Borderline

What is borderline?

Borderline is a personality disorder, also referred to as Emotion Regulation Disorder (ERS), that is more common in women than in men. It often manifests itself for the first time between 18 and 25. People with borderline personality disorder encounter the same disappointments in their lives over and over again. They cannot handle their emotions properly: they often feel unstable, and they frequently suffer from (severe) mood swings. This creates difficulties in everyday life and relationships with others.

Borderline and other problems

Since they react differently from others, young people with borderline often feel misunderstood, lonely and empty, even when they are in a group. They often fail to form close relationships and think in terms of extremes ('black or white'). It is either 'all or nothing'. 

At Yes We Can Youth Clinics, we have a lot of experience with personality disorders and their backgrounds, such as identity problems and low self-esteem issues. We see that borderline personality disorder is often associated with depression, anxiety disorder or eating disorder. Susceptibility to addiction also plays a role, and we see young people with borderline suffering from self-harming behaviour (self-mutilation). 

Step by step, we help these young people get their lives back on track and regain confidence in themselves and the future. Our multi-disciplinary team is highly committed to these young people and is available 24/7 to provide all the necessary support and guidance. 

Characteristics and symptoms of borderline

As with many conditions, there is not just one comprehensive description of borderline. Here is a list of characteristics that often occur:

• emotional instability;
• low self-esteem;
• unpredictable reactions: sometimes quick to unreasonable anger, sometimes insensitive;
• fear of abandonment;
• unstable relationships (attraction/rejection);
• impulsivity and self-destructive behaviour, such as spending too much money and using addictive substances;
• mood swings, symptoms of depression;
• tendency to self-harm (self-mutilation by cutting, scratching, pinching or burning, for example).

Young people with borderline constantly experience changes in their mood, thoughts and behaviour. They are often impulsive, think in terms of black and white, and react in an extreme way. This often makes it difficult for these young people to maintain good personal contacts, to go to school or to work.

Treatment of borderline

At Yes We Can Youth Clinics, we help young people learn how to cope with borderline so that they can have a positive outlook on life again and participate in society in a meaningful and fulfilling way. The treatment consists of a ten-week programme in our clinic and an aftercare programme, Yes We Do, which lasts approximately ten weeks. Young people often work in groups, but we also find that individual guidance is essential.

Individual therapy and group sessions

Fellows discuss the underlying background of their problems with their personal, registered clinical therapist during one-on-one sessions three times a week. What is the pain behind the problems? How does this affect them? And what is needed for a positive future? We use various forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, emotion regulation training and motivational interviewing.

In group sessions, the young people share their stories and give each other feedback. They learn that they are not alone and that their peers are also struggling with similar issues. They also know that our expert-by-experience counsellors have experienced the same problems, leading to much recognition. Thanks to the group dynamics, these young people are given the will and strength to change.

Physical activity as a pillar of recovery

Physical wellness is integral to the recovery process at Yes We Can, with daily sports and activities designed to support overall mental and physical health. These activities complement the individual therapy sessions that address deeper emotional and psychological issues, facilitating a holistic healing process. Fellows receive consistent, focused therapy to develop coping mechanisms for their traumas, ensuring a well-rounded approach to rehabilitation.

Systemic therapy

We also pay a lot of attention to the fellow's family. We offer a coaching and counselling programme for parents, which helps the family learn how to be supportive and cope with issues differently than before their treatment at Yes We Can. Naturally, there is also room for questions, such as: What is my son or daughter experiencing at the clinic? After the treatment at the clinic, how can we continue to support their recovery?

With our intensive treatment, we want to offer young people and their loved ones an entirely new perspective. This is what we strive for every day.

Borderline and medication

The young people who come to us may have been prescribed medication in the past, for example, anti-depressants, such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or mood stabilisers, to relieve symptoms (including mood swings).

At Yes We Can Youth Clinics, we strive to reduce any medication the fellows are already on to zero or as little as possible during treatment. In other words, we want to treat the symptoms as they are, treating the young person with all their pain. We believe that the various drug-free forms of therapy can fully empower young people again. 

Responsible phasing out

The reduction of medication is done under the strict guidance of our psychiatrists and with the help and support of the entire treatment team. The safe treatment climate at Yes We Can Youth Clinics, the positive environment and the whole treatment team that is present 24/7 to motivate, support and confront the fellows, where necessary, all ensure that medication withdrawal is usually successful. Even once the fellow has left the clinic and continues to work on recovery, medication is often hardly necessary anymore, if at all.

Contact us

Yes We Can Youth Clinics can effectively treat teenagers and young adults who are suffering from a wide variety of mental health issues. If you have any questions at all, you can always contact us. We cannot stress enough that we are always there for you, whether you sign up for treatment in our clinic or not. 

You can reach us by phone from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (GMT +1) via phone number: +31 (0)85 02 01 222. Your call will be forwarded after business hours (weekdays after 6:00 p.m. and on weekends). Please note that answering your call during these hours might take longer than usual. If we cannot reply to the call right away, please leave a message, and we will call you back as soon as possible. You can also fill out our contact form.