CHRISTIAN SINGLE’S GUIDE TO PERSONALITY DISORDERS
WHICH CAUSE DEPRESSION FOR BOTH THE PERPETRATOR AND THEIR VICTIMS
Chapter 25 Warning- A Christian Single’s Dating Disaster:
Narcissism And Other Personality Disorders
Borderline Personality Disorder
Raising questions, finding answers
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness
characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal
relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often
disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the
individual's sense of self-identity. Originally thought to be at the
"borderline" of psychosis, people with BPD suffer from a
disorder of emotion regulation. While less well known than
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), BPD is
more common, affecting 2 percent of adults, mostly young women. There
is a high rate of self-injury without suicide intent, as well as a
significant rate of suicide attempts and completed suicide in severe
cases. Patients often need extensive mental health services, and
account for 20 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations. Yet, with
help, many improve over time and are eventually able to lead
productive lives.
Symptoms
While a person with depression or bipolar disorder typically
endures the same mood for weeks, a person with BPD may experience
intense bouts of anger, depression, and anxiety that may last only
hours, or at most a day. These may be associated with episodes of
impulsive aggression, self-injury, and drug or alcohol abuse.
Distortions in cognition and sense of self can lead to frequent
changes in long-term goals, career plans, jobs, friendships, gender
identity, and values. Sometimes people with BPD view themselves as
fundamentally bad, or unworthy. They may feel unfairly misunderstood
or mistreated, bored, empty, and have little idea who they are. Such
symptoms are most acute when people with BPD feel isolated and lacking
in social support, and may result in frantic efforts to avoid being
alone.
