There’s no specific test for diagnosing BPD but there are several common symptoms that a person with BPD would exhibit such as fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, impulsivity, unclear self-image, self-destructive thoughts or suicidal attempts, paranoia or sudden dissociation, etc.
Does Someone You Know Have Borderline Personality Disorder?
Answer the following questions to find out if someone close to you may have BPD. Please note this is not a diagnostic test.
BPD is a mental health condition that manifests in adulthood but is usually connected to something that happened in their childhood or may be due to their family history. Patient with Borderline personality disorder has a wide array of extreme mood swings that they cannot control. BPD has 4 forms:
- Impulsive
- Self-destructive
- Petulant
- Discouraged (also known as quite BPD)
| Type of BPD | Main Characteristics | Examples of Behaviors |
|---|---|---|
| Impulsive BPD | Impulsive actions without regard for consequences, may harm themselves or others. | Binge eating, reckless driving, impulsive shopping, or aggressive acts. |
| Self-Destructive BPD | Extreme self-hatred, self-harming behaviors, often engage in life-threatening activities without fear. | Cutting, burning, suicidal attempts, substance abuse. |
| Petulant BPD | Fear of abandonment, self-blame, internalized emotions, often appear calm but struggle internally. | Mood swings between anger and sulking, controlling behavior in relationships. |
| Discouraged (Quiet BPD) | Fear of abandonment, self-blame, internalize emotions, often appear calm but struggle internally. | Perfectionism, overachieving, self-isolation, hiding emotions. |
Impulsive BPD
In this form, the patient has no regard for others and they behave in an impulsive manner which may harm them and others. The patient has no sense of the “consequences” that happen due to their act. Their behavior alters with time. They may be energetic, detached or elusive, aggressive or bingeing, like binge eating or binge watching.
Self-destructive BPD
Patients with this type of BPD often have extreme self-hatred and bitterness about themselves and have no fear of life. They seek and indulge in life-threatening activities without any fear.
Their hate for themselves leads to self-harming behavior such as cutting, burning, hitting, and suicidal attempts. Along with these, theirs a high record of substance abuse among patients with BPD.
Petulant BPD
These patients have an alternating pattern of anger at one moment and sadness at the other. This causes instability in their relationships and a strong desire to control their relationship. These patients usually have a passive-aggressive way of expressing themselves with extreme mood swings between angry to sad and sulky and are very stubborn.
Discouraged (Quite BPD)
These people usually have a fear of abandonment and they blame themselves for everything. It is also known as quite BPD because they keep their feelings hidden and they try to overcompensate for everything as they blame themselves for every mishap.
These people seek approval but also self-isolate, try to be perfectionists, and try to be successful in everything.
Apart from BPD, there are other mental health issues too such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, mania, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Symptoms of a lot of these overlap with each other but a psychiatrist helps you to know which one you are suffering from.
There’s no specific test for any of these but based on your history, family history, and a specific questionnaire related to each disorder help them to diagnose the condition.
How To Help Them
A person with BPD may not be easy to tackle. When they are having an episode you have to stay calm and understand their situation that it’s not them who’s doing it. Try to provide them with distractions and remove the trigger from their surroundings.
Please explain to them that they are being understood and that you have sympathy for them. Other than this, you have to stay calm and consistent and wait till their episode passes. and as soon as their episode passes, get professional help.
Final Words
There are thousands of people who are affected and mostly there’s a history of childhood trauma with them. As common as it is becoming, there is a lack of awareness regarding this.
These people are often considered crazy and are not tackled properly. Professional help for such people is very necessary and may help them calm down and there could be a great decrease in the number of their episodes. Awareness regarding BPD should be given to avoid greater problems.
