Characteristics of a Borderline Personality Disorder 

Characteristics of a Borderline Personality Disorder 

Researchers estimate that 1.6% of the adult U.S. population has borderline personality disorder (BPD), but as many as 5.9% of the population may deal with it, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The mental health condition involves patterns of instability in mood, self-image, and relationships with others, along with impulsiveness. The impact of BPD can impact every aspect of a person’s life, including their relationships, careers, and sense of reality. While anyone can have one of the types of borderline personality disorder, nearly 75% of people diagnosed with BPD are women, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Many people with BPD struggle with impulsive and potentially self-damaging behaviors, such as substance abuse. However, there are various types of borderline personality disorder that people may struggle with — and pinpointing the type can help with treatment. Specialzed therapies like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help patients with BPD learn to manage their symptoms effectively and lead fulfilling lives while developing healthier relationship patterns and coping skills.

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What Are the 4 Types of Borderline Personality Disorder?

Understanding borderline personality disorder requires knowing about the four main types of BPD — discouraged, impulsive, self-destructive, and petulant. Despite there being four unique types, patients can suffer more than one kind of BPD simultaneously or at different stages in their lives.

  1. Discouraged: This involves a deeply internalized struggle, where people often appear withdrawn and hesitant in social situations. They often battle intense feelings of worthlessness and fear of abandonment, yet they tend to suffer in silence rather than openly express their emotional troubles.
  2. Impulsive: This type of BPD entails intense emotional issues and unpredictable behavior patterns. People dealing with this condition often experience dramatic mood swings and display explosive anger when their needs aren’t met. They tend to form intense but unstable relationships, often changing how they perceive them between idealizing and devaluing.
  3. Self-Destructive: This deals with severe self-loathing and self-punishing behaviors. These people carry an overwhelming sense of worthlessness and often engage in various forms of self-harm as a way to cope with their emotional pain.
  4. Petulant: This type of borderline personality disorder is characterized by emotional volatility, impulsiveness, and an intense fear of abandonment. People with this type of BPD tend to be moody, irritable, and quick to express anger or frustration, often lashing out at friends and family.

 

What Does a BPD Mood Swing Look Like?

A person with BPD will often have intense mood swings that can be unpredictable and quickly shift from being relatively stable to an emotional crisis. They may be calm one minute but feel overwhelmed with sadness, anger, or anxiety the next. During a BPD mood swing, the person may act impulsively, say hurtful things they don’t mean, or make decisions they later regret. Their speech may become excessive as their behavior turns erratic, and they struggle to gain control over their emotions. Once the intense wave of emotion passes, they may feel ashamed, confused, and disconnected from their earlier state of mind. This emotional instability is one of the core aspects of borderline personality disorder and can make everyday life very challenging.

Characteristics of Borderline Disorder

What Is the Borderline Rage Cycle?

People with BPD often experience intense, uncontrollable bursts of anger, known as “borderline rage.” This type of rage is characterized by strong feelings of fury coupled with a loss of behavioral control. The borderline rage cycle typically follows a predictable pattern. It often begins with the person with BPD perceiving a real or imagined slight rejection or abandonment from someone close to them. This triggers an overwhelming sense of hurt, fear, and panic that quickly transforms into rage. During this state, they may lash out by making harmful accusations or issuing threats. Their behavior can become volatile and even physically aggressive. Once the rage subsides, the person is often left feeling ashamed and remorseful over their outburst. This cycle can repeat itself, straining relationships and leading to a pattern of intense conflict. Learning to manage and express anger in healthier ways is an important part of borderline personality disorder treatment.

Can Someone Have Depression and BPD?

Up to 10% of people with BPD will die by suicide, according to Mental Health America, so it is totally within the realm of possibility to have depression and BPD. In fact, it is quite common for people to experience depression and borderline personality disorder at the same time, with the conditions having overlapping symptoms and risk factors.

The intense feelings of emotional instability and trouble managing relationships that characterize BPD can contribute to the development of clinical depression. It can also be the opposite, with persistent issues of depression leading to mood swings in BPD. This connection between the two disorders requires careful assessment, either through clinical disagreement or a borderline personality disorder test that will require professional treatment to overcome. 

Find Treatment for the Types of Borderline Personality Disorder at Moment of Clarity

Dealing with BPD can be extremely difficult for everyone involved, but help is available. Moment of Clarity offers effective and compassionate outpatient mental health treatment in California. Our wide range of mental health services can treat various mental health disorders, including patients suffering from BPD. We are a physician-led mental health center featuring state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Our dedicated team of qualified professionals is focused on enhancing our clients’ mental well-being. Our outpatient treatment options, including IOP mental health treatment and teletherapy, help patients overcome their mental health issues through trauma-informed care and compassionate care. Regardless of how intense someone’s BDP is, we have mental health experts and treatment facilities to help. To find the best treatment for your mental health needs today, please call Moment of Clarity at 949-625-0564.

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