Psychological Abuse as a Risk Factor for Borderline Personality Disorder

Psychological Abuse
Student’s name
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Psychological abuse can be termed as the infliction of mental anguish that often involves action that causes deprivation or isolation, a cause of fear as well as feelings of powerlessness, indignity, and shame (Follingstad, & Dehart, 2000). Example if psychological abuse includes verbal intimidation threat of isolation among others. Just like physical abuse psychological abuse can also be devastating and thus can affect individuals’ inner feelings and thoughts and to some extent exert control of people’s lives. People suffering from psychological abuse may feel uncertain of the world around them thus having a high likelihood of destroying intimate relationships as well as the relationship with oneself. When children are affected by psychological abuse their development to adulthood may be impaired. Psychological abuse is a predisposing factor to personality disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder. This type of personality disorder is associated different types of childhood maltreatment such as physical and emotional abuse as well as neglect.
Psychological abuse may manifest through different signs and symptoms. These signs and symptoms may start small and gradually build up. Some signs and symptoms of physiological abuse are as follows;
Apathy
Fearfulness
Loss of interest in environment or self
Ambivalence toward caregiver or family member
Helplessness
Sleep deprivation/ insomnia
Paranoid beh…