Warning Signs Of Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on May 29th, 2017
Updated on January 4th, 2024
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder that causes a poor self-image and self-destructive behavior. It is difficult to cope with BPD because the affected person’s self-esteem is low. As a result, the he or she believes that others do not value him or her. This causes a fear of abandonment. It also causes aggressive behavior and resentment toward others. BPD affects every part of a person’s life, including:
- Relationships
- Mood and emotions
- Overall mental health
- How one perceives and understands the world
- Self-image and self-esteem
BPD is a disorder that causes many behavioral issues. These issues are caused by the negative self-image and perception of the world. A person with BPD will not recognize his or her own responsibility in life challenges and issues.
Family members and close friends are the first to recognize signs of BPD. Friends and family are often negatively affected by their loved one’s behavioral issues. It can be difficult for a loved one to understand a person with BPD’s behavioral issues. The confusion and frustration that comes with dealing with the borderline behavior tends to cause loved ones to distance themselves from the person suffering from BPD.
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Click HereMood Swings and Aggressive or Passive-Aggressive Behavior
A person with BPD will exhibit unpredictable mood swings. He or she will unexpectedly or without apparent reason become aggressive with others. The aggression may either be direct or passive-aggressive. This behavior is fueled a fear of abandonment or not being valued. It contributes a great deal toward the relationship issues that people with BPD face.
A person with BPD suffers from great emotional distress as a result of poor self-esteem. This often results in impulsive and self-destructive behavior. The destructive behavior is usually fueled by anger and fear. It serves as a self-fulfilling belief that he or she is neither valued nor valuable.
Fear of Abandonment
A person with BPD will have an intense fear of abandonment. This fear triggers many of the problematic behaviors previously discussed. The fear of abandonment becomes so intense that it will cause the affected person to push others away. It will also cause dependent behavior. The combination of the two different behaviors causes a ‘push-and-pull’ dynamic between the affected person and the significant other. The result is unstable relationships.
A History of Unstable or Problematic Relationships
The result of the fear of abandonment and behavioral issues is unstable relationships. It is not uncommon for a person with BPD to engage in aggressive behavior toward loved ones. They will engage in ‘push-and-pull’ behavior. The affected person will test the boundaries and limits of his or her significant other.
People with BPD often have low self-esteem and poor self-image. This causes them to feel that they are undesirable. The belief that he or she is undesirable triggers the fear of abandonment. They often have the logic “they will eventually leave, so I want to beat them to the punch”. They fail to realize that their ‘unworthiness’ is not cause of the relationship issues. The issues are the result of the affected person’s own contentious behavior.
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