Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects 1.6% of people in the U.S. population. This disorder is often characterized by intense and unstable relationships with others, a distorted sense of self and/or extreme changes in emotions that influence thoughts and behaviors. Are you familiar with the symptoms of borderline personality disorder? If not, you can get a better understanding below. 

What are some of the most common symptoms of borderline personality disorder?

There are many symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder. If you’re interested, you can take our BPD quiz here. However, it’s important to remember that any diagnosis should come from a licensed clinical therapist. The most common symptoms of borderline personality disorder include:

• Frequent mood changes — One of the more common symptoms of BPD is frequent changes in mood or feelings. The casual observer may feel as if a person with BPD seems happy one moment and then angry the next. They may think it is difficult to predict how that person will react in any given moment.

• Difficulty controlling anger — In addition to experiencing changes in moods, someone with BPD may also struggle with extreme outbursts of anger. Their outbursts usually seem intense and inappropriate to onlookers.

• Intense, rocky relationships with others — A common symptom of borderline personality disorder is intense and unstable relationships with others. Someone with BPD may often go from idealizing a person to feeling anger and dislike for that person. They may feel that their relationships with others are not dependable.

• Extreme fear of abandonment — It’s common for people with borderline personality disorder to feel suspicious of others and believe everyone will abandon them. They may also behave in ways that they believe will prevent others from abandoning them.

• Feelings disconnected from self and reality — A symptom of BPD is feeling out of touch with oneself and as if they’re disconnected from reality. They may experience episodes of depersonalization and feel as if their life is not theirs.

• Pattern of self-harm or reckless behavior — Another symptom that commonly appears in people with BPD is a tendency to harm or endanger oneself. 

What are the benefits of treatment for borderline personality disorder?

You might be surprised to learn that there are many benefits that treatment for BPD can provide. Some of the benefits include:

• Teaching healthy coping skills — One of the top benefits of receiving treatment for BPD is that it can teach healthy coping skills.

• Teaching emotional regulation strategies — Most people with BPD have trouble regulating their moods and feelings. Treatment can provide strategies to manage emotions in a healthier way.

• Improving interpersonal relationships — Treating borderline personality disorder symptoms can also help clients rebuild and improve their interpersonal relationships. It may help them practice keeping more stable relationships with others.

• Boosting everyday functioning — Generally, treatment for BPD symptoms can help a person become better at functioning daily. It helps regulate their extreme highs and lows. It also provides a more stable platform for performing daily activities. 

Lightfully can treat your borderline personality disorder symptoms

Our mission is to provide data-driven, evidence-based and whole-person-centered care to clients with mental health disorders, including BPD. That’s why we’re confident that we can help you manage the symptoms of your BPD.

Lightfully offers various levels of care to both adults and teens: Residential Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), also referred to as our Day Treatment Program. We also offer a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP) for adults. We meet each client where they are and create an effective, personalized treatment plan, with each client’s plan fully customized for their needs.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.