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Borderline Personality Disorder

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12 views

Borderline Personality Disorder

Uploaded by

greenthepeauwu
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Borderline, A Condition that Keeps You Over the Edge

By Nmesoma Okafor
McCarthy HCE 3/4

What would your first reaction be if you saw someone happy one minute but upset the
next. You might think that is bipolar disorder, a mood disorder characterized by mood swings.
While that is a reasonable answer, that is not correct. What about anger issues and risky
behaviors? Maybe it is a sign of ASPD or anti-social personality disorder, a disorder
characterized by violation of social norms and concern for others. That is also not correct. The
disorder in question is actually borderline personality disorder. Though borderline can coexist
with bipolar and is in the same group as ASPD, they are not the same thing.
BPD or borderline personality disorder is a disorder that occurs in 1.4 percent of adults
in the U.S. BPD is characterized by a fear of abandonment, unstable moods, strained
relationships, and a wavering sense of self. According to Cleveland clinic, “People with BPD have
an intense fear of abandonment and have trouble regulating their emotions, especially anger”
(Cleavland Clinic). People with disorder feel emotions much more intensely than the average
person. BPD is a cluster B disorder1, and similarly to ASPD [antisocial personality disorder],
people who are genetically predisposed to BPD are more likely to suffer from it. Another cause
of BPD is theorized to be the brain structure. Those with borderline were studied to have
structural changes in the parts of the brain that control impulses and emotions. Despite these
studies, it is still not clear whether these things are caused or are caused by borderline
personality disorder. BPD can also be caused by childhood trauma. About 70% of people who
suffer from BPD have experienced childhood trauma at one point. Childhood traumas that cause
BPD include abandonment trauma, which causes them to have a severe fear of abandonment.
BPD, like all personality disorders, display symptoms. One is an intense fear of
abandonment, which could be because the person may have experienced abandonment trauma
before. Another symptom of borderline is the tendency to have intense unstable relationships,
which are due to the fact that people with BPD feel emotions intensely and see in extremes
such as good and bad, which can cause them to switch, or feel extremely positive about
someone one minute and hate them more than anything the next. According to the NIMH or
the National Institute of Mental Health, “These changing feelings can lead to unstable
relationships and emotional pain” (National Institute of Mental Health). Another symptom is
unstable sense of self, which can cause them to switch back and forth between values. Mood
swings are another symptom of borderline personality disorder, which can lead to Borderline

1
Cluster one disorders are disorders that cause erratic patterns of thinking.
being mistaken as bipolar disorder. Though their symptoms overlap, BPD mood swings are
usually triggered by an event while Bipolar mood swings come unexpectedly. People with BPD
do have a chance of also having bipolar though. They can also suffer from self-destructive
behavior, a persistent feeling of emptiness, anger issues, and paranoid thoughts. Symptoms of
BPD can also be seen on the skin. It was previously mentioned that BPD sufferers tend to self-
harm. This action could either be out of self-hatred due to their unstable self-image, or they
may threaten to harm themselves to stop someone from leaving them. Self-harm episodes are
usually triggered by the threat of abandonment.
BPD is usually diagnosed in people over the age of eighteen, though there is a chance that
someone younger could get a diagnosis if the symptoms are severe and blatant. Not only that
but borderline can also exist along other mental conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety
disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and somatoform
disorders. Though Borderline personality disorder is known to be quite difficult to treat, there
has been a numerous amount discovered ways psychologists have found that can help treat
BPD. One way is through Psychotherapy or talk therapy. This type of therapy involves either a
one-on-one session with a licensed psychologist or a group session with other people.
Psychotherapy is said to help those with borderline learn how to interact with others and
express themselves positively. Another type of therapy is DBT or dialectal behavior therapy. DBT
is characterized using mindfulness and helps those with BPD be able to identify and manage
their emotions, quell self-destruction, and help in maintaining relationships. According to the
mayo clinic, “DBT uses a skills-based approach to teach you how to manage your emotions,
tolerate distress and improve relationships” (Mayo Clinic). Lastly CBT or Cognitive behavioral
therapy is characterized by helping those with borderline change their unhealthy view of
themselves and help them to come out of self-harming or suicidal behaviors. Medication might
also be suggested in managing certain symptoms of BPD but that is determined by the health
provider.
Overall, borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder characterized by unstable
moods and relationships. People with this disorder struggle with regulating their emotions and
living a regular day to day life. In conclusion, BPD is a condition people around the world
struggle with but can seek help for through therapy.

Works Cited
Cleavland Clinic. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). 5 April 2022. Website Article. 21 December 2023.

Mayo Clinic. Borderline Personality Disorder. 13 December 2022. Website Article. 21 December 2023.

National Institute of Mental Health. Borderline Personality Disorder. April 2023. Website Article. 21
December 2023.

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