These symptoms are typical of a borderline person

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These symptoms are typical of a borderline person

People with BPD live in a state of permanent emotional instability. Women are particularly affected.

Borderline personality disorder was first characterized in 1938 as a state between neuroses and psychoses and then recognized in 1980 as a mental illness in its own right. It is characterized by a instability and hypersensitivity in relationships with others. “These are people hyperemotionalwho feel emotions more acutely than others and who function as emotional sponges“ explains Dr. Jean-Pierre Guichard, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and author of the book “Borderline disorder – To better understand borderline personality”. “The borderline person often has struggling to define oneself herself, she doesn’t really know who she is. This can go up to a feeling of not existing at all.” THE women are more affected by this disorder, since it represents two thirds of diagnoses.

The first symptoms begin in late adolescence

BPD usually begins between late adolescence and early adulthood. It is considered that the diagnosis can be established when the patient has at least 5 symptoms among the following 9:

  1. A fear of abandonment, real or imagined
  2. Unstable relationships characterized by an idealization of the other, then a devaluation
  3. A disruption of identity, of the notion of self
  4. Impulsivity in many areas: in terms of spending, sexuality, driving a car or even substance consumption
  5. Threats to suicide and self-mutilation
  6. Emotional instability with mood swings: sadness, anger, anxiety, etc.
  7. A chronic feeling of emptiness
  8. Intense and inappropriate anger
  9. Persecutory thoughts and dissociative symptoms in stressful situations

“Borderline” people have difficulty maintaining stable personal and professional relationships and making long-term plans. Most also develop risky behaviors: “57% are affected by the addictionsmany self-harm and 10% die by suicide“ explains Dr. Jean-Pierre Guichard. “These are people who will make frantic efforts to avoid abandonment. They actually suffer from attachment disorders. They live in a state of permanent emotional instability.”

Possible stabilization around age 40

We do not know all the causes that can lead to borderline disorder but it is believed that they depend on “42% of factors genetics and 58% social factors”. A so-called “invalidating” social environment, that is to say conducive to solitudecan lead to inability for the subject to connect to their emotions. Trauma, abuse and/or neglect are also contributing factors to borderline disorder: “62% of those affected have been victims of sexual abuse” specifies our interlocutor. A treatment psychiatric and medication of short time may prove beneficial. According to Dr. Guichard “two years of specialized therapy could allow symptoms to stabilize”. These symptoms also seem to stabilize on their own around the age of 40.

Thanks to Dr Jean-Pierre Guichard, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, specialized in the treatment of bipolar disorders and bipolarity/borderline disorder comorbidity and author of the book “Borderline disorder – To better understand borderline personality” published by Ellipses.

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