Q. Dear Dr. Heller
Do a large percentage of BPD individuals have difficulty with impulsiveness which involves shoplifting? Can you comment on this form of self-injurious behavior.
Also I understand Klonopin is not to be given to individuals who have difficulty with impulsiveness, Please advise on this medication.
Someone in deep legal trouble that has just learned there is a name for the cause of all this pain.
Q. Shoplifting has long been known to be one of the self-destructive, impulsive behaviors borderlines do to make dysphoria - anxiety, rage, depression, despair - go away. It's similar to reckless driving, binge eating, binge shopping, etc. It's not common, but it does happen.
Xanax - alprazolam - has been shown to worsen behavioral dyscontrol, which means there may be an increased risk of self-destructive behaviors. Klonopin is a very similar medication, and while I haven't seen studies on it in this regard, it is logical to assume it will make BPD self destructive symptoms worse.