Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Definition
A mental health disorder characterized by unstable moods, behavior, self-image which impacts relationships, self-image, behavior and functioning.
Analogy
Imagine being on a roller coaster that never stops. The highs are thrilling but terrifying, the lows are deeply depressing, and you can switch between the two without warning. That's what emotional life can feel like with BPD.
Related terms
Emotional Dysregulation: Difficulty managing intense emotions in an appropriate manner.
Impulsivity: Acting quickly without thinking about consequences of actions.
Dissociation: A disconnection between a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions or sense of who he or she is. This is a coping mechanism people may use when they are under a lot of stress or experiencing trauma.
"Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (2)
How could one explore the potential influence of childhood trauma on later development of borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
How could one investigate if the use of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is effective in reducing self-harm behaviors in individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
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