Do You Have a Dopamine Deficient BPD Brain 🧠?

Complex Borderline Personality Disorder: How Coexisting Conditions Affect Your BPD and How You Can Gain Emotional Balance. Available at:

In this video, we'll take a closer look into dopamine deficiency, commonly known as BPD ( Borderline Personality Disorder ). We'll explore how this deficiency can lead to depression and chemical imbalances, which in turn can help build insight and improve treatment outcomes.

If you're interested in understanding BPD better, this video is for you! We'll discuss the clinical symptoms of dopamine deficiency and how it can affect mental health.

Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Texas, international speaker, and a multi-award-winning author. He has been specializing in the treatment and assessment of individuals with personality disorders for over 20 years in the state and federal prison system, universities, and in private practice. His specialty areas include personality disorders, ethics, burnout prevention, and emotional intelligence.

He has published several articles in these areas and is the author of:

Complex Borderline Personality Disorder: How Coexisting Conditions Affect Your BPD and How You Can Gain Emotional Balance. Available at:

Thank you for your attention and I hope you enjoy my videos and find them helpful and subscribe. I always welcome topic suggestions and comments.
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Low levels of dopamine
00:57 what is dopamine deficiency?
01:12 what is dopamine?
01:53 health issues and low dopamine levels
02:07 what causes low dopamine levels?
02:47 symptoms of dopamine deficiency
05:18 how do you diagnose dopamine deficiency
06:36 depression, ADHD, and dopamine
08:47 increase dopamine naturally
11:13 foods the don’t boost dopamine levels
12:02 BPD and dopamine

[jessicamerced]

This is so interesting. I have ADHD and BPD. I’ve always theorized (based on my own experience) that people with ADHD who go through trauma and unable to process it healthily develop disorders similar to BPD. I’ve always been strange and sensitive, but as I got older stress became unbearable and maladaptive behaviors began to develop. Wellbutrin has helped me regulate my mood and think before I act. I still have symptoms but you are right about learning healthy adaptive behaviors.

[Blinkybottom]

I have an enlarged amagdala, I had to get 3 MRI scans over 3 years to see if it was growing and the doctor's said I experienced so much trauma as a child that my amagdala grew larger to cope with the stress.

[jennsuicune]

Thanks Dr Fox. I wasn't aware how much scrolling at social networks could be problematic. I'm addicted to these shorts videos and TikToks and the shots of dopamine you get when scrolling. Can't manage to stop and want to do something else very often.

[NancyMichaels-mkst]

I found this video extremely helpful in understanding my friend who suffers from BPD.

[t.f.]

I’ve had these symptoms way before having a smartphone..

[----]

would be great to hear your opinions on males with BPD and testosterone if there have been any studies worth mentioning

[Daxtahfakenham]

As I understand it, oxytocin can lead to dopamine release, and deficiencies in the oxytocin system are found in people with BPD (both in oxytocin receptor genes, and in the level of oxytocin in your blood). Cortisol also plays a role here, as levels fluctuate differently in those with BPD. Cortisol toxicity damages the dopamine system, and oxytocin reduces cortisol levels (from memory).

My question is: could the dopamine issue be a downstream effect?

I can provide the papers that suggested these things. I spent a lot of time looking for a treatment that worked for my TRD. I found out that ADHD can lead to an anhedonic depression, which relates to dopamine issues. I asked my psychiatrist about pramipexole (sifrol), a dopamine agonist. Absolutely changed my life.

I've also got a close family member recovering from BPD. Your videos have been very helpful in giving me an understanding of their struggles.

[helix]

This is great insight, Dr. Fox, thank you. I recently ran into a situation where I injured my back and had to stop exercising. Once I did, my depression symptoms and BPD flared up, seemingly due to the lack of dopamine. I had been doing a cold Shower in the morning to get that initial release, then exercise at different times of the day to keep the dopamine going. As I'm becoming more active, I'm feeling better, but such a drastic change was scary to experience, and have all these raw nerves exposed again. All the best to you and everyone on here! 💚

[levitatestudent]

This is fascinating - here in the UK if you go see your GP, irrespective of what you say about your mental health issue, an antidepressant such as sertraline will be prescribed. No exploration. I once said to the doctor I have been this way all of my life since a teen....their reply, oh you won't have, it just feels like that. Er nope, it is like that!!

I would say for me depression has been episodic but I live with running anxiety everyday.

I love to make other people laugh and feel loved - this somehow makes me feel better inside.
But am I happy on the inside? Hmm, I am grateful, know I am fortunate, loved and supported. Am I happy? - this is hard for me to define.

I am curious about the concept of low levels or blocked dopamine receptors.
I studied neurophysiology back in the day....I may have to get my books

[rarepurposereadingsllc]

Yes! Medication is only part of it, therapy is so so important. Specifically group therapy has really worked for my bpd.

[jenny-ytjq]

thank you so much dr. fox!!!! you nailed it yet again. uploading all of these videos really help people like me to understand mental health which i feel like society could do more of. have a wonderful day!☀️☘️🌲

[sandywhat]

I'm amazed how many professionals did not get the memo?

[Saturntabbytype]

The real issue here is no one talks about is not the why to the personality disorder but the reason why you think the way you do, much of the cluster A are to do with separation induvidualisation as a baby which causes psychosis, and persecution

[jackiegrice]

This was very interesting. It’s a little unsettling that I have just about every symptom you mentioned about dopamine deficiency lol. Thanks for researching this for us Dr. Fox.

[rachellep]

Not only are you an insightful professional in the field of mental health. You have a gift to translate your knowledge and captivate us with your delivery. Once again your the best Dr. FOX👌

[maryadams]

One of my strengthening coping skills was I personally loved life no matter what my mental state was. Just seeing the morning light gave me a boost of hope and joy. For years I was assigned to work with a woman that had a difficult personality. It was very exasperating. I come to loath my time with her. It took a few years for us to work together in a mentally healthy routine. We no longer work together. At present I still don't have that natural love of life. Can't seem to find it again. I will assume I have a lack of dopamine. How can I get that love of life again?

[boudicca]

All I can say is medication that increases dopamine levels and help BDP symptoms--it decreases bpd responses and in turn help to develop appropriate responses, therefore, developing better habits. Thanks for the great video.

[tezza]

I have a really bad addiction to my phone and its making the entire daily functioning thing almost impossible

[londonberg]

Have you ever looked into L-tyrosine and 5HTP? For natural dopamine and seritonin protection? They've been really helpful with my pdd, which gives me just enough of an uplift(and normal appetite back)that i have the motivation for the lifestyle habbits that keep me sane paired with them.

[sparklingloveandlight]

My friend is down from the states and she spent very little time with me and we're best friends so I feel hurt. Been having hard time waking up for appointments lately. Haven't been waking up to alarms.