{"id":7976,"date":"2019-07-08T05:55:30","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T05:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7976"},"modified":"2021-11-09T14:13:36","modified_gmt":"2021-11-09T14:13:36","slug":"14-behavioral-symptoms-of-borderline-personality-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-behavioral-symptoms-of-borderline-personality-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Behavioral Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People who are suffering from borderline personality disorder find that their life experience is akin to a ride on an emotional rollercoaster. Affected individuals struggle with maintaining a stable balance in their lives, with many having issues with self-image and self-confidence, leading to frequent feelings of uncertainty and depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People dealing with borderline personality disorder feel disconnected from their life. They may find that they frequently change their habits, and what they like and dislike \u2013 including people, food, and hobbies. BPD makes it challenging for the affected individual to maintain relationships and intimacy with their partner, resulting in strain between the partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is possible to lead a normal, productive, and healthy life if you suffer from the condition. Physicians use medications to manage the patient’s emotional state, and studies show that this treatment is effective at giving the patient back control of their emotional state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight behavioral symptoms of BPD. If you notice any of them in yourself, your partner, or a family member, speak to a doctor for a diagnosis of your condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.    Instability in Relationships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with borderline personality disorder<\/a> tend to struggle with maintaining a healthy relationship with their partners. As a result of the condition, the patient may find that they experience extremes in emotion regarding how they feel about their relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s common for people with BPD to either decide that their partner is the love of their life, and the one they have waited for all their days. However, they may be quick to turn on their partner and change their feelings on a whim, with no rhyme or reason for their actions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with BPD may also struggle to maintain relationships with friends. They tend to cut their friend off from their life at the first sign of disloyalty or disagreement with their thinking. As a result, people who are suffering from BPD may find that they push people away, forcing themselves into isolation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family members are also at the mercy of the condition, and the affected individual may be quick to cut family ties during an emotional outburst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.    Abandonment Fears<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Considering that people who are suffering from BPD are quick to turn away from people in their social groups, their partners, and even their family members \u2013 it’s surprising to learn that most patients have a deep fear of abandonment and isolation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some patients don’t like the idea of being left alone, and they require constant reassurance from others. Patients with BPD may become clingy to their partner, resulting in irritation <\/a>that causes arguments and forces the relationship to break down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people who are suffering from BPD may develop severe distrust in their partner, accusing them of cheating on them or looking for another partner. Some patients may also resort to an emotional breakdown in the hopes of maintaining their relationship, resulting in severe cases of jealousy that may lead to conflict in the relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the behavior exhibited by people with BPD toward their partner often drives the person away instead of bringing them together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3.    Self-Destructive and Impulsive Behaviors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with the effects of a borderline personality disorder, struggle with balancing their emotions <\/a>and their physical experience. As a result of this imbalance, the patient may find that they develop reckless or impulsive behavior that puts their health and safety in jeopardy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BPD causes a disconnect in emotions and the physical world, and patients may engage in thrill-seeking behavior to increase dopamine production in the brain, resulting in heightened sensations of pleasure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s common for patients with BPD to engage in activities such as unsafe sex or sex with multiple partners. Patients may also be inclined to experiment with drugs and alcohol, resulting in dependency issues on the substance in question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This risk-taking behavior may feel great at the time, but the patient eventually ends up experiencing a low after the adrenaline, hormones, and neurotransmitters return to lower levels. This rapid swing in emotion may lead to depression and suicidal thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4.    Self-Image Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with borderline personality disorder find that they have an internal battle with their self-image. Patients experience highs in their life where they believe that they can overcome any problem or obstacle that life throws at them. However, they also experience terrible emotional lows that lead to depression <\/a>and feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of these changes in mental state, the patient may display manic behavior at times, followed by intense feelings of self-hatred. These issues with self-image may be challenging to overcome, and it’s common for patients who are suffering from the effects of BPD to descend into a downward spiral of emotions that may end up with them trying to commit suicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with BPD should consider talking to a clinical psychologist. Talking about your feelings and emotions is the easiest way to begin to control your mind and your actions. 
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5.    Anger Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with a borderline personality disorder, struggle to maintain an emotional balance. As a result of their swings in mood<\/a>, they may be quick to turn to anger when presented with a problem or situation that makes them feel uncertain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many patients with BPD have a very short fuse, and they are prone to developing bursts of anger. The patient may direct these emotional outbursts toward their partners or family members, and they may feel regret about their actions in the following days, resulting in the development of depression when they realize the extent of their actions against the people they love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the patient may also develop intense feelings of regret. These feelings may quickly turn to depression and confusion, and the patient may find themselves becoming agitated and frustrated at themselves. Angry patients may not always lash out at others. Instead, they may choose self-harm as a coping strategy to deal with their feelings of despair.
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6.    Mood Swings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are living with the effects of borderline personality disorder have issues with maintaining emotional balance <\/a>in their life. They act similarly to those patients who are dealing with bipolar disorder \u2013 a condition that results in displays of manic and depressive behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with BPD may find that they experience emotional highs where they feel unstoppable and ecstatic at the events in their life, followed by intense low periods of depression where they feel agitated and aggressive toward others.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients may also feel despondent at times, akin to a blank slate devoid of emotion. However, these mental states tend to change quickly, as opposed to bipolar patients that may experience emotional difficulties for days on end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your loved one, partner, or friend exhibits rapid changes in emotion, they may be dealing with BPD. It’s best for the patient to consult with a mental health professional for a diagnosis of their condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7.    Paranoia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with a borderline personality disorder may find that they struggle with feelings of paranoia<\/a>. The nature of the condition may cause them to question the motives of others, making them skeptical about the person’s intentions. These feelings of fear come and go, and might be more intense in some patients than in others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who are stable relationships tend to experience less distrust with others compared to those individuals that live alone. Paranoia can become frustrating for the partner of the affected individual. It’s challenging to maintain a relationship when your [partner constantly questions you about your whereabouts and actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The constant inquisition into the partner’s behavior may result in frequent fighting between the couple, leading to separation or divorce. Patients may also feel that their boss at work is singling them out in front of their work colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some patients with BPD may develop dissociation, where they feel as if they are outside their body looking at themselves, unable to control their actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.    Feelings of Emptiness or Loneliness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with a borderline personality disorder may experience sensations of emptiness and loneliness, especially if they are single and live alone. BPD causes the patient to get lost in their negative emotions, resulting in extended periods of depression where the patient feels like they have nothing to offer the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These feelings of unworthiness exacerbate into self-hatred and blame, where the patient may feel sensations of guilt at their actions, causing the onset of a downward emotional spiral that leads to thoughts of suicide or self-harm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients may gain some relief from talking to a clinical psychologist about their feelings. However, patients with BPD may experience sporadic feelings of depression, isolation, or loneliness at times when they don’t have a doctor’s appointment, causing them to deal with the situation on their own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support is critical for people who are suffering from BPD, but patients often shy away from asking their loved ones for help due to their low self-image.
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9. Thoughts of Self Harm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with borderline personality disorder find they suffer from overwhelming negative emotions that lead to the development of depression. Depression is a severe problem in these individuals, and it does damage their self-esteem<\/a>. Some people with the disorder might find themselves thinking about self-harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They might decide to hurt themselves using sharp instruments, and in some cases, they hide the scarring away from sight in their upper legs. These individuals may also wear long sleeves to disguise the damage they do to their arms. Self-harm is a cry for help in many cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the affected individual doesn’t receive emotional support to help them through their problems, they may end up taking their life. If you know someone dealing with these issues, or if you’re dealing with them yourself, know there is help and plenty of people out there that care, all you have to do is reach out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Trust Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with BPD often find themselves developing paranoia. These individuals may think that people in their family or close friends turn against them and plot their demise. These individuals are delusional in most cases, and they are suffering from the effects of paranoia due to trust issues with people in their life. People with BPD often shy away from others, and they lead secretive lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might wonder what they’re up to, and the reality is that they are avoiding you. Suppose you have a family member that seems off psychologically<\/a>, and they spend large amounts of time by themselves away from other people. In that case, it might be a sign of borderline personality disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality is that these people may have trust issues because they feel they can’t open up emotionally to anyone. They have no one in their life to confide with, and they feel that no one understands what’s going on in their mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Feeling Out of Touch with Reality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are dealing with borderline personality disorder’s effects find that they struggle with staying in touch with reality. They may wander off mentally and lose track of their train of thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These individuals have low attention spans, and there’s even some medical speculation that the condition might have ties to ADHD <\/a>in some individuals. The person that feels the impact on their mental space may not even be aware of their behavior, and they might need someone to call them out on it before they realize it’s a problem. People with BPD are always on a rollercoaster of emotion, and they bounce between depressed and manic states, similar to people with bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many doctors misdiagnose BPD as a case of bipolar, and the patient doesn’t receive the correct treatment. Diagnosing the disorder is challenging, and it may take doctors several consultations to draw their conclusion in their diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Eating Disorders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People dealing with BPD might find they develop an eating disorder. The effects of the condition might cause them to feel sensitive about their body weight or appearance. As a result, they might become obsessed with losing weight. These individuals might decide to starve themselves in an attempt to lose the excess weight, doing themselves hard in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people stop eating for long periods, they develop problems with their mineral balance. Your mineral balance between sodium, potassium<\/a>, and other critical minerals helps keep your body working. When we disrupt that balance, we may start experiencing physical symptoms of dehydration and even end up getting seizures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the person develops an eating disorder, they’ll need rehabilitation and psychological evaluation to see if they can recover from the problem. Some of the common eating disorders associated with BPD include bulimia and anorexia. If left unmanaged and untreated, the affected individual can end up with severe complications related to malnutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Anxiety Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with BPD often develop issues with anxiety<\/a>. The stress of the disorder creates an imbalance in cortisol production in the body. As a result of this hormone flooding the bloodstream, the affected individual feels like they remain in the fight-or-flight response all day. As a result, the affected individual can experience adrenal fatigue, a symptom associated with the negative feedback loop established with cortisol overproduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The affected individual starts to find they develop symptoms of a high-anxiety disorder. Some of the signs of the condition involve elevated heart rate and heart palpitations, and an impending feeling of doom. People with anxiety are also more likely to develop other mental health disorders, like depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re feeling anxious, visit your doctor for an appointment. Your physician may recommend you use prescription drugs to control your symptoms. However, it’s important to keep to the dosing guidelines set by your doctor. Overuse or abuse of anti-anxiety medication can cause problems with addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Apply Mindfulness Techniques to Overcome BPD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who are suffering from the effects of BPD notice a significant drop in their quality of life. BPD causes so many psychological issues in affected individuals, and they might never recover to normal mental function. However, it is possible for individuals dealing with BPD to mitigate their symptoms <\/a>and lead a somewhat normal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with BPD spend most of their time fighting with their emotional state. Accepting your condition is the first step to your recovery, and it’s often the most challenging step for most patients. Learning to live with your emotions is a part of life. By exercising mindfulness techniques, you can prevent yourself from getting lost in the spiral of negative emotions you experience during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Permit yourself to understand what you’re feeling, and don’t deny those feelings. By giving your mind permission to have these emotions, you’re lessening the power they have over you. The next time you feel caught in the situation, try to look at yourself from outside yourself and ask yourself what emotions are making you feel this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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