Borderline Personality Disorder (“BPD”) is a complex and often misunderstood mental health disorder characterized by a pattern of instability in 5 areas:
- emotions (moods),
- behaviour (impulses),
- relationships,
- self-image (identity), and
- cognition (when upset).
People with BPD often have intense mood swings, impulsive behaviour, unstable relationships, fear of abandonment, and a distorted self-image, which often leads to addictions and self-harm (including suicide). These behaviors can be seen as maladaptive methods of coping with extreme emotional pain.
The US National Institute of Health defines BPD as a “serious mental disorder marked by a pattern of instability in moods, behavior, self-image, and functioning”.
BPD is also known as “Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder” because it is a pervasive disorder of the emotion regulation system leading to self-harm and bad relationships. The emotional reactions of people with BPD are quicker, more intense/extreme, and take longer to return to baseline.
People with BPD are hyper-vigilant. They are highly sensitive and may notice small changes in others. They can have intense emotional reactions to small changes to the environment.
BPD belongs to the Cluster B personality disorders (along with Antisocial, Histrionic, & Narcissistic Personality Disorders), which share common features of emotional dysregulation, alterations in sense of self, a proclivity for erratic and dramatic cognition & behavior, and long-standing patterns of interpersonal relationship problems associated with insecure, often disorganized, attachment style.
BPD AMI intends to offer virtual and in-person education seminars to help understand BPD for people with BPD & their loved ones as well as for members of the healthcare & social services systems. If you would like to be added to a waiting list for one of these seminars, please send us an e-mail by clicking here.
For more information about BPD, click on the links below:
- You are not alone (famous people with BPD)