If you’re wondering if you or a loved one may have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), read on to learn about the symptoms of BPD and where you can take a Borderline Personality Disorder test.
Have you ever been told any of the following statements?
“Stop being dramatic. It’s no big deal.”
“Stop crying, you don’t have a reason to be sad.”
“You’re so sensitive.”
These were common reactions I received growing up whenever I felt intense emotions. My emotions were continually invalidated from a young age which affected the way I felt about myself and others. Throughout my life, I struggled with maintaining relationships, mood swings, and suicidal behaviors. It wasn’t until I was 23 years old that I officially was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
If you’re wondering if you or a loved one may have Borderline Personality Disorder, read on to learn about the symptoms of BPD and where you can take a borderline personality disorder test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you self-diagnose BPD?
What’s the difference between BPD and bipolar disorder?
9 Main Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
According to Mayo Clinic, “Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental health disorder that impacts the way you think and feels about yourself and others, causing problems functioning in everyday life.” BPD can manifest in different ways in each person. But for the purposes of diagnosis, mental health professionals look for symptoms in 9 major categories:
- Fear of abandonment
- Unstable relationships
- Shifting self-image
- Impulsive or self-destructive behaviors
- Intense mood swings
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Inappropriate or intense anger
- Feeling suspicious
- Self-harm or suicidal behavior
Let’s dig into each of them below.
Fear of abandonment
People with Borderline Personality Disorder often feel terrified of being abandoned or rejected. This may lead them to resort to extreme behaviors to avoid real or imagined separation.
Shifting self-image
When you have BPD, your self-image is constantly shifting. You may be constantly shifting goals and values. Also, you may see yourself as evil or non-existent.
Unstable relationships
People with BPD tend to have relationships that are intense where you believe the relationship is 100% good or 100% bad. There is no middle ground. This is typically called “Black-and-White Thinking”.
Impulsive or self-destructive behaviors
You may engage in harmful, self-sabotaging behaviors when you’re upset. Some examples are:
- Impulsively spending money on things you can’t afford
- Eating too much or too little
- Shoplifting
- Engaging in risky sex
- Overdoing it with drugs or alcohol
Intense mood swings
One moment you may feel fine then the next you’re angry. Things that may seem small to others can send you into an emotional whirlwind. These mood swings are intense usually lasting from a few hours to a few days.
Feeling suspicious or dissociative
When stressed, People with BPD may have periods of paranoia or dissociation. You may also struggle with suspicious thoughts about everyone’s motives.
Chronic feelings of emptiness
People with BPD often mention feeling like “nobody” or “nothing”. You may also feel worthless, constantly bored, or unfulfilled.
Inappropriate or intense anger
People with BPD have difficulty controlling their anger. You may express your anger with sarcasm, bitterness, or angry tirades. These episodes are often followed by shame and guilt.
Self-harm or suicidal behavior
Often in response to the fear of rejection or separation, a person with BPD may engage in self-harm or suicidal behaviors. According to Help Guide, suicidal behavior includes thinking about suicide, making suicidal gestures or threats, or actually carrying out a suicide attempt. Self-harm encompasses all other attempts to hurt yourself without suicidal intent, such as cutting and burning.
Take a Borderline Personality Disorder Quiz Online
If you believe you or a loved one may be experiencing symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder and you are unsure of whether you may need professional support, you can take various BPD tests online.
Please know that these results from online BPD tests are for informational purposes only and do not replace a formal diagnosis from a licensed medical or mental health professional. Consult a licensed mental health professional for treatment.
Here are some Borderline Personality Disorder quizzes to get you started
PSYCOM: Borderline Personality Disorder Test
PsychCentral: Borderline Personality Disorder Test
IDRlabs: 3 Minute Borderline Personality Disorder Test
The Recovery Village: “Do I Have Borderline Personality Disorder?” Quiz
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BPD a disability?
Is there a physical test for BPD?
Final Thoughts
Above all, Borderline Personality Disorder is a complex mental health condition and a challenging one to live with. As a person with BPD, it’s important to share this statistic from the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center:
“…about 70% of people with BPD will attempt suicide at least once in their lifetime. 10% die by suicide. This suicide rate is higher than any other psychiatic disorder and the general population.”
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center
If you or a loved one have thoughts or plans of suicide, get help right away by taking one of these actions:
- Call a suicide hotline number. In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) any time of day. Use that same number and press “1” to reach the Veterans Crisis Line
- Call your mental health provider, doctor, or other health care provider
- Reach out to a loved one or close friend
- Contact someone from your faith/spiritual community
If you notice signs or symptoms in a loved one or friend, talk to that person about seeing a mental health provider. But you can’t force someone to seek help. If the relationship causes you significant stress, you may find it helpful to see a therapist yourself.