If you talk to a person with TLP, you should avoid comments that damage their emotions. This clinical picture implies a personality alteration that affects impulse control, as well as a lack of emotional stability. In severe cases, communication can lead to misunderstandings that harm these people. In this way, there are words that bring both positive and negative effects on the link with the world.
Although each person is unique and unrepeatable, you should consider that there are practical and effective advice that can serve to improve the forms of communication to these diagnoses. Likewise, the search for professional help can promote new social ties. In this Psychology-online article, we will give you information about What to say to a person with TLP.
What is TLP and how does communication affect?
TLP (personality limit disorder) is a psychological condition characterized by Emotional instabilitylack of control of impulses and difficulties in body perception. In general, people who have this diagnosis show disruptive, fleeting and unstable social relationships. This is because emotions can reach high levels of intensity, so angry and exacerbated happiness could be part of personality.
Taking these aspects into account, you should know that these qualities affect the mode of interpretation that people with FTA have. In other words, the Perception of words, gestures and behaviors They can have a negative biaswhich causes problems in social ties.
Why are there phrases that can harm?
In general, people with TLP usually have affected self -esteem. In this sense, they have a distorted idea about the body itself and feel devalued. To this, it is necessary that you know that there are phrases that can confirm or reject negative internal beliefs.
The care of interpersonal links acquires extreme importance, since these are people seeking the recognition they did not obtain in the past. If this aspect is not taken into account, they may feel injured before any comment that is interpreted negatively.
What to say to a person with FTA?
It is essential that you keep in mind that there are some phrases that can affect people with TLP. Next, we will show you some examples:
- “You always change your mind“: The lack of impulse control implies that there are different opinions. For this reason, this phrase can be taken as a criticism.
- “Stop victimizing you“: People with FTA suffer from decisions that they consider unfair. However, this does not mean that they get into the place of victims.
- “You have to control yourself“: As you have read before, this clinical picture is characterized by emotional instability. In this way, the control of their own emotions and behaviors is not a voluntary fact.
- “You have tired me“: This phrase can increase fear of abandonment and loneliness. You should keep in mind that people with FTA have an extremely reduced social and family nucleus.
EMPATHIC ALTERNATIVES: What to say in place?
Fortunately, there are container phrases that can strengthen the link with a person with TLP. In this section, we will present the most appropriate examples:
- “I’m for what you need“: Here the union and solidarity before the condition that implies this diagnosis is reinforced.
- “I observe that something happens to you, do you want to tell me?“: Granting the possibility of listening without judging is a crucial act in dealing with these people.
- “Although we all go through bad times, you are a good person“: Accompanying and including in adverse situations can be a beneficial fact to strengthen the human bond.
Tips for communicating with a person with TLP
Although it is not a simple task, there are some practical methods that can serve to address the problem of someone who requires help:
- Use a specific language: Instead of appealing to metaphors containing double senses and can open multiple interpretations, you need to speak with simplicity for the person to understand you.
- Body relaxation: You should always make sure to maintain a soft tone and body posture that provides peace of mind. In the opposite case, the message could be counterproductive.
- Calm atmosphere: As far as possible, it is important that you can find a moment of tranquility to communicate with a person with FTA. While this is not possible on all occasions, it is usually a great help in times of crisis.
- Personal care: If you have to set limits, do it from a healthy place. In other words, you should not judge the actions of people with FTA, but to mention that they have consequences that can affect their lives.
In the following article you can see more tips on how to treat a person with limit personality disorder.
When to seek professional help?
If you know anyone who is going through a life risk situation for itself and/or for third partiesit is essential that you request professional help. In this sense, suicide attempts, bodily self -injuries, impulses that endanger social relationships and lack of resources to face life may be indications of danger. In any of these cases, you can communicate with mental health centers that provide specialized advice.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to What to say to a person with FTA? we recommend that you enter our category of clinical psychology.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Pan -American Medical Editorial.
Literature
- García López, M., Martín Pérez, M., Otín Llop, R. (2010). Comprehensive Treatment of personality limit disorder. Magazine of the Spanish Association of Neuropsychiatry, 30 (106), 263-278.
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PsychologyFor. (2025). What to Say to a Person with TLP?: Phrases to Avoid. https://psychologyfor.com/what-to-say-to-a-person-with-tlp-phrases-to-avoid/