BPD Symptoms and Traits

Symptoms according the DSM-5

affective (emotional) instability including intense, episodic emotional anguish, irritability, and anxiety/panic attacks
anger that is inappropriate, intense, and difficult to control
chronic feelings of emptiness
self-destructive acts such as excessive spending, unsafe and inappropriate sexual conduct, substance abuse, and reckless driving
recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats, or self-injuring behaviors
a markedly and persistently unstable self-image
suspiciousness of others thoughts about you, even paranoid ideation, dissociation
engages in frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
relationships that are intense, unstable, and alternate between extremes of idealizing and undervaluing people important to them

Traits of BPD

Symptoms according the DSM-5

out of body experiences-feeling as though they are on the outside of themselves looking in, chronically feel like everyone else around them has a capacity to feel good, be liked, and experience love, while they cannot
insecurity-it is unsettling, nagging, and dictates their actions, behaviors, thoughts, and beliefs
hatred of the self-obsessive self-hatred, clinginess in relationships, outlandish behavior, and dramatic episodes
paranoia and suspicion-feeling as though everyone is plotting against them, the closer the relationship, the more difficult trust is to maintain, when slighted, betrayed, or lied to, they can lash out at themselves and others
impulsivity-lack of self-control is due to an instability to regulate emotions, self-harm, suicide attempts, tattoos, piercings, promiscuous sex, impulsive behaviors help the high amounts of energy and emotion be expressed

More BPD Traits

Symptoms according the DSM-5

"Embarassing" BPD Traits

ruminating thoughts-they tend to start an endless cycle of loop thinking, obsessing over their insecurities and deficiencies
lack of self-identity-their personality has no start or finish, they struggle to maintain personal boundaries, codependency is common
intense fear of abandonment-will even go to extreme measures to avoid it
feelings of isolation, boredom, or emptiness-as well as worthlessness
high sexual drive-which helps to lead to unsafe and promiscuous sex
self-sabotage-things will be going well, too well, and that's when they sabotage it, from jobs to relationships and everything in between
feeling as though they can be rejected at any moment-they are always on high alert
they lack object constancy-if their partner leaves their field of vision, suddenly they become scared they are being hurt or abandoned
they never know which thoughts are theirs and which are BPD

"Embarassing" BPD Traits

the reality of the tremendous extremes you really will go to to avoid being abandoned
constantly craving reassurance and validation, with any amount just never being enough
black and white thinking-believing that someone or something is one of only two possible things and ignoring any possible "in-betweens"
paranoia about other people-it is the experience of feeling threatened, persecuted, or conspired against, suspicion regarding the motives of others
being unable to take criticism-you immediately jump to the defense and become angry
feeling like you're "too much"-too much for people to handle, too many emotions, too much intensity, etc
manipulating others without meaning to-usually they don't even realize that this is happening

Possible Traits

"Embarassing" BPD Traits

Possible Traits

apt to perceive they are not well liked by others, however, in actuality, others often appreciate their company due to a "go with the flow" attitude, independent spirit, and charismatic personality
may choose to dye hair in non-traditional colors, have a penchant for new looks, likely pertains to identity-related issues
may prefer communicating in symbols, pictures, and analogies rather than solely words
might have a particularly difficult time trusting others, especially those closest to them
often view issues from a "glass half empty" point of view
may easily lose motivation to move forward in a relationship if there is even a slight perception of rejection
risk-taking and seize the day mentality revered
their decisions are very often made based on hunches and intuition

More Characteristics

"Always" and "never" statements-declarations that are commonly used but rarely true

Catastrophizing-automatically assuming a "worst-case" scenario and inappropriately characterizing minor or moderate problems or issues as catastrophic events

Circular conversations-arguments which go on almost endlessly, repeating the same patterns with no resolution

Confirmation bias-tendency to pay more attention to things which reinforce your beliefs than to things which contradict them

"Control-me" syndrome-describes a tendency which some people have to foster relationships with people who have controlling, narcissistic, or antisocial natures

Denial-believing or imagining that some painful or traumatic circumstance, event, or memory does not exist or did not happen

Dependency-inappropriate and chronic reliance by someone on another individual for their health, decision-making, or emotional well-being

Dissociation-a mental departure from reality

Emotional abuse-pattern of behavior directed at an individual by another which promotes in them a destructive sense of fear, obligation, or guilt (FOG)

Emotional blackmail-system of threats and punishments used in an attempt to control someone's behavior

Fear of abandonment-an irrational fear that one is in imminent danger of being personally rejected, discarded, or replaced

Feelings of emptiness-an acute, chronic sense that daily life has little worth or significance, leading to an impulsive appetite for strong physical sensations and dramatic relationship experiences

Gaslighting-practice of brainwashing or convincing someone that they are going insane

Harassment-any sustained or chronic pattern of unwelcome behavior by one individual to another

Impulsiveness-the tendency to act or speak based on current feelings rather than logical reasoning

BPD Support Group

BPD Symptoms and Traits

Symptoms according the DSM-5

Symptoms according the DSM-5

Symptoms according the DSM-5

Traits of BPD

Symptoms according the DSM-5

Symptoms according the DSM-5

More BPD Traits

Symptoms according the DSM-5

"Embarassing" BPD Traits

"Embarassing" BPD Traits

"Embarassing" BPD Traits

"Embarassing" BPD Traits

Possible Traits

"Embarassing" BPD Traits

Possible Traits

More Characteristics

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