DSM IV
Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder
A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships,
self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early
adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five
(or more) of the following:
1. frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do
not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.
2. a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships
characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
3. identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
4. impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially
self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or
self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.
5. recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.
6. affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g.,
intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
7. chronic feelings of emptiness.
8. inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g.,
frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).
9. transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.
I’ve been diagnosed with this and personally that dx makes me REALLY angry! haha
Seriously, it’s embarrassing to be such a loser. I do seem to have pretty much all the symptoms except the anger. All my anger is directed at myself.
What causes Borderline Personality Disorder?
Marsha Linehan has developed a comprehensive sociobiological theory which appears to be borne out by the successes found in controlled studies of her Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
Linehan theorizes that borderlines are born with an innate biological tendency to react more intensely to lower levels of stress than others and to take longer to recover. They peak “higher” emotionally on less provocation and take longer coming down. In addition, they were raised in environments in which their beliefs about themselves and their environment were continually devalued and invalidated. These factors combine to create adults who are uncertain of the truth of their own feelings and who are confronted by three basic dialectics they have failed to master (and thus rush frantically from pole to pole of):
* vulnerability vs invalidation
* active passivity (tendency to be passive when confronted with a problem and actively seek a rescuer) vs apparent competence (appearing to be capable when in reality internally things are falling apart)
* unremitting crises vs inhibited grief.
DBT tries to teach clients to balance these by giving them training in skills of mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation.
Linehan has it nailed actually. I’m in a DBT group and have been for a couple of years. Whether I have the ability to actually learn and change at the age of 54 is another matter. I find my biggest obstacle to be my total lack of self-esteem. Or has my therapist likes to put it, my shame. I don’t like to even admit I feel shame. It makes me feel ashamed :p The only reason I am stable is that I’m a recluse for the most part. When there’s nothing to upset you you don’t get upset. Duh!
I also have a brain tumor and have had 2 surgeries on it but I’ll tell you, I’d take 100 brain tumors to have never had BPD. That is how much I despise this mental illness.
“Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, ‘Where have I gone wrong?’ Then a voice says to me, ‘This is going to take more than one night.”~Charles M. Schulz
