Borderline personality disorder is often a life-long condition. People with borderline personality disorder experience mood instability, poor self image, poor impulse control and have difficulty relating to other people. They are also prone to insecurity, substance dependencies and self-harm.
Substance dependency and self harm are believed to be used as a means of dealing with chronic, long term anxiety. People with borderline personality disorder may also be extremely dependent on others, as a result of anxiety concerning separation and fear of abandonment.
Symptoms and characteristics
Typical symptoms include:
- chronic, long term anxiety
- unstable mood
- impulsive, unpredictable behaviour
- substance dependencies
- self harm
- difficulty tolerating normal levels of frustration, rejection and loss
- irregular sleep-wake cycles.
For more information on some of these symptoms and characteristics, follow these links:
Statistics
Research suggests between 2 to 5 per cent of the general population have borderline personality disorder at some stage in their lives (Lebelle 2000). The disorder also occurs three times more frequently in women than men (MDA Internet 2005).
Workplace adjustments and solutions
There are various factors that would greatly assist people with borderline personality disorder to better manage their symptoms in the workplace. These include:
- working in a disciplined environment
- consistent support in the workplace from co-workers and employers
- avoiding jobs requiring monotonous or repetitious tasks
- avoiding frequent shift changes due to irregularity in sleep-wake cycles.
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
Lebelle, L. 2000, Focus Adolescent Services, USA, viewed 24 February 2007, <http://www.focusas.com/PersonalityDisorders.html>.
MDA Internet 2005, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 20 April 2007, <http://www.mdainternet.com (secure site)>.