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Intense, inappropriate anger can be one of the most challenging symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). This anger in BPD is often referred to as “borderline rage.” It can lead to explosive episodes of anger that are difficult to manage and can have a significant effect on a person’s relationships.

Even so, while anger is a key feature of BPD, very little is known about why people with BPD experience anger differently than other people, or how their experience is different. New research, however, is shedding light on the nature of borderline rage.

What Is BPD Rage?

Borderline rage, or borderline anger, is more than just a standard emotional reaction. In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), anger in BPD is described as “inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger.”

What is BPD rage like? A person with BPD may react to an event that may seem small or unimportant to someone else, such as a misunderstanding, with very strong and unhealthy expressions of anger, including:

• Physical violence
• Sarcasm
• Yelling

Why BPD Rage Occurs

While borderline anger has long been a topic of debate and speculation among BPD specialists, it has only recently become a focus of careful research. Experts are now examining how borderline anger is different than normal anger and why it occurs.

More specifically, researchers are trying to understand whether people with BPD are more easily angered, have more intense anger responses, or have more prolonged anger responses than people without BPD (or whether it’s some combination of these factors).

One study examined anger in people with BPD compared to those without BPD in response to an anger-producing story. This study found that people with BPD reported the same level of anger as the healthy controls (in response to the story). But, the healthy controls reported that their anger decreased more quickly over time than the people with BPD reported.

Furthermore, other research shows that anger in BPD may trigger rumination (when someone thinks over and over about their angry experience). This repetitive thinking creates a vicious emotional cycle that worsens the person’s anger and increases its duration (as supported by the study mentioned above).

Eventually, the prolonged and intense anger triggers aggressive behavior, which a person engages in to relieve their rage.

Research in this area is very preliminary, and more work is needed to fully understand how and why people with BPD experience borderline anger.

Treatment for BPD Rage

There are a number of therapies that can be used to treat borderline personality disorder, including the often debilitating symptom of anger.

Psychotherapy

Most psychotherapies for BPD target the strong anger responses that people with BPD report and exhibit. For example, in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), patients are taught skills to help them better manage their anger and decrease angry outbursts.

Other types of psychotherapy for BPD that target anger include:

Medications

While there are no medications for BPD that are currently FDA approved to treat the disorder, there are some that have been shown to reduce anger in BPD.

Some medications prescribed for people with BPD include: antidepressants (such as Prozac or Wellbutrin), antipsychotics (such as Abilify or Seroquel), or mood-stabilizing drugs (such as Depakote).

However, these medications are probably most effective when used in conjunction with psychotherapy. This is because while medications can alter the intensity of anger, they cannot fully prevent or erase a person’s anger when a life stressor or difficult situation arises.

Coping With BPD Rage

There is no one-size-fits-all for coping with borderline rage, but the following strategies may be helpful in diffusing anger or curbing it before it escalates.

Address Your Stress Levels

It may be helpful to find productive ways of coping with stress, since stress is a known precursor to borderline rage. Try identifying triggers of stress, asking for help from family or friends, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep.

Find a Distraction

BPD anger often increases the longer you’re exposed to a frustrating situation. When you feel yourself becoming angry, try to remove yourself from a situation, and take some deep breaths.

You can even do something else to distract yourself, such as watching a funny video or taking a brisk walk around your neighborhood.

Notice If You’re Ruminating

If you have BPD and you’re experiencing negative thoughts repeating on a loop—thoughts that only increase your anger—there are ways to help disrupt the cycle.

How to Deal With BPD Rage

If your loved one has BPD, you may find it difficult or even distressing to witness or be on the receiving end of their anger. Fortunately, there are many ways to increase your knowledge of borderline rage so that you can support your loved one and protect your emotional well-being.

• Attend a therapy session: It may be helpful for you to attend a therapy session (by yourself or with your loved one). A therapist can help you learn ways to deescalate a situation when your loved one is experiencing BPD rage.
• Work on communication: Clear communication is key when in a relationship with someone who has BPD. For instance, it may help to reassure them, praise them, and encourage them so they remember that you’re on their side.
• Validate their feelings: Try saying, “I understand you’re experiencing anger right now, but we can get through it together. How can I help support you?”
• Set boundaries: If possible, come up with boundaries together. For instance, you and your loved one might decide that if a borderline rage episode turns into a screaming match, you both take 15 minutes apart to regroup and calm down.
• Remember, BPD is a mental illness: Your loved one with BPD doesn’t choose to get so angry, so try not to blame them for the symptoms of their illness. However, it’s OK to hold them accountable for their actions, especially when they negatively affect you or other family members or friends.

How do you calm someone with BPD rage? Ultimately, it is up to the other person to control their anger. If someone is experiencing BPD rage, stay calm, let them express their feelings, and give them some space. If necessary, leave the situation until they can calm down. 

Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist known for developing analytical psychology—also called Jungian analysis. His work is a cornerstone of modern-day psychology, with many therapists practicing psychoanalysis and his theories taught in academic programs.

While he is best known for his influence on the mental health field, Jung’s work is also influential within the liberal arts, including literature and religious studies. This article will explore the legacy of Carl Jung’s life, the Jungian archetypes he developed, his most influential theories, the controversial beliefs he held, and his relationship with Sigmund Freud.

Biography of Carl Jung

Carl Jung was born in 1875 in Switzerland to a religious family. Though he wasn’t explicitly religious himself, he found himself inspired by the symbolism and quest for greater meaning within religion. He also was a vivid dreamer, often using dream interpretation as a tool for self-exploration.

While his interests may have been somewhat unconventional at the time, he had multiple dreams that influenced him to study science and medicine. Along this journey, he found a way to combine his interests with psychology, leading him to study the relationship between the occult and psychology by the time he got to university.

He completed his medical studies in 1900 and went on to work at a mental hospital in Zurich. While there, he was mentored by Eugen Bleuler and paid special attention to schizophrenia and the causes of psychoses. These early experiences, both personally and professionally, formed the foundation of his contributions to the psychology field. 

What Was Carl Jung Most Famous For?

Carl Jung is most famous for the following:

• Analytical psychology: His own discipline of psychology that is also called Jungian psychology. It focuses on the relationship between the individual’s unconscious mind and the greater collective’s unconscious understanding.
• Jungian archetypes: Different roles each of us inhabit throughout our psychological experience.
• Extraversion and Introversion: He developed the concept of two different types of people – extroverts and introverts. 

Jungian Archetypes

Jung developed the concept of Jungian archetypes. These archetypes are patterns that represent ancestral wisdom amongst humans. Each of these archetypes exists within every human, as they are part of the collective unconscious. However, how we each express these archetypes will vary:

• The persona archetype is the part of ourselves that shows up in our daily interactions.
• The shadow represents sexuality, primal instincts, and the darker parts of our life that we tend to avoid sharing with the world.
• The anima and animus account for how gender roles show up in our lives, with the anima representing how the male psyche conceptualizes the feminine and the animus representing how the female psyche conceptualizes the masculine.
• The self is our truest essence of being. It is who we are when we have integrated our subconscious with the conscious. 

Extraversion and Introversion

Jung is known for being the first to identify two separate personality types as extroverted and introverted. Extraversion refers to individuals who have a psyche that tends to be more outgoing, talkative, assertive, and bold. Introversion refers to individuals with a psyche that exists on the opposite side of the spectrum from extraversion. Those who are identified with introversion may be shy, quiet, and private. 

The Collective Unconscious

The collective unconscious is a major component of Carl Jung’s work. This concept focuses on how an individual’s unconscious mind is influenced by the collective unconscious, which is a type of consciousness that connects all humans, past and present, to each other. The collective unconscious accounts for patterns, beliefs, myths, and images that run across centuries and cultures, which acknowledges the belief that there is a knowing that all of humankind shares.

Jung’s Theory of Synchronicity

You’ve likely heard of synchronicity as a magical conglomeration of events that feel connected, yet there is no evidence of these random events having a relationship. Within Jung’s theories was the importance of synchronicity, it holds significance and relevance to our daily lives.

For example, he believed that when a synchronistic event occurs, there is a deeper meaning within it. We can use synchronistic events as a guide for our own self-development. 

Carl Jung’s Friendship With Sigmund Freud

During Jung’s time at the mental hospital in Zurich, he began researching the theories put forth by other popular psychiatrists. One of them was Freud. They ended up developing a close relationship and Jung even considered Freud his mentor. Yet, their relationship ended up becoming wrought with tension, with Freud becoming concerned that Jung was a threat to his success.

Beyond personal issues, theoretical differences began to place them at odds. Jung did not agree with Freud’s notion that sexuality is the core driving force in humans nor did he believe that one’s unconscious mind only accounts for material one is attempting to avoid. While these differences did create a rift, Jung did write Freud’s obituary in 1939 and sang his praises.

Jung’s Thoughts on Women and Homosexuality

Jung subscribed to a heteronormative and gendered approach to psychology. This is seen within his perspectives on the anima and animus, using terms like feminine and masculine. Jung has described the feminine as passive by nature, which in itself is not true and diminishes the personal power of those who identify as women.

This also speaks to how Jung’s antiquated views on gender are limited. Additionally, it was rumored that Jung slept with one of his patients, marking an egregious abuse of power.

Jung’s views on homosexuality are also oppressive. In his book Two Essays on Analytical Psychology, he spoke of a man who was longing for male guidance and thus developed same-sex attraction. He then proceeded to state that delayed development was to blame. The meaning behind Jung’s views has been greatly debated, with some stating that he is speaking more symbolically and isn’t intending his words to be homophobic while others can acknowledge that these views embody an inherently homophobic perspective that is limiting to those who are queer and gender expansive.

How Did Carl Jung’s Work Influence MBTI Personality Types?

Jung was highly influential in understanding personality archetypes, with his work strongly influencing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Building on Jung’s concept of extraversion and introversion, Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katharine Cook Briggs included additional elements.

These elements were sensing and intuition, thinking and feeling, and judging and perceiving. Thus, these concepts were fused to create the MBTI, an assessment individuals can take to see which dimensions they score the highest on, which are then interpreted into different personality types. 

Controversies About Jung’s Work and Beliefs

While Jung’s work is still utilized today, there is ample controversy and criticism about his beliefs. In some of Jung’s writings, he referred to those of African descent as having a “primitive” mind, which harkens to deeply racist mythology. Though questions of Jung being racist have been highly debated, with analysts taking a pass at interpreting his work, it is indisputable that referring to Africans as having a primitive mind aligns with an oppressive and pathologizing thought process. 

Carl Jung rejected the notion that he perpetuated anti-semitism, however, his writings indicate otherwise. In one of his writings, he stated that the “Aryan unconscious has greater potential than the Jewish unconscious.” He also edited an anti-semitic publication, though he stated he did so with support from his Jewish colleagues with the goal of being in service to psychoanalysis as a science. 

Carl Jung’s Legacy

Jung’s legacy is complicated. His contributions to psychoanalysis serve as a foundation in modern-day psychology. He gave us concepts, like synchronicity, extraversion, and introversion, that are referenced in casual conversations daily. Yet, he also perpetuated oppressive views, which have left present-day Jungian analysts to reckon with his positive contributions and his oppressive ideologies. While his relevance today cannot be disputed, it is important to remain mindful that all he espoused does not hold up. 

What Is Bowenian Family Therapy?

Bowenian family therapy is an approach to treatment that was developed by the psychiatrist Murray Bowen. Bowen believed that patterns persist in families across generations, and problematic behaviors can be passed down and create similar ongoing conflicts.

Bowen created this approach to therapy aimed at fostering healthy communication between family members, breaking toxic or harmful patterns, and developing healthy differentiation and autonomy among each individual within the family unit. Bowenian family therapy uses an intergenerational lens to identify these patterns and communication techniques to promote healthy boundaries and relationships within the family.

Types of Bowenian Family Therapy

As the name implies, Bowenian family therapy typically involves multiple family members working together to address family conflicts and improve relationships within the family unit.

Family therapy can include couple’s work, parent and child relationship work, work with blended families, or work with multiple generations of a family.

However, a Bowenian therapist can also work with individuals. Individual talk therapy can include an emphasis on identifying intergenerational conflicts and patterns, setting appropriate boundaries and differentiation between the individual and their family members, and communication skills. If an individual wants to work on these issues and including additional family members is not possible, they can still benefit from techniques of Bowenian family therapy.

Techniques of Bowenian Family Therapy

Practitioners of Bowenian family therapy have several interventions that are specific to this approach to treatment, including: 

• Genograms: A genogram is a visual graphic of a family that includes information about history, relationships, psychology, and patterns. It allows the therapist and client to explore these patterns and connections to guide treatment. Bowenian therapists will typically create a genogram at the start of therapy but continue to add information throughout the course of treatment.
• Differentiating emotions and self-differentiation: Bowenian therapists will help clients identify the emotions occurring within the family unit and note when they are taking on the emotions of other family members. This technique involves helping each family member recognize their individual emotions and identities alongside their role in the family unit.
• I-statements: An “I-statement” is a communication technique that emphasizes the emotions of the speaker rather than the attributes of the other person. It aims to communicate the emotion behind the statement rather than bringing up defensiveness or feelings of blame in the listener. For example, instead of, “You never help around the house,” the client would be encouraged to rephrase as, “I feel overwhelmed with chores and would like more help from you.”
• Triangles: While triangulation in family therapy refers to a form of manipulation in which members are pitted against each other, Bowenian family therapy uses the concept of emotional triangles to symbolize stable relationship networks. In Bowenian family therapy, families work to create healthy balance and support in these emotional triangles.
• Intergenerational patterns: Using the genogram, a Bowenian family therapist will work to identify patterns persisting between generations and help families identify which patterns benefit them and which patterns they want to challenge and break out of.
• Normalizing challenges: Bowenian family therapists emphasize that challenges and conflicts will occur even after therapy terminates. They prepare clients to face future difficulties before they arise.

What Bowenian Family Therapy Can Help With

Bowenian family therapy can help families who are experiencing conflict or communication difficulties. It can also help individuals experiencing anxiety and stress. It is particularly helpful if you want to address the impact of previous generations and current family dynamics on your mental health and current symptoms.

Benefits of Bowenian Family Therapy

Because Bowenian family therapy emphasizes healthy communication skills and conflict resolution, participating in this type of therapy can help foster healthy relationships and appropriate boundaries. Clients develop insight into their behaviors and develop a deeper understanding of why they make the choices they make, the impact of these choices on their relationships, and how to make healthy and lasting changes.

Families that engage in Bowenian family therapy together learn to identify the triangles within the unit and utilize these interconnected relationships to make relationships stronger. They are taught healthy and appropriate communication styles that foster productive conflict resolution rather than defensiveness and arguments. Members can also understand each other on a deeper level by identifying intergenerational patterns.

Finally, each family member learns a healthy balance between connectedness and personal identity within the family unit.

Effectiveness of Bowenian Family Therapy

There is limited empirical evidence for Bowenian family therapy at this time. However, the Bowenian technique of self-differentiation can be effective in alleviating anxiety symptoms. In addition, a meta-review of 295 primary studies showed that Bowenian family therapy’s emphasis on differentiation of self improved interpersonal and marital relationships. In couple’s therapy, Bowenian family therapy can improve feelings of happiness and empathy between partners due to improved communication skills and increased understanding of both the self and the other.

Additionally, research has shown that Bowenian family therapy can aid in family reunification when child protection has been involved, as parents can learn to identify abusive patterns in their family genogram and work to break these patterns.

Things to Consider

Because Bowenian family therapy can be used individually, with couples, or with a larger family unit, it is an option for many people seeking therapy support. Clients need to be prepared to put in the work to practice making changes to communication styles and boundaries, especially if other family members are not directly involved in treatment.

Disrupting long-standing patterns is stressful and challenging even if it is beneficial in the long run.

Additionally, this approach includes exploring transgenerational patterns and behaviors, and as such, it may bring up intergenerational trauma. Prior to starting treatment, clients should be prepared for this possibility and have coping skills in place to address difficult emotions that might come up over the course of treatment.

As with all forms of therapy, Bowenian family therapy is not a “magic pill” that will suddenly fix problems. It takes significant client engagement and willingness to make needed changes.

How to Get Started

If Bowenian family therapy seems to be a good fit for your therapy goals and mental health needs, you can begin looking for therapists who offer this approach. You could look into online therapy companies to see if anyone offers Bowenian family therapy, or you could use an online therapy directory to search for this modality specifically. Many therapists will note that they are trained in Bowenian family therapy on their directory profiles.

You can also contact your insurance company to get information about what services are covered. Although specific theoretical orientations typically are not excluded by insurance plans, the company can give you information about what your out-of-pocket cost might be as well as the names of in-network providers.

If you feel like current family dynamics and intergenerational patterns are impacting your mental health and family relationships, Bowenian family therapy might help you address these concerns in a healthy way.

As a yoga enthusiast, I love trying different types of meditation. Although it sounds super simple, most of us know that sitting still and paying attention is a lot harder than it sounds. That being said, guided meditations can be easier and more interesting because they tell us what to focus on and help us maintain our concentration.

One of my favorite types of guided meditation is chakra meditation. Chakra meditation is an ancient wellness practice that is designed to unlock the energy centers (chakras) in our bodies.

Chakra meditation helps us feel more grounded, centered, connected, and peaceful, says Karla Helbert, an internationally certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and author of “The Chakras in Grief and Trauma.”

If you’re curious about chakra meditation and how to get started with it, here’s everything you need to know.

Introduction to Chakra Meditation

Chakra meditation is an Eastern spiritual practice that dates back thousands of years. The earliest references to it are found in ancient Indian yogic texts dating back to around 1500–1200 BCE. It was later adopted by other spiritual systems, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

“Chakra” is a Sanskrit word that means “circle,” “disc,” or “wheel,” says Helbert. There are seven chakras in total, positioned from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Although the chakras aren’t scientifically recognized, in the context of this belief system, they are invisible energy centers within the body that vibrate and spin with energy.

Each chakra influences the glands in its vicinity. Therefore, each chakra corresponds to different qualities and functions, Helbert explains. Imbalances or blockages in any of the chakras are linked to physical or mental health problems.

Chakra meditation helps us realign the chakras and bring our body back into balance. When the chakras are aligned and activated, they vibrate at a higher frequency, giving us energy and vitality.

The Seven Chakras

Before we go further, let’s take a quick tour of the seven chakras.

Root Chakra

Name: Muladhara