Borderline personality disorder symptoms include instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotion, as well as a pattern of impulsive behaviors. People with BPD often first experience these symptoms in young adulthood and the symptoms tend to continue for many years. BPD may occur in both men and women. The following signs and symptoms may indicate a need to be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Fear of Abandonment

People with BPD tend to have difficulties in their relationships. In particular, people with BPD can be very sensitive to abandonment. They may believe they are being left by someone when that is not actually the case at all. Since the fear of abandonment can be so strong and pervasive, people with BPD often engage in behaviors meant to provide reassurance that the other person still cares about them. For example, they may call someone repeatedly asking for confirmation that the relationship is still intact, or physically cling to others when they attempt to leave. Unfortunately, this scenario can be a double-edged sword. The more a person seeks reassurance that their relationship with another is “safe,” the more likely they are to push that person away, sabotaging themselves in the process.

Unstable Relationships

BPD is often associated with patterns of very unstable and intense interpersonal relationships. A pattern of alternating between idealization and devaluation in relationships is common, a process referred to as “splitting.” A relationship may start in the idealization phase with the person with BPD feeling intensely connected to and positive about the other person and wanting to spend a lot of time with this person. When the devaluation phase emerges, however, the person with BPD may see the other person as worthless, mean, or uncaring, and may attempt to distance from them. In addition, a relationship with someone with BPD is commonly characterized by lots of conflicts, ups and downs, mistrust, neediness, and frequent arguments. In fact, a person with BPD often feels disappointment in or even hatred towards loved ones. They also have difficulty recognizing the feelings of others or empathizing with others. ​

Impairment in Identity 

The same instability in relationships can also apply to self-image or sense of self. A person with BPD may seem to believe that they are successful one moment, but the next may be extremely self-denigrating or hard on themselves. Their sense of self may also be unstable, which may lead them to behave differently in different contexts or social groups. In addition, a person with BPD may feel non-existent or unsure about their identity or role. They may feel like they don’t know who they really are as a person, or what they believe in.

Impulsivity

Many people with BPD exhibit risky, impulsive behaviors, such as:

Spending sprees Having promiscuous sex Driving recklessly Misusing drugs or alcohol Binge eating Breaking the law (e.g., shoplifting)

These impulsive behaviors, in turn, often lead to problems with relationships, physical health, or legal issues.

Self-Harm or Suicide Behaviors

Some people with BPD may engage in self-harming behaviors and some make suicidal gestures or attempts. These are actually separate issues; self-harming behaviors are not attempts to commit suicide. Self-harming behaviors (self-mutilation) are attempts to get rid of emotional pain or intensely uncomfortable feelings. People who self-harm rarely do so when others are present. Instead you may see signs of self-harm, including scarring or wounds from cutting, burning, or other forms of self-injury. People with BPD may also threaten suicide and may make suicide attempts. Such threats or attempts should be taken very seriously. It’s thought that roughly 70% of people with borderline personality disorder will make at least one suicide attempt during their life, and for nearly 10% of people with BPD, the attempt will be successful.

Emotional Instability

People with BPD tend to have intense and frequent mood changes that usually occur in response to something happening in the environment. A person with BPD may go from seemingly content to feeling upset in a matter of minutes or even seconds. They may also experience intense negative feelings in reaction to day-to-day situations and/or intense sadness or irritability that can last for hours. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Feelings of Emptiness

A person with BPD often feels a chronic sense of emptiness, like there is nothing inside or that they are emotionally dead. This feeling that life is of little worth can lead to behaviors marked by emotional drama (such as hysteria, raging, and more) in order to attract attention through a crisis. It’s important for loved ones to understand the origins of these behaviors. Common reactions often serve to increase these feelings of hollowness for a person with BPD.

Intense Anger and Aggressive Behavior

People with BPD tend to feel anger that is stronger than the situation warrants. Some people with BPD experience intense anger that they rarely or never express outwardly. Others express anger openly, sometimes in the form of physical aggression. Angry behavior, ranging from sarcastic comments to physical violence against other people, is a common sign of BPD. 

Roughly 75% to 80% of patients with BPD experience stress-related dissociative states, including depersonalization, derealization, analgesia, and emotional numbing. These dissociative symptoms have been linked to poor therapy outcomes in patients with BPD, partly due to their impact on emotional learning and memory.

If You Are Concerned About Yourself

People who are educated in BPD understand that annoying actions like repeated phone calls are your attempt to cope with a fear of abandonment. Going from seeing someone as wonderful to despising them may leave friends confused, yet it is a protective mechanism your mind enacts to try and keep you from being hurt. Finding a good therapist can make a world of difference for people living with this condition. Many of the issues that now make your life difficult can be coped with much more easily when you recognize them for what they are. A good therapist can help you discover your triggers and help you develop healthy coping skills. Aside from seeing a therapist, a psychiatrist can also be helpful to address symptoms using medication management. In addition, there are various community and residential type treatment programs modeled after dialectical behavior therapy, which is specifically targeted for BPD.

If You Are Concerned About a Family Member or Friend

If you are wondering whether a friend or family member may have BPD, keep in mind that help is available. That said, if you have watched your friend value and then devalue other friends, you may be wondering when it will be your turn. You may be worried that if you open your mouth, you will be the next one to be “devalued” and labeled the black sheep. There was an error. Please try again. Take a moment to learn about how to cope when a loved one with BPD is “splitting.” Family therapy can be very helpful. The important point to make is that BPD can affect anyone involved, and it’s important to care for yourself as well as your loved one.

A Word From Verywell

It is important to remember that from time to time, many people may experience some of the symptoms described above. However, people with BPD experience several of these symptoms daily or almost every day for years. Also, people with BPD experience these symptoms across different contexts. For example, they will experience instability in many relationships, not just one or two or even three. If you think you may have BPD, it is important to see a licensed mental health professional who can listen to your concerns and make an accurate diagnosis. Treatment with a good mental health professional can help both people living with BPD and their family and friends manage the symptoms and the underlying basis of the condition.