Do I Have Borderline Personality Disorder? How to Know if You Have BPD

From Springbrook Hospital –

Everyone on is different in that no two people think, feel, or behave the same way. An individual’s personality comprises thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These personality traits are shaped by our life experiences and make us who we are as people. However, when these traits become problematic, people may ask themselves, “Do I have borderline personality disorder?”

Luckily, our professional treatment center is available to answer all your questions about borderline personality disorder and how we can help.

What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder, also called emotionally unstable personality disorder, is not a mood disorder. Instead, it’s a health condition that interferes with a person’s ability to manage emotions properly. Additionally, a person diagnosed with BPD often has intense emotional responses to situations, a warped or unstable self-image, and volatile interpersonal relationships. This is because people with BPD have a personality that is not in line with social norms.

Even though BPD is a mental health condition that affects as much as two percent of the general population, many health experts still don’t fully understand what causes the disorder. However, they do know that BPD usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood, and research points to certain risk factors that may contribute to developing the condition. These include genetics, environment, and certain risk factors such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, bullying, and neglect in early childhood.

What Are the Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder?

Unfortunately, many people with borderline personality disorder are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. This is because symptoms like mood swings are common among other mental illnesses. In addition, the symptoms of borderline personality disorder are easy to mistake for other mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder.

As previously mentioned, the symptoms of BPD most often begin around the time of puberty and can differ from person to person. If you find yourself thinking things like, “Do I have borderline personality disorder?”, you should know that you will need to showcase at least five of the following symptoms for a doctor to give a diagnosis:

• Overwhelming mood swings that last hours to a few days
• Extreme anger and difficulty controlling rage
• Trouble maintaining relationships with family and friends
• An intense fear of abandonment and relying on extreme behaviors to avoid being abandoned
• A rapidly shifting sense of identity that leads to changes in goals, values, or actions
• Dissociating or being out of touch with reality
• Paranoid thoughts and delusions
• Constantly feeling empty inside
• Erratic and dangerous behaviors, including substance abuse, unprotected sex with strangers, reckless driving, or spending money you don’t have
• Suicidal ideation or self-harming behavior

BPD symptoms can resemble other health issues, like bipolar disorder, but there are self-tests to answer the question “Do I have borderline personality disorder?” Remember that a professional diagnosis is always the most accurate way to assess a mental health condition. But in some cases, self-tests can be useful in determining whether or not you need professional treatment for BPD.

Do I Have Borderline Personality Disorder?

If you think you or someone you know has borderline personality disorder, one way to get a clearer idea is by answering a few questions.

Respond to the 10 questions below by assigning one point for each “yes” response and zero points for each “no” answer.

1. Have you physically and intentionally hurt yourself or tried to commit suicide?
2. Are the vast majority of your closest relationships rocky or unpredictable?
3. Do you make impulsive decisions without first considering the consequences?
4. Have you noticed rapid and extreme shifts in your moods?
5. Do you often feel mad or lash out angrily?
6. Do you have a hard time trusting people?
7. Do you find yourself struggling with reality?
8. Do you feel persistent emptiness?
9. Do you have trouble understanding your own identity or feel like you don’t have an identity?
10. Have you taken drastic measures to avoid being left alone?

To understand your score, add the number of “yes” responses. A score of less than four suggests it’s unlikely you have BPD, while a score of five or six “yes” answers indicates that you may have BPD. If you answered “yes” to seven or more questions, you likely have BPD, and you should consult a licensed mental health professional to get an accurate diagnosis.

Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Options

Depending on your results, you might be able to answer your own question, “Do I have borderline personality disorder?” If you think you have it, Springbrook Behavioral Hospital’s intensive treatment program can help. Our sunny Florida location provides crisis stabilization and symptom reduction for adults who need relief from the symptoms of a mental disorder. Furthermore, our experienced clinicians and mental health experts can help you identify signs if you’re still unsure.

From there, our team of physicians, psychiatrists, and other care staff will create a personalized treatment plan tailored for you.

Individuals undergoing inpatient treatment can expect to participate in care options like:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Group therapy
• Family Counseling
• Medication evaluation and management
• Discharge and aftercare planning
• Relapse prevention

But whether you’re living with BPD, depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, etc., it’s common for mental health conditions to co-occur with addiction. That’s why Springbrook Behavioral Hospital also offers a specialized dual diagnosis program to help those with co-occurring disorders.

We also provide additional treatment programs, such as our partial hospitalization program (PHP), designed for individuals requiring a less intensive level of care. Alternatively, outpatient rehab is a great step-down option after completing an inpatient treatment program.

Get Help for Your Borderline Personality Disorder

At Springbrook Behavioral Hospital, we can help you answer the question, “Do I have borderline personality disorder?” Furthermore, our psychiatric care center offers around-the-clock care and the tools you need to manage your mental illness and live a healthy life.

If you have questions about our mental health rehabilitation program and would like additional information, please get in touch with us at 352-600-3288 or fill out our confidential online form. We are here to help you overcome the challenges of borderline personality disorder and get back on your feet.

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Original Author: Springbook Hospital