People with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often struggle with making plans and following through with them due to various characteristic features of the disorder:
Emotional Dysregulation: BPD is characterized by intense and unstable emotions. People with BPD may experience extreme mood swings and difficulty regulating their emotions. This emotional dysregulation can make it challenging to make plans and stick to them, as their emotional state can fluctuate rapidly, affecting their motivation and ability to focus on future goals.
Fear of Abandonment: A core feature of BPD is a pervasive fear of abandonment. This fear can lead individuals with BPD to struggle with planning for the future because they might be preoccupied with worries about rejection or abandonment. They may avoid making plans out of fear that others will leave or reject them, or they might sabotage their plans as a way to protect themselves from potential abandonment.
Identity Instability: People with BPD often experience a fragmented or unstable sense of self. They may have difficulty establishing clear goals and aspirations due to this identity instability. Making and committing to plans can feel overwhelming when they lack a solid sense of self and direction.
Impulsivity: Impulsivity is another common trait of BPD. Individuals with BPD may act on their immediate emotions and desires without considering the consequences or the importance of following through with existing plans. This impulsivity can lead to a pattern of making impulsive decisions and abandoning previous commitments.
Mood-Related Changes in Motivation: The motivation of individuals with BPD can be highly influenced by their emotional state. They may feel enthusiastic and committed to a plan during a period of emotional upswing (e.g., idealization phase), but their motivation might wane during emotional downturns (e.g., devaluation phase), leading to difficulties in following through with plans.
Difficulty with Delayed Gratification: People with BPD often seek immediate relief from emotional distress or discomfort. Long-term planning and delayed gratification can be challenging for them, as they may prioritize short-term coping mechanisms or engage in impulsive behaviors to alleviate emotional pain.
Negative Self-Perception: Individuals with BPD may struggle with low self-esteem and negative self-perception. They may doubt their abilities to achieve their goals or fear that they will fail, leading them to avoid making plans altogether.
It's important to note that not all individuals with BPD will experience difficulties with planning and following through with plans to the same degree. Treatment, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), can be highly beneficial in helping individuals with BPD develop skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and goal-setting, which can improve their ability to make and execute plans effectively. Additionally, having a supportive and understanding environment can also play a crucial role in assisting individuals with BPD in working towards their goals and commitments.