BPD and the Ability to Function Well at Work

Is it possible that a BPD person can have a successful and stable career? It is a question that many people struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder put themselves, and in many cases, it is during a state of doubt and frustration.

A workplace, where consistency, emotional control, and harmonious cooperation are required, may seem like a hostile environment to people who have to work with the strong emotional swings of this personality disorder.

There is always the fear of negative comments that will cause a spiral of anxiety or the fear of being misunderstood with a colleague that will result in conflict. These are actual and serious challenges, and are sometimes accompanied by deep depression which drains the drive.

Nevertheless, the myth that BPD and professional success do not go together is a myth. With the knowledge of the particular obstacles and the introduction of specific measures, one can not only survive, but flourish, turning the natural sensitivity into an advantage and creating a successful professional career.

Understanding BPD in the Workplace

To create effective support strategies, we must first understand how the core symptoms of BPD manifest within the unique pressures of a professional environment.

The Real Meaning of Borderline Personality Disorder:

Borderline Personality Disorder is a complicated mental illness that is usually mistaken as mere moodiness or volatile behavior. In its essence, BPD is a tendency to have problems in controlling emotions.

This may result in unstable relationships, weak sense of self and impulsive behaviors. It is important to get past the stigma and view BPD as a real and difficult disorder that needs compassion and certain management skills, particularly in stressful environments such as work.

The Implications of BPD Symptoms on Daily Functioning:

The BPD symptoms have a direct influence on the skills required in everyday professional life. Severe and fast mood swings may interfere with focus.

An incident of an insult by a colleague may lead to a chain of anxiety or anger and it becomes hard to work with them. This affective dysregulation may become an extreme burden to self- control of a person, causing the person to react in a way that might appear out of proportion to the circumstance.

Moreover, persistent sense of emptiness and a sense of changing self-concept can result in the low motivation that may frequently be accompanied by depression, and it is difficult to find the strength to work on the job.

The Special Forces of Workplace Conditions:

The nature of workplaces is performance-based, deadline-driven, and social-driven, all of which may be arousing to a BPD. The internal turmoil can be increased by the necessity to manage time all the time, the stress of the evaluation, the intricacy of office politics.

The threat of being criticized or rejected by a manager can be paralyzing, and even the most ordinary feedback can become a significant emotional disaster.

Common Challenges Faced by Employees With BPD

In the case of people with BPD, the professional setting has different challenges. These are usually characterized by strong emotional responses to stress, interpersonal disputes and difficulty in sustaining a stable and consistent production.

Emotional Sensitivity and Interpersonal Conflicts:

One of the characteristics of BPD is extreme emotional sensitivity. This may be in the form of personalizing feedback, interpreting neutral remarks as aggressive, or being extremely upset by disagreements in the work place.

This may result in a vicious circle of interpersonal fights, isolation and bad professional image that will only contribute to the distress of the individual.

Dealing with Stress and Surprise Attacks:

Although every employee is stressed, to an individual with BPD, stress may be too much and can make one feel that he/she cannot cope with it.

The fight, flight or freeze reaction can be brought about by sudden triggers like a sudden change of project deadlines or a confrontational meeting. This may lead to impulsive behaviors such as writing an angry e-mail or even leaving the office without effective coping mechanisms.

Difficulties in Stability and Consistency:

BPD symptoms are also cyclical and this may pose a major challenge to consistency. One can be very productive and active a week after which he/she can have a crash where he/she cannot get out of the bed.

This inconsistency may be wrongly understood as the absence of commitment or professionalism, whereas, in fact, it is a direct symptom of the disorder.

Strategies That Support Functioning at Work

Nevertheless, BPD can be overcome with effective strategies, which can lead to successful careers. Grounding techniques, rigid time management and trigger plans are essential personal coping strategies to strengthen self-control between emotion and reaction. In the professional world, treatment such as DBT is the gold standard, which offers tangible skills in emotion control and interpersonal effectiveness. Co-occurring depression may also be managed by medication, which provides a solid base to implement such skills and succeed in the workplace.

Conclusion

Being a BPD individual does not mean that you cannot be a deeply successful professional. It is, however, required to be approached in a unique way that recognizes the special pressures that you are under. That is the framework that we offer at Athena Okas, through our women-specific services.

We provide the female employees with individualized approaches to emotional regulation and self-control, as well as help the employers to create the environments in which women with borderline personality disorder can indeed flourish. You are a strong woman on your way with BPD. Are you willing to change your professional life? Today, visit our resources and supportive community that is offered to women with BPD at Athena Okas.