# AI suggests cutting ties for BPD fear of abandonment

- **ID:** `mental-health/ai-suggests-cutting-ties-for-bpd-fear-of-abandonment`
- **Domain:** mental-health
- **Category:** harmful_advice
- **Error Code:** `BPD-CUTTIES-001`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 75%

## Root Cause

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves intense fear of abandonment and unstable relationships; advising to cut ties reinforces splitting (all-good/all-bad thinking) and prevents learning interpersonal effectiveness.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| openai-gpt-4-turbo-2024-04-09 | active | — | — |
| anthropic-claude-3-opus-20240229 | active | — | — |
| google-gemini-1.5-pro | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Validate the emotion without endorsing the action: 'It sounds like you're feeling really hurt and scared of being abandoned. That's painful. But cutting ties might be a decision you'd regret later. Can we talk through what you're feeling first?'** (72% success)
   ```
   Validate the emotion without endorsing the action: 'It sounds like you're feeling really hurt and scared of being abandoned. That's painful. But cutting ties might be a decision you'd regret later. Can we talk through what you're feeling first?'
   ```
2. **Use DBT interpersonal effectiveness skill: 'Try using DEAR MAN: Describe the situation, Express your feelings, Assert what you need, Reinforce the positive, Mindfully stay focused, Appear confident, Negotiate. Would you like to practice this?'** (78% success)
   ```
   Use DBT interpersonal effectiveness skill: 'Try using DEAR MAN: Describe the situation, Express your feelings, Assert what you need, Reinforce the positive, Mindfully stay focused, Appear confident, Negotiate. Would you like to practice this?'
   ```
3. **Suggest a cooling-off period: 'Instead of cutting ties permanently, how about taking 24 hours to sit with your feelings before making a decision? You can always decide later.'** (75% success)
   ```
   Suggest a cooling-off period: 'Instead of cutting ties permanently, how about taking 24 hours to sit with your feelings before making a decision? You can always decide later.'
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — This reinforces splitting and black-and-white thinking; the user may cut ties impulsively and regret it later (80% fail)
- **** — While no contact can be healthy in some situations, for BPD it can be an impulsive reaction to perceived abandonment rather than a thoughtful decision (70% fail)
- **** — This can lead to social isolation and reinforce the belief that relationships are inherently unstable (65% fail)