Borderline Personality Disorder Essay

Suffering is an inevitable part of life that every individual is bound to experience on many different levels and for numerous causes. Many times individuals are able to move past their pain and discomfort, but what if ones pain and discomfort is not something they can control? Individuals who suffer from a mental illness called Borderline Personality Disorder often suffer physically, mentally and emotionally. According to the American Psychiatric Association Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe form of psychopathology characterized by instability of affect, impulsivity, self-harm, chaotic interpersonal relationships, and identity disturbance (Tomko, Rachel).

Borderline Personality Disorder is a very interesting mental illness.
Impulsivity and emotionality are two of the underlying symptoms which are mainly inherited. According to my research, borderline patients are more likely to confirm childhood family history that involves sexual abuse, domestic violence, and the early loss of a parent or guardian on through death or abandonment (Ogden, Janine). According to developmental theorist Erik H. Erikson, a sense of basic trust during childhood is a critical component of ordinary personality development, therefore if that sense of trust is missing the child will not be able to be trustful of themselves or of others. Since the basic sense of trust or mistrust in the individual and the world develops in the first year of life, experience of being abandoned by a parent at a young age would foster a sense of mistrust in the world and would affect personality development negatively (Erikson, Erik). Ordinary events may trigger symptoms for a person who has Borderline Personality Disorder. For example, people with BPD may feel angry and distressed over minor separations: such as vacations, business trips, or sudden changes of plans from people to whom they feel close. According to the National Institute of Mental Illness, studies show that people with this disorder may see anger in an “emotionally neutral face and have a stronger reaction to words with negative meanings” than people who do not have the disorder
The reason for doctors’ unwillingness to diagnose young adults and children include stigma of having such a disorder and its effects as well as instable reliability and stability among youth with such a disorder (Courtney-Seidler, Elizabeth). I assume that some doctors are worried that such a diagnosis can cause more harm than good to youth due to the negative portrayal others might have which would increase the symptoms and the idea of self-harm might become very desirable since that is very common of people with BPD. Individuals who live with personality disorders often display deviant behavior from other individuals. Individuals with BPD typically have problems with social skills, mood swings, emotional states, and are often unable to maintain healthy, stable relationships. Many individuals with this disorder do not have the capability to have sincere emotions, including empathy for others. A personality disorder such as this is the basis of many circumstances of negative and obsessive behavior including substance abuse, self-harm, suicide, and criminal