Life Traps Of Borderline Personality Disorder: What Are They?
Borderline personality disorder is considered one of the most severe, complex and difficult disorders to treat. Due to multiple symptoms such as self-harming, suicidal behavior, emotional instability, hypersensitivity and aggressiveness. All this because of the life traps which originated due to the lack or dissatisfaction of emotional needs in the early stages.
According to studies, BPD is caused by genetic and environmental factors (family, social and cultural) and also alterations of the brain both at the level of its structure and function. These factors generate alterations in the perception of possible threats, social rejection, emotion-cognition interactions, social cognition alterations, social stress and mentalization.
At a neurobiological level there are volume alterations in various brain structures, especially in the areas of impulse control and emotions. Definitely, those who suffer from BPD, almost the majority have practically the 18 life traps and therefore are very self-destructive people, without autonomy, without clarity of the concept of identity, without a purpose in life and they feel that they do not fit anywhere. Next, for the reader’s greater understanding, develop the topic with as much description as possible. To do so, I begin by defining the following.
According to DSM-IV-TR (2005), BPD is usually characterized by presenting general patterns of instability at the emotional level, self-image, impulse control, and interpersonal relationships. On the other hand, Beck and Freeman (cited in Caballo, 2009) indicate that BPD are negative automatic thoughts that generate cognitive distortions, emotional and affective instability, reactive and impulsive behaviors, as well as feelings of apathy, shame, dejection and guilt.
For their part, Young, Klosko and Weishaar (2003) mention that BPD is caused by a set of maladaptive schemas which are the memories, emotions, bodily sensations and cognitions associated with traumatic experiences in the early stages, which are repeated. throughout the life of the individual.
What are the characteristics of BPD?
BPD is characterized by pathological personality traits in the domains of unstable and negative affectivity, emotional lability, depression, and anxiety. Disinhibition, impulsivity, propensity to engage in risky behavior, hostility and antagonistic. For all this He is almost always in constant self-harm (cognitive – I think he is going to leave me because I am ugly, emotional – sadness and behavior – cutting) and dysfunctional interpersonal relationships (family, partner, friends, work, professional…).
Mental health professionals should consider the following criteria for the diagnosis indicated in the DSM-IV-TR:
What are the causes of BPD?
According to studies carried out by different researchers such as Caballo and Young, they report that There are two primary etiological factors, being environmental and constitutional in nature. Those of an environmental nature are: separation or parenteral loss, altered parenteral involvement, emotional communication and inadequate emotional regulation in early childhood, extreme attitudes in education, invalidation, abuse in childhood and socio-environmental factors.
Those of a constitutional nature are: history of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder, temperamental aspects such as high-grade neuroticism, biochemical or neurobiological alterations or dysfunctions, and genetic aspects.
What are BPD lifetraps?
According to Beck (1978), schemas are the processing of dysfunctional or maladaptive cognitions since They are rigid, have a high emotional content and make people very sensitive to life experiences that affect their cognitive vulnerability.
Young (1990) defines lifetraps as extremely stable and long-lasting cognitive patterns (memories, emotions, bodily sensations, and cognitions) that develop during the early stages due to lack or dissatisfaction of emotional needs and prevail throughout life. life and are highly dysfunctional.
These schemas serve as references for the processing of subsequent experiences and dysfunctionally compromise the cognitions, memories, bodily sensations, and emotions that the person has about themselves and their interrelationship with others.
In a study carried out by Sanjurjo (2019), It is concluded that women with BPD present the following life traps: self-sacrifice, vulnerability to harm and illness, abandonment, distrust and abuse, emotional inhibition, and insufficient self-control. According to Young, Klosko and Weishaar (200), creators of schema therapy, they mention that those who suffer from BPD have the following EMTs: abandonment, distrust, abuse, emotional deprivation, insufficient self-control, subjugation and punishment.
There are many studies that have been carried out and each one shows the results according to the population evaluated, however here I share some from my professional experience in the clinical field and which are corroborated with the studies cited above. The life traps of the consultants that I have been able to observe and corroborate through the interview and the evaluation process are: abandonment, mistrust/abuse, self-sacrifice, vulnerability to harm or illness, insufficient self-control, subjugation, dependence, emotional deprivation, emotional inhibition, failure, punishment, imperfection, negativity, grandiosity and seeking approval.
It’s important to put attention on The greater the number of life traps the consultant has, the more serious the problem (BPD). In some cases I have been able to corroborate that the consultant has all 18 life traps. In another 15 traps, in another 12 and 10 schemes. The most frequent life traps are the following:
The most suitable therapy for the therapeutic intervention of lifetraps is schema therapy, since it is an innovative and integrative model created by Young, Klosko and Weishaar.
Conclusions
Based on everything stated above, it can be concluded that BPD is a very complex and complicated disorder for both the client, therapist and family. Lifetraps are generated due to a lack or dissatisfaction of an emotional need in the early stages. Thus causing different types of psychiatric and psychological disorders.
The lifetraps of BPD are abandonment, mistrust/abuse, emotional deprivation, insufficient self-control, vulnerability, subjugation, dependence, pessimism, and punishment. It is important to emphasize that the greater the presence of life traps, the greater the problem.
The most suitable therapeutic model for therapeutic intervention would be schema therapy, which will allow the client to learn to face external activating stimuli in an adaptive way (healthy adult-happy child) and no longer in a maladaptive or dysfunctional way. (surrender, avoidance, and overcompensation) like I used to do before.
