Symptoms of BPD

Hello hello hello, baddies! Welcome to another post. This time, I'll be sharing some of the symptoms of BPD and talking about them. Most of these are symptoms I experience, though not every borderline is the same, so having or not having some of these symptoms does not mean you have or don't have BPD. 

 

1: emotional instability

People with BPD experience extreme emotional instability. Psychologically, this is called "affective dysregulation". This can be experienced as extreme and sudden mood swings. Often times, my mood can instantly change to the opposite with no warning. 

2: splitting 

Borderlines experience something called "splitting". Splitting is when an individual with BPD suddenly changes their opinion, thoughts, and feelings about either themselves or someone else. This can be triggered by many things, such as their FP (favorite person; we'll discuss that in a later post) leaving them on delivered for a long time or when someone says something extremely triggering to the individual. I will make a post exclusively on splitting, so if you'd like to learn more about that, watch out for that post.

3: impulsive behavior

Many individuals with BPD have extreme impulsivity when it comes to decision-making. This can range from deciding to suddenly dye your hair a bright color to randomly leaving the country for no reason other than your BPD telling you to do it. This impulsive behavior is often risky and dangerous, and can lead to drinking, drugs, unprotected sexual activities, and other unsafe actions. These impulses can be controlled, as can many of these symptoms, with the proper medication and treatment. 

4: intense yet unstable relationships

Having BPD means you feel everything to the extreme. This includes feelings in relationships, whether platonic or romantic. Borderlines often get into relationships very quickly, and these relationships can end just as quickly. Usually, borderlines will feel extreme feelings towards the other party, which aren't always reciprocated. A professional may help you to learn how to build and enter proper relationships with others. 

5: fear of abandonment

Everyone has a bit of a fear that their loved ones may leave them, but for borderlines, this fear is incredibly strong. Because of that, they may behave in ways that don't actually help the situation. They may push the other person away and leave in order to not be left first. This ties into relationships as well.

6: threats and actions of suicide or self-injury

Borderlines, as well as many other disorders, may threaten to end their lives or hurt themselves. They may also attempt to kill themselves or hurt themselves. Self harm and suicide comes in many forms. I will make a post about self-injury and suicide exclusively. 

7: inappropriate strong anger

Being someone with BPD, I often experience intense rage. This isn't like normal anger. This anger where you may get extremely violent, attack others both verbally and physically, and other extreme behaviors. 

8: hypersexuality

Whew. This is a big one. Hypersexuality is a very sensitive, dare I say taboo, subject. In a very brief way, hypersexuality is when an individual has an intense focus on, even addiction to, sexual activities and fantasies, urges, or behaviors that cannot be controlled. While not everyone with BPD experiences this, many do, and it is a serious topic that needs it's own post to be discussed. 

9: ongoing feelings of emptiness and negative self-perception 

Having BPD often makes me feel like I'm worthless, an awful person, not even human, ugly and disgusting, and many other negative feelings. I will often feel empty and like I mean nothing and don't matter. These are all cognitive distortions, and part of a disturbed pattern of thinking. This, too, can be handled and controlled by the right treatment. 

These here are a few symptoms of BPD. If you experience many of these, I recommend seeking professional psychiatric help. Once again, do NOT self-diagnose; talk to a professional about your diagnosis. And I will also say once again, I am NOT a professional; I am simply sharing what I know about BPD and discussing my experiences as someone with the disorder. I hope this was helpful in any way to you. Bye-bye, baddies!