By Taschant Esceith
(Parental guidance is advised for this article)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is sometimes misdiagnosed because
other conditions, overlapping with BPD, can confuse the manifestation
of this illness. BPD is an intricate condition and can leave the
sufferer and family members bewildered if not diagnosed properly. The
difficulty with diagnosing BPD is that, not all the symptoms are always
present, and one would generally place the focus on the symptoms
currently causing disturbance in the person’s life (e.g. depression).
The symptoms of BPD can change frequently (rapid cycling), and can also
last for months. BPD generally has nine symptoms which can manifest
themselves in various ways, and at different intervals in a person’s
life. To be diagnosed with BPD one needs at least five of the nine
symptoms (not all BPD's experience them in the same way):
1. FEELINGS OF ABANDONMENT
A borderline finds it difficult to self-soothe when they are alone
during times when their mind torments them, causing them to feel
abandoned. They also fear being abandoned during times when they are
anxious. Perceived abandonment can lead to impulsive, explosive
behaviours due to their intense inner turmoil.
2. UNSTABLE RELATIONSHIPS AND SPLITTING
Splitting is a psychological term characterized by the alternation
between extremes of idealization and devaluation. When a borderline
idealizes someone they can’t remember the bad things. When they devalue
the person, they can’t remember the good things. Splitting causes
emotional pain and confusion and can result in drastic reactions. It is
an automatic self-defense mechanism that borderlines subconsciously use
to protect themselves. If their partner breaks up with them, their mind
may split their partner as "completely bad", remembering all the bad
things they ever did to them, or said to them, because if all the
positive memories of the person are forgotten in that moment, the
breakup doesn’t feel so bad. The problem is that their mind later
switches back to idealization, and then it hits them, creating the
biggest loss ever, instead of a realistic view. Splitting is not always
used to protect themselves. It can also be triggered if they see
something they don’t like in a person or if their needs aren’t being
met.
3. IDENTITY DISTURBANCE
Borderlines don’t always
know who they are, or where they belong. They may run away or make
frequent changes in their life because they feel they are in the wrong
place, wrong job or wrong relationship. It can also lead to changing of
goals. Co-occurring disorders within this category may include other
personality disorders.
4. IMPULSIVENESS
Borderlines may
struggle with behaviours such as reckless driving, spending sprees,
binge eating, anger outbursts, fits of rage, frequent moving, running
away, ending relationships abruptly, quitting jobs without notice or
drug and alcohol abuse. Co-occurring disorders within this category may
include addictive disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
bipolar disorder and eating disorders.
5. SELF-HARM AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR
Borderlines tend to self-harm to relieve intense emotional pain/anger,
or to feel something when they feel emotionally numb. When their soul is
in complete turmoil, and the darkness surrounds them from all sides,
due to the splitting their own life and sense of self, death seems like
the only escape, leading to the risk of suicide. (If you feel suicidal
always seek professional help).
6. INTENSITY, MOOD SWINGS AND DYSPHORIA
Borderlines struggle with intense emotions, mood swings and dysphoric
mental states. They sometimes need someone to comfort them and make them
feel that everything is "okay", because their own mind is not able in
the midst of torment, but since people don’t know how to deal with these
symptoms, they don’t receive the comfort they need, leading to reckless
behaviours. Co-occurring disorders within this category may include
bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety disorders:
"Among
borderline personality disorder inpatients, 88% meet criteria for a
lifetime anxiety disorder, including PTSD (56%), panic disorder (48%),
social anxiety disorder (46%), specific phobia (32%), obsessive
compulsive disorder (16%), generalized anxiety disorder (14%), and
agoraphobia (12%)... Anxiety disorders are more prevalent among
borderline personality disorder patients than other clinical
populations." (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3643080/)
7. CHRONIC FEELINGS OF EMPTINESS
A deep, dark void may drive them to hunt for love, intimacy, drugs,
alcohol, emotional stimulation or entertainment, hoping to find relief.
Sometimes they hate being alone, other times they shut the world out.
8. ANGER OUTBURSTS
Their anger is highly intense and may lead to self-harm, suicidal behaviour, reckless driving, substance abuse, etc.
9. DISSOCIATION
Dissociation can be experienced in various ways:
• Depersonalisation ~ They feel detached from themselves or completely numb and emotionless.
• Derealisation ~ They feel detached from the world (e.g. compared to
their intensity they may feel the world lacks emotional depth and
colouring and because of it they may struggle to connect with people on a
level that is satisfying).
• Amnesia ~ They may be confused about days and time, experience memory loss and forget details.
Episodes can be triggered by various factors (e.g. arguments, loss,
stress, breakups, recent changes, perceived failures, cognitive
distortions, etc.). Neurotransmitter imbalances may also be responsible.
There is also evidence to believe that BPD is related to a seizure
disorder, affecting the emotional parts of the brain. If you, or someone
you know, are struggling with BPD symptoms, free self-help material is
available at riseabovemhc.com.: Taschant Esceith | | | | |
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