Can someone explain borderline personality disorder

**trixies** · 03-26-2010 02:22 PM

A friend of mine was seeing a counselor at one point and was told she might have BPD.

She lies all day long, all she thinks about is guys and needs constant approval, she is cheating on her husband and has been since even before they were married.

She gets jealous easily. One time I became friends with her "boyfriend" on facebook, so she put me on some alert where if i ever left a message on facebook for someone or if anyone ever sent me a message, she would get an instant alert. She is mad because her husband "may have" cheated, but she does it all the time with many guys!

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 03-26-2010 03:17 PM

The main feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and emotions.

People with borderline personality disorder are also usually very impulsive.

This disorder occurs in most by early adulthood. The unstable pattern of interacting with others has persisted for years and is usually closely related to the person’s self-image and early social interactions.

The pattern is present in a variety of settings (e.g., not just at work or home) and often is accompanied by a similar lability (fluctuating back and forth, sometimes in a quick manner) in a person’s emotions and feelings. Relationships and the person’s emotion may often be characterized as being shallow.

A person with this disorder will also often exhibit impulsive behaviors and have a majority of the following symptoms:

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation
Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self
Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)
Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior
Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)
Chronic feelings of emptiness
Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms

As this usually stems from adolecense, I would say that she didn't have approval or encouragement from her parents.. I'd also say that she has no self worth and is constantly therefore, seeking approval, hense the constant "men" in her life.

What about girlfriends? Does she have many? I would say that she may even out them.. preferring to seek men's attention instead.

She needs to go back to a counselor... She needs to find herself, and settle herself down.

CW

**sperosi** · 03-28-2010 10:48 AM

it is horrible, and i feel sorry for her.

i have been told i have this by someone who should know. it feels terrible, and CW is right, she does need to get help.

**eleni** · 04-02-2010 01:45 PM

i have a friend who has borderline personality disorder.
its an awful thing.
CW pretty much explained it perfectly
she cant deal with this by herself
so professional help is a good good plan x

**cinnamonheart88** · 04-03-2010 06:40 PM

Borderline personality disorder is tricky to diagnose and understand because it is a combination of several other disorders mainly depression. Someone who has boarderline is very untrusting of others and has a very hard time maintaining a healthy relationship with people. People with borderline tend to be very manipulative and usually take a negative perspective on an otherwise neutral comment. Its hard to explain but i think CW did a much better job. Im in psychology but they don't go into the disorders too much. I know that people who have borderline personality disorder are very hard to be friends with so shes lucky to have you. Just try to let her know that you are there for her

**eleni** · 04-05-2010 06:47 AM

um its not a combination of other disorders.
its a personality disorder which is a different class.

depression is a mood disorder
and BPD is a personality disorder.

people with BPD can experience depression/mania generalised unstable mood
but it is part of the personality disorder and generally caused by the way they react to certain things.

**eleni** · 04-05-2010 06:54 AM

thought of something else -

the symptoms themselves can mimic other illnesses, perhaps thats what you meant? but in order to be BPD they need to present with patterns of behavior that match the diagnostic criteria.