Diagnosis Of Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality disorder is a commonly misdiagnosed mental illness. The symptoms of borderline personality disorder are so closely related to other mental illnesses, that it is most often under diagnosed or misdiagnosed altogether. This illness can be completely debilitating to effected person. They do not understand that it is their mental illness that is making them feel the way that they do. They feel hopeless, like their lives will never improve from this point. Which is a major factor into why borderline personality disorder has one of the highest rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

Diagnosis is extremely hard with borderline personality disorder because so many of the symptoms overlap into other mental illnesses. The DSM-IV has distinct criteria. The National Institute of Health lists the following as the 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: o Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment o A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealism and devaluation o Identity disturbances: markedly and persistently unstable self image or sense of self o Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging. For example spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving and binge eating. o Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures or threats of suicide or self mutilating behavior o Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood. For example intense episodic dysphonia, irritability, or anx...

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...isorder is a devastating mental illness that is commonly overlooked, as well as misdiagnosed. Those suffering from this disease have to deal with wide-ranging, intense emotions, that more often that not, they do not have any sort of control over. They have extreme fear of being left alone and abandoned, even if this threat is only imagined. Their loved ones are often left to deal with extreme emotional outbursts, which they cannot control. In some of the worst cases, someone with Borderline Personality Disorder secretly harms themselves to help relieve a built up inner pressure, and to punish themselves for not being in control of themselves, or their emotions. Although there may not currently be any medication to help cure their symptoms, there are many therapies that can teach them how to deal with their emotions, and help them become successful in their lives.