The quote by Marsha Linehan, the psychologist who developed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), paints a vivid metaphor to illustrate the intense emotional sensitivity experienced by individuals with BPD.
Comparing people with BPD to individuals with third-degree burns over 90% of their bodies conveys the idea that they lack emotional resilience and have heightened emotional vulnerability. In this metaphor, emotional skin represents the protective barrier that shields us from emotional pain, but individuals with BPD are depicted as lacking this protective layer. As a result, they experience emotional agony even from seemingly minor triggers or interactions.
The quote emphasizes the intense emotional pain and reactivity that often characterizes the experience of individuals with BPD. It also highlights the challenges they face in regulating their emotions, coping with distress, and navigating interpersonal relationships. People with BPD can be highly sensitive to perceived rejection or abandonment, leading to intense fear, anger, or feelings of emptiness.
Marsha Linehan's work on DBT aims to help individuals with BPD develop emotional regulation skills and coping strategies to manage their intense emotions and reduce self-destructive behaviors. Through DBT, patients learn to build their emotional resilience and create a more balanced and stable emotional state.
It's important to recognize that BPD is a complex and nuanced disorder, and not all individuals with BPD will experience the same intensity of emotions or symptoms. The quote serves as a powerful metaphor to convey the emotional struggles faced by some people with BPD and the importance of understanding and supporting their emotional well-being.