BPD Living With BPD Borderline Personality Disorder and Cheating By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 16, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Carly Snyder, MD Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print laflor / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents BPD and Cheating Why BPD Causes Trust Issues What to Do When Your Partner Has BPD Frequently Asked Questions Trending Videos Close this video player Being in a relationship with someone with borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be overwhelming and frustrating. Every relationship has its ups and downs, but BPD symptoms can make typical relationship problems such as cheating and accusations of infidelity worse. Nevertheless, many people have strong relationships with someone who has BPD. Romantic Relationships Involving People With BPD BPD Features and Cheating Some people believe BPD is associated with infidelity. Research has yet to show a direct connection between BPD and an increased likelihood of cheating. Rather, a hallmark feature of borderline personality—impulsive behavior—sometimes manifests as sexual preoccupation, early sexual exposure, casual sexual relationships, and promiscuity. Likewise, a person with BPD is more likely to have been sexually abused or otherwise victimized. These issues can make cheating more likely in some people. BPD affects everyone differently, however; not all people with BPD cheat. But having unstable personal relationships is a hallmark symptom of this condition. How Borderline Personality Disorder Can Affect Intimacy Why BPD Causes Trust Issues One of the symptoms of BPD is the assumption that others are going to cause hurt. Whether or not people with BPD have the same likelihood of cheating as others, they are more likely to suspect their partners are cheating. Because of low self-esteem, people with BPD have difficulty believing that someone could love them and remain faithful to them. As such, they are more likely to assume that their partners will cause them pain in some way. They also have difficulty considering "benign explanations" of their partners’ behavior. Research also shows that people with BPD have difficulty maintaining cooperation with a partner. Their lack of trust is triggered when they feel rejected by another person or when their expectations are disappointed. If you or your loved one is struggling with symptoms of BPD, contact a mental health provider or therapist. Also, because of the overwhelming fear of abandonment that's a hallmark trait of BPD, people with this condition tend to be more suspicious and distrustful, assuming or even truly believing that their partners are cheating. In turn, this negatively affects their relationships. If your partner with BPD is unfaithful or wrongfully accuses you of cheating, you are likely to be angry and emotional, and you may even think about ending the relationship. In this sense, BPD can worsen relationship issues. What to Do When Your Partner Has BPD BPD can strain a relationship for both people involved. However, a combination of strategies can help if your partner has BPD (or if you suspect they do). Treatment Options for Borderline Personality Disorder The first step is encouraging your partner to seek help, if they have not yet done so. Therapies, both psychological and medical, have evolved well past the days when BPD was thought to be incurable. Psychotherapy—particularly dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)— is believed to be the most effective treatment for BPD. Get Help Now We've tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you. Couples therapy—especially if your partner resists individual treatment for BPD—can help you both work through relationship issues and understand where your partner is coming from. Through your sessions, you'll learn essential communication skills that can help you through tough times and strengthen your relationship. The 10 Best Online Couples Therapy and Counseling Services We Tried and Tested in 2024 Can Couples Counseling Help Your Relationship? A Word From Verywell People with borderline personality disorder fear abandonment and suffer from insecurity. As a result, their relationships are often marked by difficulty. However, help is available. Psychotherapy—particularly, dialectical behavior therapy—can help your partner develop coping strategies. Likewise, couples counseling can help you learn about BPD's effects on your relationship and how to handle the resulting challenges. Frequently Asked Questions How do I react to infidelity in a person with BPD? If you'd like to repair the relationship, couples therapy is a good place to start. Encourage your partner to seek treatment for BPD if they have not done so already. How does BPD affect relationships? People who have BPD tend to have turbulent, difficult relationships. Their fear of abandonment, impulsive tendencies, irrational anger, and mood swings can frustrate their partners, who also often feel misunderstood, fearful, and abused. Why do people with borderline personality disorder lose relationships? People with BPD feel an overwhelming fear of abandonment, which leads them to become either overly attached or completely detached. Their impulsive tendencies, irrational anger, and mood swings can frustrate their partners, who also often feel misunderstood and fearful. 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Tate AE, Sahlin H, Liu S, et al. Borderline personality disorder: associations with psychiatric disorders, somatic illnesses, trauma, and adverse behaviors. Mol Psychiatry. 2022;27(5):2514-2521. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01503-z Lazarus SA, Choukas-Bradley S, Beeney JE, Byrd AL, Vine V, Stepp SD. Too much too soon?: Borderline personality disorder symptoms and romantic relationships in adolescent girls. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2019;47(12):1995-2005. doi:10.1007/s10802-019-00570-1 Michael J, Chennells M, Nolte T, et al. Probing commitment in individuals with borderline personality disorder. J Psychiatric Res. 2021;137:335-341. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.02.062 Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT. What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-z By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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