A Picture of Borderline Personality Disorder

Symptoms of
Borderline Personality Disorder
(BPD)

• Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.


• Alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation (generally called splitting).


• Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.


• Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g. spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating).


• Suicidal behavior or self-harming.


• Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood.


• Chronic feelings of emptiness.


• Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger.


• Paranoid ideation

I love you. Please don't leave me.

I need you right next to me all the time.

If you aren't with me, I'm scared you'll stop loving me.

You're a nice person, I'll do anything for you.

You're a bad person, evil. You deserve bad things. I hate you.

I don't care what I said yesterday. This is how I feel about you today.
Check back tomorrow.

I'm a good person. I hate myself.

I want a career. I can't decide what to do with my life.

I like myself. I don't even want to look at myself.

I have sex with many partners because it makes me feel loved.

The more I eat, the better I feel.

I'm not such a freak when I'm high.

The only time I feel anything is when I cut.

I'm worthless. I deserve to die. The world would be a better place without me.

Red is the only color in my black and white world.

I'm full of energy. I can do anything. I'm so happy!

I don't even have the strength to get out of bed.

Everything you do annoys me.

I'm so alone.

What's the point in anything. I don't even care.

All I can do is cry.

All I can think about is what you did wrong. I can't control myself.

I have to scream so you'll know how angry I am.

I break stuff because I feel broken inside.

People are whispering. They must be talking about me.

I saw how you looked at me. You think I'm crazy.

I can't remember what I did yesterday.