What are the 9 Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder?
September 22, 2023 | by Sravani Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions. The symptoms of BPD can manifest in various ways, and individuals may experience them to different degrees. Here are nine common symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder:
- Intense and Unstable Relationships:
- Difficulty maintaining stable and healthy relationships.
- Extreme fear of abandonment, leading to frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
- Identity Disturbance:
- Unstable self-image, self-identity, and a lack of a clear sense of self.
- A tendency to have an unstable sense of goals, values, career plans, and aspirations.
- Emotional Instability:
- Intense and rapidly shifting emotional states, often experiencing intense anger, anxiety, or sadness within a short period.
- Difficulty regulating emotions and managing emotional reactions.
- Impulsivity:
- Impulsive behaviors that could be harmful, such as substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating, or unsafe sex.
- Impulsivity in spending, substance use, sexual activity, and other areas of life.
- Chronic Feelings of Emptiness:
- Persistent feelings of emptiness, often leading to a sense of inner void or emotional numbness.
- Suicidal Behavior and Self-Harm:
- Recurrent suicidal thoughts, threats, gestures, or self-harming behaviors.
- Engaging in self-harming acts like cutting, burning, or other forms of self-injury.
- Dissociation and Paranoia:
- Experiencing episodes of dissociation, where there is a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory.
- Suspicion and paranoia, often feeling disconnected from oneself or reality.
- Anger and Aggression:
- Difficulty controlling anger, leading to frequent and intense outbursts.
- Engaging in verbal or physical fights and having a short temper.
- Chronic Fear of Abandonment:
- Extreme fear of being abandoned or rejected, often resulting in frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
It’s important to remember that individuals with BPD may experience these symptoms differently, and not everyone will display all symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment should be conducted by mental health professionals. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of BPD, seeking help from a mental health professional is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.