Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is – as the name implies – a personality disorder that is generally diagnosed in early adulthood. Unlike other mental health conditions, it tends to affect far more women than it does men with a ratio of about 3:1. The cause of this gender discrepancy has been much debated for years. But what has added some much-needed clarity to a condition that is often misdiagnosed or missed altogether are the four variants of the disorder that have stemmed from the work of Theodore Millon. Mental health conditions rarely present as an absolute but are most often multifaceted. Show General Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder If you’re new and/or unfamiliar with the basic symptoms of BPD and how they present in an individual, in order to be diagnosed with the condition, you would need to be exhibiting at least five of the following symptoms:
The Four Borderline Personality Disorder Types While the following sub-categories are helpful in recognising certain traits in people who may have BPD, they don’t necessarily hold true for everyone. They might not apply at all, and some people may even fall into two categories. Discouraged Borderline Personality Disorder The discouraged form of borderline personality disorder is rooted primary by dependent facets of the condition. So, how an individual thinks, feels, and behaves will see them very much exhibit all the hallmarks or co-dependency. This can often be so much the case that this form of BPD can appear to be dependent personality disorder (DPD). The full nature of the discouraged sub-type is only truly noticed when an individual enters into a co-dependent style relationship with someone whom it’s either inappropriate or rejects their advances. This is usually the case with casual friends and acquaintances or perhaps a girlfriend or boyfriend that they’ve just started dating. Signs of Discouraged Borderline Personality Disorder There’s actually a host plethora of signs that are indicators of discouraged BPD. But some of the most common include: Impairments in Self-Functioning: These might include but are not exclusively limited to poor self-image, persistent self-criticism, chronic feelings of emptiness, and stress-induced dissociative states. There also might be a distorted or unrealistic view of goals, values, career, and outlook. Impairments in Interpersonal Functioning: These types of impairment are where more issues tend to arise as they’re related to and have a direct impact on the wellbeing of others. Again, these include but are not limited to decreased empathy, an inability to see other’s point of view and a heightened sense of drama and am extreme aversion to criticism. Some other signs that are commonly associated with discouraged BPD include:
Impulsive Borderline Personality Disorder Of all the four subtypes of BPD, the impulsive form of the condition is by far the most outgoing and charismatic. In some ways, it subverts the expectations of what someone with borderline personality should look like. So much so, this subtype has been compared to histrionic personality disorder according to psychologist Theodore Millon. Signs of Impulsive Borderline Personality Disorder An individual with impulsive borderline personality disorder may display a variety of the following signs and symptoms:
Petulant Borderline Personality Disorder This subtype of BPD sees the individual in question flipping from explosive outbursts of anger on one side of the spectrum to feeling unworthy or unloved on the opposite side. They often have a strong need to manipulate and control others, which can see them become very possessive and guarding of their inner world and thought-processes. As a result, they can often find themselves stuck in deeply unsatisfying relationships. This can then sometimes lead to situations of substance abuse amongst other self-destructive behaviours. Signs and Symptoms of Petulant Borderline Personality Disorder
Self-Destructive Borderline Personality Disorder Those who suffer from this subtype of BPD are very much ‘on the brink.’ That’s to say that, as the name of this variant implies, they’re extremely volatile and are prone to displaying dangerous and self-sabotaging behaviours. The self-destructive border will either consciously or unconsciously seek to sabotage their own progress just it feels like they’re about to achieve success in whatever area of life they’re striving to make headway in. Signs and Symptoms of Self-Destructive Borderline Personality Disorder
Are there 4 types of BPD?According to Theodore Millon, an expert on personality disorders, BPD can be divided into four types: discouraged, impulsive, petulant, and self-destructive. People with different types of BPD may vary in the severity of certain symptoms.
What are the 5 types of borderline personality disorder?In response to this problem, Oldham proposed five types of BPD: affective, impulsive, aggressive, dependent and empty.
How many different types of BPD are there?There are four widely accepted types of borderline personality disorder (BPD): impulsive, discouraged, self-destructive, and petulant BPD.
Is there a milder version of BPD?It's been suggested that there are “subtypes” of BPD, but this theory is unproven. One such subtype is known as “quiet” BPD, which means that you direct your struggles more inward so others don't notice. However, quiet BPD is not a recognized diagnosis.
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