Chili helps Borderline patients in everyday life

Borderline syndrome is a personality disorder which frequently results in self-harming behaviour. Capsaicin, the spicy content in chillies, is the ideal tool for affected people to inflict pain on themselves without harming their bodies.

Borderline patients have to deal with disorders in the areas of emotions, thoughts and handling everyday lie. Self-harming behaviour is frequently observed among affected people. The reasons for this are varied, and can express themselves very differently. It can be a type of self punishment for guilty feelings, or a desire to feel your own body again. Pain can also be a way to relieve the pressure of inner tensions. The pain is produced by conscious or unconscious behaviour. This includes striking the body, cutting the skin, burning and cauterisation. The negative consequences for the body are the problem of this disorder.

For several years, many hospitals have employed a new form of therapy for the problem of self-harming. Capsaicin, the spicy substance in chillies, works on the body’s pain nerves and triggers a strong burning sensation. The pain nerves send a very strong stimulus to the body, similar to a feeling of burning. However, the big difference lies in the fact that the body is not damaged in any way. It only feels a kind of burning effect.

Borderline patients often carry an emergency kit, including Chili lollipops so that they can respond to the sudden desire to self-harm. Spicy lollipops or fruit gums have the advantage that they can be taken anywhere and used discreetly when needed. This simple tool in the form of Chili Sweets can support Borderline patients in their fight against the personality disorder and give them back some quality of life.