This is a question I see being asked online a lot and it is something I would love to give a straight answer to. But there are preceding questions that need answering way before that one is. Questions like “how do you know that person has BPD”, “Have they asked you for support?” or even “Are you the right person to offer support to someone with BPD?”. All those questions really should be answered before this one, but with so many different factors in play, it is far better to just give some simple clean advice…
So…How can I support someone with Borderline Personality Disorder?
Be There For Them
This best way you can support them is to simply let them know you are there for them. Don’t judge them on the signs they are showing or the way they react to you asking such a question, just put it out there so they know where you stand (which is hopeful right beside them in times of need). Don’t see them as a label, see them as the person they were before you knew they had BPD as it is just a small part of them, it doesn’t define them.
Know When to Step in
It’s VERY important to know when to take things a step further and be a little more forceful. Try to never be frustrated or angry with them as people in the early times of BPD are often feeling scared and confused. But knowing when to tell others your friend is slipping deeper is the key to being forceful, knowing when that person needs more help than you can offer. Be able to step back and let a professional deal with things could well be your only course of actions. A good way to do this is to set clear barriers from the start of what you will and won’t stand for when it comes to your friends diminishing mental health.
Encourage Them to Seek Help
While listening to then is really important so is encouraging them to seek help from the start, but especially if they are showing signs of decline. Even if it’s a simple trip to the doctors or just a phone call to a therapist, just try to get them to reach out and help themselves as you can’t be with them 24/7 and when they need you might be a time when you can be.
Well, I hope this has answered your question. As always with any posts/pages on this site, we would love to hear from you in the comments below. Is this a question you wanted answering? Are there any questions you have relating to BPD that we have not covered? If so please leave a comment to if you want more privacy do please to get in touch with us via the Contact page.
