Key Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder: What You Should Know

Mental disorders can be difficult to deal with. Aside from the emotional, mental, and physical disadvantages such disorders may cause the individual, they also affect the sufferer’s relationships and the way outsiders may view them.

Borderline Personality Disorder is one such mental problem that is troublesome to treat. Though similar to Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder is more extreme, making things tough for the sufferer and their family.

Differentiating the Two Mental Issues

Both Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder are serious mental issues, with Bipolar Disorder being more commonly known. For those who are unaware, the two mental health problems may seem to be the same as sufferers of both exhibit extreme mood swings. There are, however, some key differences.

Bipolar Disorder is more of a mood disorder with the sufferer swinging between extremes of sadness and happiness which can be very distressing or confounding to family, friends, and colleagues. On the other hand, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a personality problem where there is something wrong with how the sufferer thinks and behaves.

Those with Borderline Personality Disorder have difficulty maintaining relationships as they have strong fears of abandonment. While those with BPD also experience mood swings, the particular mood they feel is not as long lasting as those with Bipolar Disorder.

Key Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder

The following are some key signs of Borderline Personality Disorder that you should watch for:

Fear of Abandonment

Those with BPD are terrified of being left alone or abandoned. They always want their loved ones around, especially the significant other, and may seek to prevent them from leaving them alone.

When away, they may keep close tabs on them via phone or social media. However, rather than keeping loved ones close, such behavior usually drives them away.

Constant Feelings of Emptiness

People with BPD often feel empty inside, as if something is missing or as if they are incomplete. This often leads them to believe they are useless or worthless.

Distorted View of Themselves

Those with BPD usually have a shifting view about themselves as they are unsure about who they really are. Aside from affecting their self-worth, this may lead them to frequently change friends, goals, jobs, religion, or even sexual identity.

Intense Anger

Sufferers of BPD often have a short temper that leads to very intense anger outbursts. When triggered, they are often out of control – screaming, yelling, or smashing things.

Mood Swings

The moods of those with BPD can change quickly with them feeling happy one moment and then sad at another. Sufferers are easily affected by the words and actions of others around them which also influence their shifting moods.

Paranoia

Sufferers of BPD are often very paranoid about what others may be saying or doing. This naturally affects how they feel and think about others. Sometimes, when extremely stressed, sufferers may even experience dissociation (losing touch with reality).

Reckless, Impulsive Behavior

People with BPD often engage in reckless behavior, especially when their mood is down, as they want to fill the emptiness inside. Hence, they may drink heavily, use drugs, engage in risky sex, spend wantonly, or try other extreme activities just to feel a “rush.”

Self-Harming Behavior

Many with BPD exhibit suicidal behavior or self-harm. They often think about or discuss death, and may even attempt suicide. Some may also inflict bodily harm upon themselves. Such sufferers often have cuts, burns, or bruises in different parts of their body which they may keep covered to prevent unwanted attention.

Unstable Relationships

Sufferers of BPD have difficulty maintaining relationships as the relationships they have are often intense but short-lived. While the above-mentioned symptoms may contribute to driving others away due to the sufferer’s abnormal behavior, the sufferer also opts to end relationships as they quickly become disappointed, causing them to seek someone new.

Treatment for Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder

Thankfully, though difficult and still not 100%, BPD is still treatable to an extent. If professional help is sought, many of the symptoms can be reduced, if not eliminated, making life better for the sufferer.

Psychotherapy is the usual therapy method for those with BPD. Here, the sufferer’s unhealthy behavior is addressed by having them become more mindful of their emotions, thoughts, and actions.

Medication is often given to manage the mood problems of the disorder. There are tried and tested drugs available that can help during their times of sadness and anxiety, as well as help stabilize their moods.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a form of therapy specifically designed for BPD. Here, four areas are tackled to help the BPD sufferer. First, mindfulness to accept and act in the current moment is practiced so the sufferer can consciously take control of their thoughts and actions.

Second, the sufferer’s distress tolerance is increased so they can better handle their negative emotions, rather than run away from them through reckless behavior. Third, the sufferer learns techniques to manage their intense emotions and mood swings. And lastly, they are shown how to better relate with others in a respectful, yet assertive way.

Christian Counseling for Borderline Personality Disorder

Much stigma surrounds those with BPD, oftentimes making it hard for sufferers to seek help. However, not seeking help just makes things more difficult as Borderline Personality Disorder is something that one cannot resolve on their own.

Although secular help is available where the mental and physical aspects of BPD can be addressed, whenever possible, it is better to seek out Christian Counseling for Borderline Personality Disorder.

In Christian Counseling, the latest therapeutic techniques will also be used to treat the sufferer. If the BPD sufferer can become more mindful of what they are going through, then it is possible to reduce the worst of BPD’s symptoms.

But most importantly, the faith-based counselor will introduce the sufferer to the healing power of God. While much is said and seen about the mental and emotional anguish those with BPD deal with on a daily basis, there is also an often unseen spiritual battle that they fight as they deal with deep feelings of unworthiness that cause them to seek self-harm or even death.

By getting to know our Savior Jesus Christ, the person will learn that they are worthy and that they are loved. If this can be relayed to them through prayer and meditation on Scripture, then there will be a much greater chance of healing.

BPD is a very destructive mental issue indeed. If you or a loved one suspect that you are suffering from signs of Borderline Personality Disorder, seek help from a Christian counselor soon.