Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can leave many people feeling like they are constantly riding a rollercoaster of emotions. The impulsive behaviors, and inability to control your extreme reactions, can make it hard to complete programs or fit in with new groups of friends.

Approximately 4 million Americans in the US have Borderline Personality Disorder, and many have gone undiagnosed because it is a very hard mental disorder to identify. Knowing some examples of Borderline Personality Disorder can help you to identify whether or not someone you know has it.

So, what are the examples of Borderline Personality Disorder, and what should you do if you suspect you have it?

We are here to answer all those questions. Let’s learn more about the signs of Borderline Personality Disorder and get the help you need and deserve.

Types of Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder appears in many different ways in different people. It is caused by an individual’s life experiences, perceptions, and which type of BPD they have.

There are four different types of Borderline Personality Disorder:

• Impulsive – Charismatic, flirtatious, energizing, thrill seeker
• Self-destructive – Self-loathing, involved in risky behavior
• Discouraged – Clingy, co-dependant with anger
• Petulant – Explosive anger with bouts of feeling unworthy and unloved

With each type of BPD, there are many other signs to help identify whether you, or someone you know, has it.

Examples of Borderline Personality Disorder

There are nine main symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. If you notice at least five of these symptoms at a severe rate, you may have BPD. In this case, you should seek counseling to help manage your symptoms.

1. Impulsive, Self-Destructive Behavior – When someone with BPD is upset, they seek out harmful behaviors such as driving recklessly, drugs, alcohol, risky sexual experiences, shoplifting, spending money, etc.
2. Fear of Abandonment – The intense fear of being alone can be triggered when their loved one is off of schedule, such as returning home late from work.
3. Self-Harm –This includes self-cutting, suicidal behavior or threats.
4. Unstable Relationships – Someone with BPD can experience intense co-dependency or fall in love quickly.
5. Extreme Emotional Swings – Quick rushes of emotional swings are common with BPD. This is similar to Bipolar Disorder where they go from one extreme to another.
6. Poor Self-Image– Just like with emotions, BPD also includes an unstable self-image. Someone with BPD can go from loving who they are, to absolutely hating themselves multiple times in the same day. This causes many changes in partners, friends, jobs, values, religions, and so on.
7. Extreme Anger – People with BPD usually experience quick bursts of anger. Going from a calm state of mind to belligerent and throwing things around in less than five minutes.
8. Suspiciousness and Unrealistic Viewpoints– People with BPD often feel paranoia and cannot distinguish between what is real or not. They may feel that others have bad motives and have a hard time trusting people.
9. Worthless and Empty Feelings – People with BPD often feel that there is always a piece of the puzzle missing. They try to fill in the void with short-term satisfaction, yet nothing will ever seem to help.

Learn More About Borderline Personality Disorder

Above are the most common examples of Borderline Personality Disorder to help you identify whether or not you or your loved one may have BPD. If you do, don’t worry, there’s help out there for you.

If you feel you have at least five or more of the symptoms, feel free to contact us for a therapy appointment to help you live your life better.