About three out of one hundred adults experience a longer borderline episode once in their lives: violently fluctuating emotions, suicidal crises, self-harm and deep despair are accompanied by problems in the interpersonal sphere. These particularly affect the basic feeling of “belonging” to others, so that profound loneliness and lostness often alternate with disappointment and anger. 

This guidebook provides information about the various characteristics of borderline personality disorder and its origin. The aim is to encourage those affected to seek effective psychotherapeutic treatment focusing on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which was specifically developed for the treatment of borderline disorder and has proven to be very effective. The structure and workings of DBT are explained, pressing questions are addressed, and initial guidance for self-help is provided as well as assistance for relatives and references to self-help groups.