Living with untreated Borderline Personality Disorder may result in serious adverse consequences. Individuals with BPD are at an increased risk for self-mutilation, suicide, and violent behavior. If left untreated, your symptoms may even worsen the presence of another mental or physical health problem.

What happens if you leave BPD untreated?

If left untreated, the person suffering from BPD may find themselves involved with extravagant spending, substance abuse, binge eating, reckless driving, and indiscriminate sex, Hooper says. The reckless behavior is usually linked to the poor self-image many BPD patients struggle with.

Can BPD get better without treatment?

If you think you have BPD, dont let this misconception scare you away from therapy or make you feel helpless. Even without treatment, the symptoms of the disorder will ebb and flow over time; some people with BPD are able to function at a higher level than others, so recovery is different for each person.

Does BPD get worse over time?

The condition seems to be worse in young adulthood and may gradually get better with age. If you have borderline personality disorder, dont get discouraged. Many people with this disorder get better over time with treatment and can learn to live satisfying lives.

Can you recover from BPD on your own?

While there is no definitive cure for BPD, it is absolutely treatable. 1 In fact, with the right treatment approach, you can be well on the road to recovery and remission. While remission and recovery are not necessarily a cure, both constitute the successful treatment of BPD.

At what age is BPD usually diagnosed?

BPD is typically diagnosed in early adulthood and thought to decrease in intensity with age, although symptoms may be present earlier in life. While there is no rule against diagnosing BPD before age 18, most medical professionals are hesitant to do so.

Does BPD show up on a brain scan?

Researchers have used MRI to study the brains of people with BPD. MRI scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the inside of the body. The scans revealed that in many people with BPD, 3 parts of the brain were either smaller than expected or had unusual levels of activity.

How do you tell if I have BPD or bipolar?

Borderline personality disorder involves a longstanding pattern of abrupt, moment-to-moment swings -- in moods, relationships, self-image, and behavior (in contrast to distinct episodes of mania or depression in people with bipolar disorder) that are usually triggered by conflicts in interactions with other people.