What Is Borderline Personality Disorder? DBT Therapist Sara Weand Breaks Down Symptoms, Causes, and Effective Treatment

Want to learn more about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? Then check out this conversation with Sara Weand, licensed professional counselor and Dialectical Behavioral Therapist (DBT). Sara unpacks what Borderline Personality Disorder looks and feels like, from the intensity of how emotions are felt, to the misreading of social cues, to the struggle with impulse control. We then discuss the details of how DBT provides the validation, structure and compassion to help people manage all of this and thrive. Sara breaks down BPD, discussing core patterns of dysregulation, how BPD shows up in relationships, and why it’s so often misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder or misread as manipulation. Using examples, Sara explains how some of us are born more emotionally sensitive, and when that sensitivity meets an invalidating environment at home, school, or in a relationship, people learn to fear emotions and chase short-term relief. That relief can be a range of actions that could include substance use, cutting, overspending, or rage texting. It works for a moment but then results in damage and shame. Understanding the root function of this behavior is the first step to changing it. The discussion then turns to Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which can be used to help people with BPD. Sara walks through how it works and why it works. A key concept is dialectics. Things aren’t always either/or and there can be two truths at once. That shows up in language and narratives. For example, using “and” instead of “but” to frame situations, which can help.  acceptance and change to move together. Another key concept is structure and Sara discusses  skills modules that people move through in therapy, and she offers concrete examples of how they stop crisis spirals, repair relationships, and keep the world from tiptoeing around you. Sara’s energy and straight talk make complex ideas simple and useful, whether you’re seeking help, supporting someone you love, or just curious about BPD and DBT.Learn more about Sara Weand and her practice here: https://www.saraweandlpc.com/.