When a person with borderline personality disorder (BPD) tells you that they can't trust their own thoughts and feelings, it often reflects a common and challenging aspect of the disorder. BPD is a mental health condition characterized by unstable moods, relationships, and self-image, as well as difficulties with impulse control and emotional regulation. This can lead to intense and unpredictable emotions, self-doubt, and a distorted sense of self.
Here are some key reasons why individuals with BPD may express this sentiment:
Emotional dysregulation: People with BPD may experience intense and rapidly shifting emotions. These emotions can be overwhelming and lead to a lack of clarity about their thoughts and feelings at any given moment. They might feel like they are on an emotional rollercoaster, making it hard for them to trust the validity or stability of their emotions.
Identity disturbance: People with BPD often struggle with a fragmented or unclear sense of self. They may feel unsure about who they are, what they believe, or what their values are. This identity disturbance can cause them to question and doubt their thoughts and feelings, as they may not have a consistent sense of self to ground their experiences.
Fear of abandonment: Individuals with BPD often have an intense fear of being abandoned or rejected by others. This fear can make them question the authenticity of their own emotions and thoughts. They may worry that their emotions are driving others away or that their thoughts are irrational and unworthy of trust.
Difficulty with object constancy: People with BPD may struggle with object constancy, which is the ability to maintain a consistent emotional connection to others even when they are not physically present. As a result, they may have difficulty trusting their own emotional experiences and feel like their emotions are constantly changing or invalid.
Negative self-image: BPD is often associated with a negative and unstable self-image. This negative self-perception can lead individuals to doubt their thoughts and feelings, believing that their internal experiences are fundamentally flawed or wrong.
Tendency to dissociate: Some individuals with BPD may experience dissociation, which is a state of feeling disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, or surroundings. During dissociative episodes, they may feel detached from their emotions and thoughts, contributing to a lack of trust in their own internal experiences.
It is essential to approach individuals with BPD with empathy, compassion, and understanding. They may be struggling with these challenges and may need professional support, such as therapy or counseling, to help them develop more stable emotional regulation, a clearer sense of self, and healthier coping strategies. Therapy approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) have shown to be effective in helping individuals with BPD manage their emotions, thoughts, and relationships more effectively.