What are the symptoms and causes of borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder is mainly characterized by emotional instability, interpersonal conflicts, and self-identity confusion, which are usually related to childhood trauma, genetic factors, neurobiological abnormalities, family environment, and social psychological factors.

1. Emotional instability

Patients have intense and difficult to control emotional fluctuations, and may experience sudden outbursts of anger or depression due to small stimuli. Their emotional state often rapidly transitions between extreme excitement and depression. This instability is often accompanied by a tendency towards self harm or suicide, and some patients may alleviate their inner pain through physical pain.

2. Interpersonal Relationship Conflict

The attitude towards others exhibits a polarized swing between idealization and belittling, which may shift a partner or friend from perfect worship to complete negation in a short period of time. Separation anxiety is particularly prominent, as one is afraid of being abandoned and actively destroys relationships, leading to a cycle of chaos, rupture, and recovery in intimate relationships.

3. Self identification confusion

There is a persistent self cognitive impairment, manifested as frequent changes in values, career goals, and even sexual orientation. Some patients may experience a long-term sense of inner emptiness and may fill it through overeating, substance abuse, or risky behaviors, but with little effect. Childhood trauma

Early experiences of physical or emotional abuse and long-term neglect are important triggers. Lack of stable caregivers during the growth process can lead to abnormal attachment patterns, which may impair the development of emotional regulation areas in the brain and develop traits that are overly sensitive to stress.

5. Neurobiological abnormalities

Abnormal functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala affects emotional regulation, and imbalances in neurotransmitters such as serotonin exacerbate impulsive behavior. Some patients have increased pain tolerance, which may explain the physiological basis of their repeated self injury behavior. Intervention for borderline personality disorder requires a combination of medication and psychological therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy can effectively improve emotional regulation ability. Maintaining a regular daily routine can help stabilize emotions and prevent the intake of psychoactive substances such as alcohol. Establishing supportive social networks can alleviate feelings of loneliness, while mindfulness training can enhance emotional awareness and control. It is recommended that family members participate in the treatment process, learn non critical communication skills, and work together to create a stable rehabilitation environment.