Risk Factors for Developing BPD
It can be entirely biological, which isn't exactly avoidable. However, it can also stem from childhood trauma, abuse, or significant time in an invalidating environment.
The main cause is a combination of two things.
1 - Biological Vulnerability - about 50% is caused by this. If you have a directly related relative with it, you're about 10 times more likely to develop it.
2 - Coming from an Invalidating Environment. Even the greatest of parents... Not knowing how to handle a child with it will inevitably cause harm. The BEST thing you can do is educate yourself on how to help the child. They don't know how to regulate their emotions and need your help to figure it out..
Criticism, however, can cause them to subconsciously try to ignore their emotions entirely, seeing them as "always wrong" or "always leading them to trouble." This causes what's known as dissociation. (blank... empty.. nothing.. )
Not everybody has both of these. Your chances just go up significantly if you are exposed to these things.
It Can Be Completely Biological
Studies have shown changes in areas of the brain that are involved in emotional regulation, aggression, and impulsivity; as well as certain brain chemicals that assist in mood regulation, like serotonin, may not function correctly. Researchers believe that many people with Borderline Personality Disorder have an issue with the neurotransmitters in their brain, especially serotonin. Altered serotonin levels have been linked to aggression, depression, and make it harder to control destructive urges.
Researchers are working on ways to help prevent this.. Early and intense intervention is key!
MRI scans use magnetic fields along with radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. When MRIs were done on patients with BPD, they found 3 parts of the brain that had unusual levels of activity or were smaller altogether than someone without the disorder.
The 3 parts were:
the amygdala – plays an important role in regulating emotions, especially more "negative" ones, like fear, anxiety, and aggression
the hippocampus – helps regulate self-control and behavior
the orbitofrontal cortex – used in planning and decision making
Early upbringing affects the development of these parts of the brain. They are responsible for mood regulation and might account for some of the issues those with BPD often have in personal relationships. One's relationship with their family has a huge influence on how they end up seeing the world and determines how they view others.
Environmental Factors
Many people with Borderline Personality Disorder report a history of physical and or sexual abuse as a child as well as neglect. Others lost a parent or were separated from them at a young age. Some were exposed to hostile home lives or unstable family relationships.
Unresolved emotions from childhood can lead to multiple distorted thinking patterns as an adult. For example, idealization, feeling like a child around other adults, expecting others to parent, or even bully you.
Most people experience some sort of "inconveniences" throughout life. But prolonged exposure to these things is what can lead to the development of Borderline Personality Disorder. Traumatic life events, abandonment, adversity, instability, invalidation, fear, distress, .. Whatever it may be, it has to last long enough to create a subconscious thought pattern.
The upside is, thought patterns can be corrected!
Thank you for sharing your time with me..
I hope you have a WONDERFUL day!
-Borderline Brooke
