When To Call a Doctor

Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if:

• You think you cannot keep from harming yourself or someone else.
• You hear voices (auditory hallucinations).
• Someone you know attempts suicide or shows warning signs of suicide, such as talking about suicide.
• Someone you know talks about harming you or someone else.
• Someone you know shows signs of detachment from reality (psychosis) or is using alcohol or drugs excessively.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting means taking a wait-and-see approach.

Watchful waiting is not appropriate for borderline personality disorder. If you are concerned about symptoms, contact a health professional.

Who To See

Treatment for borderline personality disorder usually involves professional counseling and sometimes medicine, especially if you have another condition that often responds well to medicine (such as depression). It is important that you establish a long-term and trusting relationship with your health professionals for treatment of this disorder.

Professional counseling can be provided by a:

• Psychiatrist.
• Psychologist.
• Licensed mental health counselor who has special training in treating borderline personality disorder.
• Social worker who has special training in treating borderline personality disorder.

If you need medicine therapy along with professional counseling, it can be prescribed by your:

• Psychiatrist (who can also diagnose mental health conditions).
• Internist.
• Family medicine physician.
• General practitioner.
• Physician assistant.
• Nurse practitioner.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.