Symptoms There are many symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder, and many different variations. …show more content…
Some symptoms that Psych Central lists for borderline personality disorder are fear of abandonment, unstable personal relationships, unstable sense of self or self-image, impulsivity, suicidal and/or self-mutilating behaviors, unstable emotions, and severe feelings of emptiness (2014). Mayo Clinic adds onto that list by saying to be diagnosed with BPD a patient must have at least five of the symptoms listed above and adding on wide mood swings, frequent anger issues, and periods of paranoia (2014). Physical fights, frequent losses of temper, and other anger issues are another sign of BPD (Mayo Clinic, 2014). People suffering from BPD are also known for their risky and impulsive behavior. These may include risky driving, gambling sprees, unsafe sex, or the use of illegal drugs (2014). People with BPD often have an intense fear of abandonment (Psych Central, 2014). They often carry out frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, whether it is real or imagined (2014). These efforts often lead to changes in emotions, thinking, self-image, and behavior (2014). If abandonment is perceived, this could lead to inappropriate anger, and even cause self-mutilating or suicidal behavior (2014). Shifting goals, vocational aspirations, and values can mean an identity disturbance (2014). This also includes their outlook on themselves, but while their opinion on himself may change often they usually view himself as being bad or evil (2014). BPD patients often have frequently changing opinions and plans (2014). Changes could include their career, values, sexual identity, and types of friends (2014). Not only do their types of friends change, they also have problems with maintaining a stable relationship (2014). Relationships with someone with BPD are often intense and unstable (2014). They become very attached within a couple times of meeting, and start to idealize possible lovers or caregivers (2014). Right away they demand to spend a lot of time together and share very intimate details about themselves (2014). Often their feelings about a person shift drastically within a short amount of time because of thoughts that the other person does not care enough (2014). Prevalence The National Alliance on Mental Illness released statistics on the prevalence of borderline personality disorder (2014). The statistics show that BPD affects approximately 1-2% of the population (2014). To put this in perspective, the population of the US is about 319.4 million so 3,194,000 to 6,388000 people in the US alone are affected with BPD in a year (2014). On top of this number, about 5.9% of adults will be affected by BPD at sometime in their life (National Education Alliance Borderline Personality Disorder, 2014). This means that about 18.9 million Americans will have BPD in their lifetime. Out of the people admitted to psychiatric hospitals, 20% of them are diagnosed with BPD. In outpatient mental health treatment facilities the number is less, at 10% (2014). Having borderline personality disorder also increases your chances of developing more disorders (National Association of Mental Illness, 2014). Developing other disorders is very likely. 70% of people with BPD also have dysthymia, which is a chronic mild depression (2014). 60% of people diagnosed with BPD will also be diagnosed with a major depressive order (2014). Other disorders that are common among patients with BPD are an eating disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, antisocial personality disorder, or a narcissistic