15 Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

A variety of factors determine the development of Borderline personality disorder (BPD). If you have a family member who already suffers from the condition, genetics may be the cause. BPD can also occur if you experienced a traumatic event such as being a victim of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, or being exposed to long-term distress as a child. Being neglected by one or both parents or being raised by someone who had a mental health condition can also develop BPD.

Early adulthood is when an individual begins to show signs of BPD. The younger you are diagnosed with BPD, the easier it is to get treated. In this article, we'll discuss the signs of Borderline personality disorder. This article is not to self-diagnose, only for informative purposes. See a mental health professional if you think you might have BPD.

According to studies, about one out of every 100 individuals suffers from BPD. Men and women appear to be affected equally, but women are more likely to be diagnosed. This might be because males are less likely to ask for help.

Here are 15 symptoms of Borderline personality disorder (BPD).

• Difficulty controlling and regulating emotions.

• Unstable self-image.

• Having unsustaining relationships.

• Fear of abandonment.

• A chronic feeling of emptiness.

• Impulsive and risky behavior.

• Mood swings.

• Paranoid thinking.

• Splitting.

• Trust issues.

• Change in interest and values.

• Self-hatred and self-harm.

• Internalized anger.

• Fear of rejection.

• Disassociation.

The 15 Symptoms of BPD

1. Difficulty controlling and regulating emotions.

Do you experience emotions that are too strong for the event that generated them? It is also known as emotional dysregulation. You can experience intense emotions such as emptiness, sadness, anger, and anxiety. When emotional dysregulation is present as part of a diagnosed mental disorder, it typically manifests as increased sensitivity to emotional responses and an inability to return to a normal emotional state in a reasonable amount of time. It might include being unable to relax, avoiding painful feelings, or dwelling on the negative.

2. Unstable self-image.

Do you often experience the feeling of having no idea who you are? Someone with BPD has an unstable sense of self. You may feel good about yourself at times, but you may dislike or even hate yourself at other times. As a result, you may find yourself changing jobs, friends, relationships, beliefs, goals, and even sexual identity. Sometimes someone with BPD compares themselves to a chameleon in terms of identity. Claiming that they change who they are, based on their surroundings and what they believe others expect of them.

3. Having unsustaining relationships.

People with BPD have intense and unstable friendships, family bonds, or romantic relationships. Idealizing an individual and then strongly disliking them moments later. Your relationships appear to be either wonderful or terrible, with no in-between. People with BPD tend to have intense but short-lived relationships. You may fall in love quickly, believing that each new person would complete you, only to be heartbroken soon after.

4. Fear of abandonment.

Do you go to the extreme to not be abandoned by someone? Someone with BPD often feels the need to protect oneself from being abandoned by others, even if being abandoned is only imagined. Regardless of the facts, small changes in behavior are interpreted as a sign that their relationship is falling apart. Someone with BPD can become manipulative to hold their partner emotionally hostage.

5. A chronic feeling of emptiness.

Have you ever felt as though your life had no purpose? Most people, at some point in their lives, feel this way as a result of suffering. People with BPD, on the other hand, may feel empty all the time. They believe they are stuck in a dark tunnel of emotional numbness or depression. You may feel as though you're nothing or a nobody at times. Since this experience is uncomfortable, you may try to fill it with things like drugs, food, or sex. However, nothing truly feels satisfying.

6. Impulsive and risky behavior.

Do people criticize your impulsiveness? BPD can cause a person to feel extremely happy, leading them to participate in a variety of impulsive behaviors. With this, BPD is similar to bipolar disorder, and it is frequently misdiagnosed as such. Substance abuse, spending or gambling, overeating, skipping work or appointments, unsafe sex, food addiction, and reckless driving are all examples of impulsive actions made by people with BPD.

7. Mood swings.

Are you experiencing mood swings that are both persistent and wide? Those who suffer from the disorder experience extreme mood swings that can last for hours or days. Extreme happiness, sadness, and anger are all possible moods. Because people with BPD are sensitive, these emotional states can be easily triggered. Individuals with BPD tend to internalize their emotions, resulting in their mood fluctuations unlikely to be noticed by others. Intense mood fluctuations can be a sign of mood disorders like bipolar disorder, which is why it is essential to get the correct diagnosis by a mental health professional.