Experiences of women living with borderline personality disorder

Abstract

Borderline Personality disorder Women a b s t r a c tThere is limited understanding of the experiences of women living with borderline personality disorder. It was therefore decided to discover how women living with this disorder would tell their life story. For the researcher, who worked in a psychotherapy ward where most women were living with borderline personality disorder, the care of these women was of vital importance, as they were less understood by mental health care providers.The research aimed to explore and describe the experiences of women living with borderline personality disorder. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study design was used. Data was collected through in-depth phenomenological interviews that focused on the central question, "Tell me your life story". Eight participants living with borderline personality disorder were interviewed. Tesch's method for data analysis was used (Creswell, 2009:186), along with an independent coder. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical principles were applied throughout the research.From the findings obtained by means of the interviews of women living with borderline personality disorder, it was evident that there were childhood experiences of living in an unsafe space, related to unhealthy family dynamics, boundary violations and educational challenges. They experienced chronic feelings of emptiness in their relationships with the self. They also presented with a pattern of unstable interpersonal relationships and compromised mental health, which was apparent through the early onset of mental problems, emotional upheaval, looking for emotional escape and having different trigger factors. Lastly, all these women yearned for facilitated mental health.

Measuring the shadows: A systematic review of chronic emptiness in borderline personality disorder

“…In terms of detachment from self, three studies linked chronic emptiness to identity disturbance, reflecting a detachment from sense of self. A qualitative study which asked for the life stories of people with BPD found an emergent theme of chronic feelings of emptiness relating to disturbances in self-identity [101]. This theme included two subthemes-distorted self-image and lack of identity-resulting in chronic emptiness.…”

“…Both qualitative and quantitative studies supported chronic feelings of emptiness preceding impulsive behaviours. A qualitative study reported that women with BPD attempt to fill the 'void' they experience by acting impulsively [101], while a longitudinal study found that impulsivity and self-harm mediated the relationship between chronic emptiness and days out of work over time, suggesting that chronic emptiness may underlie and result in behavioural symptoms of impulsivity including self-harm [38]. A study in a sample of college students found that 67% of participants reported feelings of emptiness prior to engaging in self-harm behaviours [85].…”

“…In particular, Price and colleagues [111] found a unidimensional construct of emptiness that was defined as a sense of detachment both from self and others, hollowness, aloneness, disconnection, and unfulfillment [111]. Qualitative narratives have begun to demonstrate in small samples that people with BPD may also associate feelings of chronic emptiness with identity disturbance [101]. Further, treatment that focuses on establishing a more coherent sense of identity and empathic responding to others (e.g.…”

“…Two studies which investigated the experience of depression in BPD found that a 'borderline' depression was associated with poor self-concept and a sense of 'void' or 'inner badness' [115,137]. These feelings of chronic emptiness and perhaps the experience of borderline depression may then result in impulsive behaviours including self-harm or suicidal behaviours to reduce the feeling of emptiness or depression [38,39,85,101]. The literature in this area remains inconclusive, with recent research with participants with severe and recurrent depression indicating feelings of chronic emptiness are also an important component of their experiences [149].…”

Understanding chronic feelings of emptiness in borderline personality disorder: a qualitative study

“…These models suggest the inability to understand and tolerate internal experiences at times can lead to individuals inhibiting any emotional experience, and an associated feeling of emptiness inside [ 8 , 9 ]. It is hypothesised that people with BPD may engage in maladaptive behaviours to ‘fill up’ the emptiness they experience as distressing [ 10 ] and qualitative accounts of women with BPD highlight the relationship between chronic feelings of emptiness and identity disturbance [ 11 ]. Feelings of chronic emptiness have been associated with aversive experiences and poor outcomes over time.…”