music can lift your mood, and music can boost happiness and reduce anxiety.
The problem is, when I look at my situation, I listen to music constantly, always, and everywhere so that I don't have to endure my thoughts. It's hard to determine from which point on it gets unhealthy. However, I can certainly say that when you feel uneasy not listening to music as if you're addicted, then it's probably getting unhealthy.
It's important that we build some sort of resistance and mental strength to face problems in our lives. When we immediately resort to something like music when things get hard, we can't build up this resistance. That goes the same for other coping methods listed in this article. We become mentally weak when we are not putting up a fight with any problems we face.
''What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but what you avoid doesn't.''