BY Paul James
Photo credit: Firefly by Adobe created for WW
Published in Weed World magazine issue 168
Since cannabis affects the regulation of emotions, some have argued that it can help in relieving stress from personality disorders.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a condition that most affects emotional regulation and impulse control. Being that it’s often caused by trauma, it shares similar traits to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And there’s been a lot of research revealing cannabis can help with that mental condition. ¹
However, with cannabis’s psychoactive properties, there’s some debate as to whether or not you can use cannabis for borderline personality disorder. Throughout this article, we will examine the topic and the research backing up this information.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects the way you think and feel about yourself and others. As a result, this can cause problems in day-to-day life that will result in the following symptoms: ²
- Feelings of emptiness
- Impulsive and risky behavior (i.e., gambling, unsafe sex, drug abuse)
- Inappropriate and intense anger
- Intense fear of abandonment (usually going to extreme measures to avoid real or imagined separation)
- Rapid changes in self-identity and self-image
- Severe mood swings
- Stress-related paranoia (loss of contact with reality)
- Suicidal ideation and self-injury
- Unstable relationships
Unfortunately, researchers aren’t 100% sure what causes BPD. Most agree it has a lot to do with an individual’s environment. People who have experienced child abuse and neglect tend to be more likely to experience the condition. However, genetics and brain abnormalities may also play a role.
Naturally, BPD makes a person’s life much more complex and can negatively impact important areas, including job, school, social activities, self-image, and intimate relationships. It can also lead to other mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety.
