Do You Have Borderline Personality Disorder? Here Are the Common Symptoms

Before the 1960s, borderline personality disorder (BPD) was not a recognized condition.  Thanks to the efforts of dedicated mental health professionals and family members, since that time the door has been opened to study and research about what is now recognized to be a significant public health issue.

People with BPD often find it difficult to interact well with others, the relationships they do have tend to be stormy, they often struggle with a low self-image and their emotions seems to be in control of the ship. That is quite a bit of emotional upset, and yet people with BPD rarely seem attuned to the way their own behavior is affecting them or impacting others around them.  It usually takes someone close to connect the dots between the symptoms and the disorder.

Common symptoms of BPD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health include:

1. The person demonstrates violent reactions to being abandoned or perceiving that he/she has been abandoned. Fear of abandonment can manifest as rage, panic or depression.
2. The person has a long history of turbulent relationships. At one time they may enjoy an idealized intimacy with the person that can later swing to extreme dislike for the person.
3. The person is characterized by impulsive behaviors like over-spending, risky sex, unsafe driving habits and/or substance abuse.
4. The person makes repeated threats of suicide or self-injury.
5. The person can demonstrate extreme mood swings within the course of a single day.
6. The person often complains of being bored and feeling empty inside.
7. The person expresses inappropriate and/or uncontrolled anger.
8. The person talks about dissociative experiences in which they feel outside of themselves or out of touch with reality.

When a loved one recognizes these sorts of behaviors, it is cause for further investigation. If the person appears depressed or anxious as well, then a doctor should be consulted. Sometimes persons with BPD also suffer from eating disorders. All of these conditions are serious and warrant professional intervention.

Treatment for BPD most often revolves around behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy (talk therapy). These therapies can help the person with BPD to recognize his/her own thought and behavior patterns and open their eyes to see how those things impact daily living.  Sometimes a doctor will prescribe anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications to help the person normalize their emotions so that they can instead focus on adjusting their behavior.