What Is Borderline Personality Disorder

QUESTION: What is borderline personality disorder?

ANSWER:

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition that begins in early childhood but is often not fully displayed until young adulthood (early to mid-20s). The cause of BPD is not fully understood, but some authorities believe it may be a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. These chemicals (neurotransmitters) help balance mood, genetic, and environmental influences. This mental health disorder is more common among people whose family members also have BPD. It is also noted that many people who have developed this disorder have suffered a major trauma in early childhood. The trauma may be physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect or perhaps a stressful or disturbing detachment from a parent.

Sufferers of Borderline Personality Disorder display many symptoms that are also common in other disorders. This often makes it difficult to accurately diagnose BPD until its later stages. These symptoms include:

• unstable emotions
• impulsiveness
• unhealthy self-image
• difficulty controlling anger
• intense feelings of rejection/abandonment
• self-mutilating