Borderline personality disorder is a long-standing pattern of behavior and traits that causes great distress to the person who has it and often to those who love him or her. While clinical diagnosis can only be made by a mental health professional, below is a list of some of the features of borderline personality disorder.

1.  frantic efforts and threats to avoid real or imagined abandonment by others

2. markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

3. most close relationships in the person’s life tend to be characterized by a pattern that alternates between intensely idealizing people and hating them

4. impulsive behavior in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging, such as spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge eating

5. recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats

6. self-mutilating behavior

7. intense mood swings of sadness, irritability, or anxiety that usually last a few hours only

8. chronic feelings of emptiness

9. inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent temper outbursts, constant anger, or recurrent physical fights)

10. transient paranoid ideas or severe “spacey” feelings when under stress

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For more information on borderline personality disorder, we recommend:

	NAMI, (800) 950-6264, www.nami.org
	BPD Central, www.bpdcentral.com
	TARA, 212-966-6514