Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder
What is Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD)?
EUPD is also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (BPD). If your clinician says you have EUPD, they may say you have a 'borderline' or 'impulsive' type EUPD:
Borderline-type
If you have borderline-type EUPD you may have more difficulties with relationships, self-harming and feelings of emptiness.
Impulsive-type
If you have impulsive-type EUPD you may have more difficulties with impulsive behaviour and feelings of anger.
EUPD is a personality disorder that affects more than 500 000 people each year in Australia. It can leave individuals feeling as though they have no control over their thoughts and feelings. Maintaining relationships can be challenging, due to rapid emotional changes, sometimes known as emotional dysregulation. There are often periods of extreme loneliness and feelings of despair that can last hours or even days. The intense and unstable nature of the condition can alienate sufferers, causing them to feel isolated, and even increase the risk of self-harm and suicide.
Symptoms of EUPD
- Impulsivity.
- Mood swings.
- Overwhelming sense of abandonment.
- Extreme anxiety and irritability.
- Anger.
- Paranoid and suspiciousness of others.
- Feeling empty, hopeless and worthless.
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Self-harm idea and / or actions.
- History of unstable or shallow relationships.
- Rapidly changing your opinions of others.
- Dissociation (feeling as though you've lost touch with reality).
Causes of EUPD
The cause is not yet clearly understood; however it is thought that both genetic and environmental factors play a role. In some cases, there may be a history of a chaotic or traumatic childhood, however this is one example and not always the case. EUPD can occur in people with a secure childhood.
Treatments of EUPD
Bethesda Clinic provides specialised treatment for Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, both as an inpatient and through the day programs, with the skills to assist recovery.
Inpatient Treatment
Specialist treatment for EUPD is key, as instability brought about by the disorder may often disrupt personal wellbeing, work life, long-term planning, and connecting with the community.
The Clinic provides specialised inpatient treatment for EUPD, to help individuals better manage your behavioural, psychological and cognitive impulses.
Our clinicians are well-versed in the assessment and treatment of individuals presenting with mental health disorders, as well as exacerbation of pre-existing disorders often associated with EUPD. Understanding the disorder is critical in the context of treatment, as it can often be misdiagnosed as another mental illness, particularly a mood disorder.
We provide a safe and contained mental health unit, with group-based therapies including:
- Motivational interviewing.
- Mindfulness and relaxation.
- Distress tolerance.
- Emotional regulation.
- Interpersonal effectiveness.
- Art Therapy.
- Psychoeducation:
- Pharmacological treatment and the important of adherence.
- Adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
- Impacts of substances on health and wellbeing.
- Diagnosis related education.
- Lifestyle choices and the impact on Mental Health.
- Building effective support networks.
Wellness and Recovery Centre - Day Patient
- Dialectical Behavioural (DBT) Informed Therapy
This program is designed to assist individuals who experience symptoms of impulsivity, frequent interpersonal conflict, difficulty with emotional regulation, anger and poor coping in stressful situations. For more information click here