Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental health condition that significantly alters moods and behaviors. These shifts can cause drastic challenges for daily responsibilities, including work, school, and relationships.

With that in mind, BPD is a severe mental impairment that causes long-term complications. Therefore, if you or someone you love shows signs of BPD, it’s valid to be concerned.

Throughout this article, we’ll dive into the reasons why BPD is a severe impairment. We’ll also discuss tactics to identify it in yourself and others.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness marked by drastic changes to your emotions, overall mood, and behaviors. These irregularities can lead to explosive emotions characterized by impulsive behaviors, self-image issues, and unhealthy relationships. ¹

Symptoms of BPD vary from person to person. However, the most common include: ²

• Unstable relationships at work, home, or otherwise. You may struggle to connect with others on a personal level.

• An overwhelming fear of abandonment from people you are close with. Most times, this fear of abandonment isn’t logical and perceived – in other words, it’s all in your head. However, it can lead to different behaviors, such as suddenly abandoning people you care for or clinging to people you don’t want to lose.

• Exhibiting and experimenting with impulsive behaviors that could be detrimental to your health. For example, you may participate in unsafe sex, excessive spending, or reckless driving.

• Dissociation and dissociative thoughts that cause you to become detached from reality (you may create your own kind of reality).

• Self-harming behaviors and suicidal ideation.

Is BPD a Severe Mental Impairment?

BPD disrupts your ability to control and exhibit emotions. Unlike other mental health conditions, BPD is a cyclical chronic condition that doesn’t go away. Therefore, it is a severe mental impairment.

Still, this isn’t to say there aren’t treatment options available. Various therapies have been found to help BPD patients cope with the severity of symptoms. Most notably, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can guide patients to lead a sustainable life. ³

However, this isn’t to undermine the fact that BPD can be dangerous. Since suicidal ideation is a common symptom, it’s key for those who struggle to receive treatment. ⁴

How Do You Know If You Have BPD?

The best way to determine if you or a loved one has BPD is by consulting your healthcare provider. They will be able to provide you with proper testing and determine if your symptoms meet the criteria for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 5.

However, if you want an immediate answer, we’ve developed a test to help you determine your condition:

Borderline Personality Disorder Test

Currently, a quick Google search will provide you with a variety of BPD tests. Most measure your emotions and behaviors (i.e. how angry or sad you feel, if you feel suicidal, etc.).

We’ve taken a few of these tests and put together our own version based on common questions and their relevancy to BPD:

• Do you struggle with an overwhelming fear of abandonment from people close to you?
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

• Do you often feel low, empty, or have an overall unstable image of yourself?
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

• Do you have periods in your daily life where you experience a sudden shift in your worldview? Often changing goals or overall focus?
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

• Do you have impulsive or self-destructive behaviors? (Behaviors may include excessive spending, overdrinking, and unsafe or dangerous sexual actions.)
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

• Do you struggle with uncontrollable anger?
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

• Do you struggle with episodes of extreme emptiness, loneliness, or boredom that disrupt your day-to-day functionality?
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

• Do you have times when you feel that you dissociate from reality?
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

• Do you participate in self-harm or struggle with suicidal ideations?
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

• Do you act out on those suicidal or self-harm thoughts, causing bodily injury or mutilation?
  • Yes
  • Sometimes
  • No

If you have answered yes to multiple questions, it’s best to seek some mental health treatment to address these concerns.

NOTE: This is a sample self-administered examination and any results that this test yields aren’t to be taken as a diagnosis or a confirmation that you or others have BPD.

Final Word

BPD can be a disruptive and severe mental disorder. It can intercede in relationships, career, and life goals. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take control of BPD and go on to live a fulfilling life. Treatment options are available and will help to ease the severity of symptoms.

References

¹ Chapman J, Jamil RT, Fleisher C, Torrico TJ. Borderline Personality Disorder. 2024 Apr 20. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 28613633.

² Leichsenring F, Fonagy P, Heim N, Kernberg OF, Leweke F, Luyten P, Salzer S, Spitzer C, Steinert C. Borderline personality disorder: a comprehensive review of diagnosis and clinical presentation, etiology, treatment, and current controversies. World Psychiatry. 2024 Feb;23(1):4-25. doi: 10.1002/wps.21156. PMID: 38214629; PMCID: PMC10786009.

³ May JM, Richardi TM, Barth KS. Dialectical behavior therapy as treatment for borderline personality disorder. Ment Health Clin. 2016 Mar 8;6(2):62-67. doi: 10.9740/mhc.2016.03.62. PMID: 29955449; PMCID: PMC6007584.

⁴ Fyer MR, Frances AJ, Sullivan T, Hurt SW, Clarkin J. Suicide attempts in patients with borderline personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 1988 Jun;145(6):737-9. doi: 10.1176/ajp.145.6.737. PMID: 3369563.