I have a friend who has borderline personality disorder, but he is currently unaware that he has any problem at all. Although he had been prone to fits of rage and had difficulty establishing relationships, he managed to get by fairly well in most areas of his life.

Recently, he experienced a bad episode with a woman he was interested in and he has begun to rapidly deteriorate. Even though he was always a bit rough to get along with and had difficulty controlling some of his impulses, he seems to be reaching new extremes. He has begun spending money he doesn't have, making large purchases to get things he doesn't need. He's also been having more severe fits of rage and he seems determined to push everyone he knows away. He already forced one friend to cut ties with him, and I know his other friends are seriously considering doing the same. My friend needs some immediate help before he falls too deeply into his disorder to be able to manage his life.

The problem is my friend doesn't know he has a personality disorder, and I know it's not appropriate to tell him, but I can't think of any other way. If I don't tell him, he'll just think everyone else is being irrational and that all his actions are completely justified.

He needs to begin understanding that his view of reality and his actions are being impacted by something that is currently beyond his control.

Does anyone have any advice for helping a person who is unaware that they have a personality disorder?