Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder is often a devastating mental health condition, both for the people who have it and for those around them.

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a disorder characterized primarily by emotional dysregulation, extreme "black and white" thinking (believing that something is one of only two possible things, and ignoring any possible "in-betweens"), and turbulent relationships. It is also characterized by pervasive instability in mood, interpersonal relationships, self-image, identity, and behavior, and a disturbance in the individual's sense of self.

Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
While a patient with depression or bipolar disorder typically endures the same mood for weeks, a person with borderline personality disorder may experience intense bouts of depression,anxiety, orangerthat may last only minutes, hours, or at most a day. These may be associated with episodes of self-injury, impulsive aggression, anddrug abuseoralcohol abuse. Difficulties in cognition and sense of self can lead to frequent changes in long-term goals, career plans, jobs,gender identity,friendships, and values.Sometimes people with borderline personality disorder view themselves as fundamentally bad, or unworthy.

They may feel unfairly misunderstood or mistreated, bored, empty, and have little idea who they are. Such symptoms are most acute when people with borderline personality disorder feel isolated and lacking in social support, and may result in frantic efforts to avoid being alone.

People with borderline personality disorder often have highly unstable patterns of social relationships. While they can develop intense but stormy attachments, their attitudes towards family, friends, and loved ones may suddenly shift from idealization (great admiration and love) to devaluation (intense anger and dislike). Thus, they may form an immediate attachment and trust for the other person, but when a separation or conflict occurs that others may see as slight (e.g., a minor argument), they can lose their sense of attachment and trust and may become withdrawn or angry.

People with borderline personality disorder have a deep fear of abandonment. This can occur with family members, health professionals and friends, as well as partners.They compete for social acceptance, are terrified of rejection and often feellonelyeven in the context of an intimate relationship. Therefore, it is more difficult for them to manage the normal ups and downs of a romantic partnership. Impulsive, self-destructive behavior may be an attempt to ward off rising anxiety related to the fear of being left alone.Suicide attempts or self-injury may occur along with anger at perceived abandonment and disappointments.

As a consequence of difficulties with emotional regulation and maintaining some social boundaries, people with borderline personality disorder can sometimes make rapid and seemingly deep connections with others, marked by unrealistically high levels of mutual admiration.They can also feel overwhelmed by others, or be taken advantage of.Due to the inherent instability of such relationships, and unresolved issues for the person with borderline personality disorder (particularly in matters of trust and self-worth), they are prone to react strongly to apparent slights and reverse their over-positive view. This can be experienced by others as unexpected hostility or betrayal, and can also be confusing and painful for the person with borderline personality disorder.

People with borderline personality disorder exhibit other impulsive behaviors, such asexcessive spending,gambling,binge eatingand risky sex. Borderline personality disorder often occurs together with other mental health problems, particularly bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and other personality disorders.The depression which accompanies this disorder can cause much suffering and can lead to serious suicide attempts.

Causes and Influences of Borderline Personality Disorder

Personality disorders probably are caused by both environmental and biological factors. Researchers commonly believe that borderline personality disorder results from a combination that can involve individual genetic vulnerability and environmental stress, neglect or abuse as young children, and maturational events during adolescence or adulthood.