A doctor has revealed four broad symptom groups that suggest you could have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
BPD is a personality disorder which, according to the American Psychological Association, is ‘characterised by a long-standing pattern of instability in mood, interpersonal relationships, and self-image that is severe enough to cause extreme distress or interfere with social and occupational functioning’.
The condition is also referred to by some as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).
UK-based GP and TikTok content creator Dr Ahmed, who has more than 280,000 followers on the platform, where he uses the handle @drasays, discussed the disorder in a video.
According to the medic, terms like ‘split personality’ and ‘personality disorder’ are ‘thrown around in everyday use’, but often inaccurately.
UK-based GP and TikTok creator Dr Ahmed (pictured) discussed four groups of symptoms related to BPD in a video on the platform
Specifically referring to BPD, he said in the video: ‘Let’s explain more. So borderline personality disorder can cause a wide array of symptoms, but [they can] broadly can be grouped into one of four categories.]
He then went on to outline the four categories.
1. Emotional instability
According to Dr Ahmed, the first group of symptoms relates to emotional instability.
He explained: ‘This is where you can cycle through emotions very quickly, from shame, sorrow or despair.
‘Now it’s not uncommon for people with BPD to feel completely suicidal and then in a couple of hours, feel elated.
‘However, the key point to note is the mood swings can be completely unpredictable.’
2. Disturbed patterns of thinking
The GP (pictured) said you should speak to your doctor if you think you may have the disorder, as if you have BPD, they ‘need to refer you to the mental health team’
‘In the second type you may have disturbed patterns of thinking,’ the medic explained in the video.
He continued: ‘[This] can cause visual and ordinary hallucinations.’
3. Impulsivity
Describing the third group of symptoms as ones which can be ‘particularly challenging’, Dr Ahmed said this group was about impulsivity.
He explained: ‘So you may have a sudden urge or impulse to do reckless things.’
These, he added, could include behaviours including binge drinking or taking drugs among others.
‘Concerningly, [you may] have an impulse to self harm,’ he noted.
4. Relationship instability
Moving onto the fourth group of symptoms, Dr Ahmed listed relationship instability.
‘Generally,’ he explained, ‘It tends to involve people with BPD being not able to let people go or have a feeling that they’re going to be left alone.
‘This can involve constant texting or calling.
‘Or, worst case scenario, threatening to kill themselves if somebody is going to leave them.’
Going on to discuss the disorder itself further, he noted that ‘we don’t know the cause of BPD, but it tends to be a mixture of genetics and environmental factors’.
He added that there are theories that ‘a lot of people [with] BPD may well have had some trauma in the past, either in their childhood or adult life.’
When it comes to what you should do if you suspect you have the disorder, he said: ‘Please go into your doctor, because we need to refer you to the mental health team.
‘Treatment can vary, but generally involves intense therapies that are specialist.’
He added that while ‘medication has not been proven to be fully effective’, mood stabilisers ‘can be used if you’re having particularly huge mood swings’.
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