Borderline Personality Disorder

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects the way people feel about themselves and others, making it hard to function in everyday life. It includes a pattern of unstable, intense relationships, as well as impulsiveness and an unhealthy way of seeing themselves. Impulsiveness involves having extreme emotions and acting or doing things without thinking about them first.

People with borderline personality disorder have a strong fear of abandonment or being left alone. Even though they want to have loving and lasting relationships, the fear of being abandoned often leads to mood swings and anger. It also leads to impulsiveness and self-injury that may push others away.

Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. The condition is most serious in young adulthood. Mood swings, anger and impulsiveness often get better with age. But the main issues of self-image and fear of being abandoned, as well as relationship issues, go on.

If you have borderline personality disorder, know that many people with this condition get better with treatment. They can learn to live stabler, more-fulfilling lives.

Symptoms

Borderline personality disorder affects how you feel about yourself, relate to others and behave.

Symptoms may include:

  • A strong fear of abandonment. This includes going to extreme measures so you’re not separated or rejected, even if these fears are made up.
  • A pattern of unstable, intense relationships, such as believing someone is perfect one moment and then suddenly believing the person doesn’t care enough or is cruel.
  • Quick changes in how you see yourself. This includes shifting goals and values, as well as seeing yourself as bad or as if you don’t exist.
  • Periods of stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality. These periods can last from a few minutes to a few hours.
  • Impulsive and risky behavior, such as gambling, dangerous driving, unsafe sex, spending sprees, binge eating, drug misuse, or sabotaging success by suddenly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship.
  • Threats of suicide or self-injury, often in response to fears of separation or rejection.
  • Wide mood swings that last from a few hours to a few days. These mood swings can include periods of being very happy, irritable or anxious, or feeling shame.
  • Ongoing feelings of emptiness.
  • Inappropriate, strong anger, such as losing your temper often, being sarcastic or bitter, or physically fighting.
  • Not doing important things, such as going to work or paying bills.
Source: Mayo Clinic