What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and it's symptoms? | Mental Health Awareness

Borderline personality disorder (BPD), also referred to as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), is a personality disorder characterized by a long-standing pattern of unstable interpersonal relationships, a distorted sense of self, and intense emotional reactions. Those affected often engage in self-harm and other risky behaviors, due to difficulties in returning to a healthy or normal emotional baseline. They may also struggle with a sense of emptiness, fear of abandonment, and detachment from reality. Symptoms of BPD may be triggered by events that others consider normal. BPD typically develops during early adulthood and manifests across various situations.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a long-term mental health condition characterized by unstable relationships, an unstable sense of self, and intense emotional responses. People with BPD may engage in self-destructive behaviors and have difficulty regulating their emotions. They may also experience a sense of emptiness, fear of abandonment, and detachment from reality. The disorder typically begins in early adulthood and can affect various aspects of a person's life.

To be diagnosed with BPD, a person must display at least five of the following symptoms:

• A desperate fear of real or perceived abandonment
• Chaotic, unstable relationships marked by sudden idealization and devaluation of others
• An unstable self-image and sense of identity
• Impulsive or reckless behaviors, such as substance abuse, binge eating, or unsafe sex
• Recurrent suicidal behavior or self-harm
• Extreme emotional reactions and rapidly shifting moods
• A pervasive feeling of emptiness
• Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger
• Transient paranoia or dissociative symptoms in response to stress

The most prominent features of BPD are instability in interpersonal relationships and self-image, along with a tendency to idealize or devalue others. Additionally, individuals with BPD may struggle with regulating emotions and may engage in impulsive or dangerous behaviors. They may also experience a lack of clarity in their values and identity and have paranoid thoughts during times of stress. BPD is often accompanied by other mental health conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorder.