(THIS IS FROM THE ACTUAL DSM5. I MADE IT SIMPLIFIED AND SHORTER SUMMARY WITH SOME ADDITIONAL INFO)
I have this summary hope it helps!
BPD isn't that easy to understand. BPD often very often gets mixed up with Autism, Bipolar, PTSD/C-PTSD, ADHD, Anxiety.
GENERAL Critea:
!A consistent way someone thinks, feels, and acts that is very different from what is usual in their culture. This pattern shows up in TWO OR MORE of the following areas:
1) Cognitive (ex: ways of perceiving and interpreting yourself, other people, and events).
2) Affectivity (ex: the range, intensity, lability and appropriateness of emotional response).
3) Interpersonal functioning (How you function in relationships with other people.)
4) Impulsive control
A-The consistent pattern is rigid and shows up in many different personal and social situations.
B-This pattern causes serious problems or distress in social life, work, or other important areas of daily functioning.
-General Personality Disorder:
A-The pattern is long-lasting and steady, and it can be traced back to at least your teenage years or early adulthood.
B-This pattern is not better explained by another mental health condition.
C-This pattern is not caused by the physical effects of drvgs, medications, or other medical conditions like head injuries.
!!!Diagnose Criteria!!! [ DC ]
A common pattern where someone's relationships, one's sense of who they are, and their feelings are often unstable, and they tend to act on impulse. This usually starts in early adult years and shows up in many different parts of life. NEED *ATLEAST* 5 OF FOLLOWING FOR A DIAGNOSIS (or more):
1) Intense fear of abandonment and being very worried,anxious, feeling stressed, overwhelmed about abandonment, even if it's imagined abandonment, which means it's just imagined and not actually happening abandonment. [*NOTE*: Do not include behaviors that involve thoughts of svicide or self harm behavior in 5)].
2) A repeated pattern of unstable and intense relationships with others, where feelings quickly switch between extremes. (Black - White thinking) From loving and idealizing (possible obsession, seeing them as completely perfect..) to devaluation or disappointed (possible Despising, anger, fear, feeling cold towards them..)
3) Identity disturbance. Having often no idea who you are, An unstable and constantly changing view of who you are. (Could be constantly hating or loving how you are, changing hobbies, goals, likes, dislikes suddenly) [*NOTE*: VERY UNSTABLE. It's normal to have no idea who you are yet and have changes in your life!]
4) Impulsivity. ATLEAST IN 2 AREAS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY SELF HARMING! (Ex: Spending, sex, drvgs, reckless driving, binge eating, stealing, lying, thrill seeking, self sabotaging relationship etc..) [*NOTE*: DOES NOT INCLUDE SVICDE AND SELF HARMING FROM 5!!)
5) Repeated svicidal behavior, threats, gestures, or self harm behaviors.
6) Having mood swings that change quickly and strongly, such as feeling depressed, irritable, anxious, euphoric, happy, hyper for a few hours, minutes, and mostly lasting / switching only a short time rather than days. Rarely CAN be days. [*NOTE*: not to mix up with bipolar! There the mood swings switch from Mania/Hypomania to Depression in mostly weeks, months. Sometimes days / about 3 days~]
7) Chronic feelings of emptiness, constantly feeling empty.
8) Getting intensively angry easily or/and having trouble controlling that anger. (Ex: often showing anger, constant anger / upsetness, getting into physical or/and verbal fights, getting angry about small things)
9) Sudden temporary paranoid thoughts and/or intense dissociation symptoms that are stress related, even if it's only something minor. [*NOTE*: If it's constant Paranoia and/or dissociation it could be something else like chronic dissociation, PTSD, schizophrenia..]
X-| Diagnostic and Features:
Borderline personality disorder is mainly about having very unstable relationships, a shaky sense of who you are, intense emotions, and impulsive actions that often cause problems in different areas of life. It usually starts in early adulthood.
(DC 1) When they sense that someone might leave or when their daily routines change unexpectedly, they can have strong reactions - feeling deep sadness, anger, anxiety, euphoria, dysphoria or despair. They might get upset over small things, like someone being a few minutes late, having to cancel a meetup, end a session early. Making them believe that it's abandonment. Feeling abandoned makes them feel that they are "bad." Their fear of being alone them try to keep others close, which can lead to impulsive behaviors like hurting themselves or even thinking about svicide. These acts are often ways to cope with feelings of rejection or to feel something when they feel empty inside.
(DC 2) Many people with this disorder have very intense and unpredictable relationships. They might initially see someone as perfect, caring, idealizing them, But soon after, their feelings can flip, and they might start thinking that the other person doesn't care anymore, is evil, devaluing them. Often it's heavy with one particular person, who's their "favorite person" (often called "FP") They feel emotionally dependent on them, feel like their lives would be over without them, even after switching. They react stronger with them, if they act slightly different, they can see it as a threat of abandonment. They might keep switching from obsession to hate. (Of course depending on the severity. Some might have it less severe!) Their view of others can change suddenly, from seeing someone as a hero to thinking they are mean, uncaring, a villain..., These shifts often happen after feeling betrayed or rejected by someone they trusted. It's called "splitting".
(DC 3) They also often struggle with a very unstable sense of who they are. This means their goals, beliefs, and even their ideas about things like careers or sexuality can change quickly. They might suddenly see themselves differently, from someone needing help to someone angry and vengeful. At times they feel like they don't exist at all, especially when they lack close relationships or support. This can make it hard for them to do well in school or work.
(DC 4) Impulsiveness is another key feature. They might take risks like gambling, overspending, binge eating, using drugs or alcohol, engaging in unsafe sex, or driving recklessly. Getting easily bored, they may constantly seek something to do.
(DC 5) Many will threaten or/and do attempt svicide and self harm especially when feeling rejected or overwhelmed. These acts are often ways to try to feel in control or to escape feelings of evil or guilt. Recurrent suicidality is often the reason that these individuals present for help. Self harm may occur during dissociative experiences and often brings relief by reaffirming the ability to feel, be real or deal with guilt. There are many different reasons why someone might turn to self harm.
(DC 6) They may display affective instability that is due to a marked reactivity of mood disorder may be troubled by chronic feelings of emptiness.
Their mood swings can be very intense and quick, lasting only hours or minutes or rarely a few days. They might often feel empty inside and seek constant activity or change to distract themselves.
(DC 8) Anger is common, they might have explosive outbursts or be sarcastic and bitter. This anger is usually triggered by feeling neglected or abandoned and can be followed by feelings of shame or guilt, reinforcing negative thoughts about themselves. There's also "silent BPD" which isn't a diagnosis itself or an official "type". There the anger is more silent and inside than loud and outward. They mostly somewhat hide the mood swings and try to hold back the anger, but still feel it with same intensity. It's less obvious and not as loud, but still the same. They frequently express inappropriate, intense anger or have difficulty controlling their anger. They may display in sarcasm, bitterness or outbursts. The anger is often when a loved one is seen as neglectful, withholding, uncaring or abandoning. Such expressions of anger are often followed by huge shame and guilt and contribute to the feeling they have of being evil.
(DC 7,9] During these huge stressful moments, they may temporarily experience paranoia and/or feel very disconnected from reality (dissociation, depersonalization) especially after fears of abandonment. Mostly lasting minutes or hours.
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1-Associated Features Supporting Diagnosis:
People with this disorder often sabotage themselves just before they are about to succeed (dropping out of school just before graduation or ending a good relationship when things seem to be going well.) Under stress, they might also temporary experience psychotic like symptoms; hallucinations, distorted perceptions, delusions..., They often feel more comfortable with objects like pets or possessions than with people. Many face repeated job losses, education disruptions, or separations from loved ones. Their childhoods often include experiences of abuse, neglect, or losing a loved one, which may contribute to their difficulties. This disorder often occurs alongside other mental health issues, like depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, eating problems (often bulimia), PTSD, ADHD or other personality disorders. But it often gets misdiagnosed too, due similarities.
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2-Development and Course:
The course of BPD varies. Most common experience is ongoing instability in early adulthood, with intense emotional ups and downs, impulsive behaviors, and possibly many hospital visits. However, these problems tend to improve some over time. As they get older, especially into their 30s and 40s, many find they have more stable relationships and are functioning better. Half of those diagnosed no longer meet all the criteria after around ~10 years of treatment and support. Having a family member with this disorder is about five times more common than in the general population, and childhood trauma is often linked to developing it.
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3-Differential Diagnosis:
Additionally, it's important to rule out mental changes caused by medical illnesses or drvg use and to distinguish this disorder from normal struggles with identity that are part of development, like in puberty with teenagers. (TEENAGERS CAN HAVE BPD THO!!)
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