Borderline personality disorder (BPD) presents nine classic symptoms that range from black-and-white thinking to mood swings to avoidance. As such, your experience of BPD is going to be extremely different than someone else’s.
Due to this variety, Dr. John M. Oldham, M.D. proposed a theoretical representation for ten unique types of BPD. Within this article, we’re going to review the five most common types of BPD and how they can affect you.
Common BPD Symptoms
When it comes to borderline, the nine most common symptoms include:
- Black-and-white thinking (also known as “splitting”)
- Dissociation
- Distorted self-image
- Feelings of emptiness
- Frantically avoiding abandonment
- Impulsive behaviors
- Intense mood swings
- Irritability (uncontrollable anger)
- Suicidal ideation and/or self-harm
People with BPD do not experience all of these symptoms simultaneously. Instead, these are what have been laid out by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) as a means for medical professionals to identify and diagnose BPD. ¹
Since these symptoms are so unique, people often have vastly different experiences with BPD. As a result, there are five subtypes you may fall under:
Type 1: Affective
Do you struggle to control your emotions? Do you have intense mood swings, especially when it comes to other people in your life?
Affective BPD is characterized by emotional dysregulation that presents itself most commonly in interpersonal relationships. These relational stresses often lead to anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
While affective BPD is most common in romantic relationships, it can develop through friends and family. For example, if a friend is angered or disappointed by you, you may assume your relationship with them is over and develop anxiety over this. ²
Affective BPD plays a significant role in someone’s day-to-day life. On one hand, mean comments from another individual may make someone feel hopeless. On the other, even after one feels hopeless, they may find themselves hearing their favorite tune and suddenly becoming overjoyed.
Type 2: Impulsive
Do you ever feel as though you lack control of yourself? Impulsive BPD happens when you lose control of your behaviors and emotions. As a result, this can lead to:
- Binge eating
- Compulsive shopping
- Risky sexual behavior
- Self-injury
- Substance abuse
Impulsive behavior often leads to shame. While it’s natural to feel guilt for bad decisions, impulsive BPD makes it more difficult to let go of past judgments. ³
If you struggle with this type of BPD, it’s vital to remember there is always an opportunity for change. Talk to a mental health professional and find out how you can work towards acting under thought rather than impulsivity.
Type 3: Aggressive
Do you have uncontrollable aggression? Does it appear in inappropriate circumstances?
Aggressive BPD is marked by a person’s temperament and might be a secondary response to trauma. In most cases, it appears from childhood trauma. ⁴
If you have aggressive BPD, you likely misobserve little details within interactions. For example, you may find a specific facial expression a threat and then create a fight. As such, this tension can make it difficult for you to develop interpersonal relationships.
If you struggle with aggressive BPD, the best thing you can do is discover your “red flag.” When do you feel your anger rising within you? What does it make you want to do? By identifying these emotions, you can consciously decide to walk away from them.
Type 4: Dependent
Dependent BPD can be seen as “clingy,” especially in romantic relationships. Do you struggle to be alone? Do you find it difficult to know yourself outside of other people?
The most common reason you “cling” to someone is out of fear of abandonment. You’ve most likely experienced a childhood trauma and this dependence on others has made adulthood more difficult. You have difficulty making decisions and having experiences on your own. You may also be hesitant towards others when they set boundaries.
Dependent BPD is often diagnosed with other personality disorders, such as identity struggles. You may struggle to develop personal traits without getting ideas from other people. ⁵
Type 5: Empty
Empty BPD is marked by identity issues. More specifically, trust issues. These are usually products of neglect, abuse, or invalidation in your home growing up.
Beyond trust issues, you may face difficulties setting personal goals for yourself. Or, you feel an emptiness that doesn’t allow you to live a fulfilling life. ⁶
In many regards, these symptoms may feel more like longing than emptiness. You long for something you currently don’t have, whether it’s a better position in your career or a relationship with someone.
References
¹ Chapman J, Jamil RT, Fleisher C. Borderline Personality Disorder. 2023 Jun 2. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 28613633.
² Lazarus SA, Scott LN, Beeney JE, Wright AGC, Stepp SD, Pilkonis PA. Borderline personality disorder symptoms and affective responding to perceptions of rejection and acceptance from romantic versus nonromantic partners. Personal Disord. 2018 May;9(3):197-206. doi: 10.1037/per0000289. PMID: 29745698; PMCID: PMC5964601.
³ Calvo N, Valero S, Ferrer M, Barral C, Casas M. Impulsive clinical profile of Borderline Personality Disorder with comorbid Substance Use Disorder. Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2016 Jul;44(4):145-52. Epub 2016 Jul 1. PMID: 27388106.
⁴ Berenson KR, Downey G, Rafaeli E, Coifman KG, Paquin NL. The rejection-rage contingency in borderline personality disorder. J Abnorm Psychol. 2011 Aug;120(3):681-90. doi: 10.1037/a0023335. PMID: 21500875; PMCID: PMC4990070.
⁵ Disney KL. Dependent personality disorder: a critical review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2013 Dec;33(8):1184-96. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2013.10.001. Epub 2013 Oct 8. PMID: 24185092.
⁶ Klonsky ED. What is emptiness? Clarifying the 7th criterion for borderline personality disorder. J Pers Disord. 2008 Aug;22(4):418-26. doi: 10.1521/pedi.2008.22.4.418. PMID: 18684053.
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