Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is part of a cluster of personality disorders (Axis 2, cluster B), that are characterized by dramatic, emotional and impulsive behaviours. BPD is more often diagnosed in women than men (ratio 3:1), however men with BPD tend to have anti-social personality overtones. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3115767/)

"People who suffer from BPD often have experienced childhood trauma, and as adults, they regularly experience a severe fear of abandonment as well as an exceptionally high sensitivity to any type of perceived criticism or rejection." (https://www.optimumperformanceinstitute.com/bpd-treatment/bpd-symptoms-examined/)

How to recognize BPD:

☐ An unstable sense of self that leads to having a hard time being consistent.

☐ Extreme emotional swings and sometimes explosive anger outbursts and engage in impulsive behaviours such as substance use, sexual promiscuity, over spending, binge eating and self injury as a form of quick soothing in the short term but is harmful in the long term.

☐ A chronic feeling of emptiness that can lead impulsive behaviours as well as self-destructive behaviours.

☐ Difficulty in having sustainable interpersonal relationships. 

☐ Will usually perceive the world and others in all or nothing thinking (also known as black or white thinking).

☐ May often feel suspicious or lose touch with reality. This is something difficult to recognize on one’s own and can very often lead them to becoming alienated.

☐ Often will find oneself in unstable relationships, careers and life goals.

How to cope with BPD:

☐ Will often be recommended to be accompanied by a qualified psychologist.

To learn how to manage one’s emotional roller coaster by observing and accepting one’s stress. Listening to music, take a warm bath or shower.

☐ Learn to control impulsivity and tolerate distress. Try to distract yourself when you feel overwhelmed. Breathing, meditation exercises and engaging in various sport activities are helpful.

☐ Learn ways to improve one’s interpersonal skills.

 BPD is treatable.

Remember that you can’t diagnose yourself. Ask for help if you or people that you know is having a difficulty like the symptoms mentioned above. Finding the right psychologist is key. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Schema-Focused Therapy or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are proven evidence based methods that will help.

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