Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects emotions, relationships, and self-image. People with BPD often experience intense mood swings, fear of abandonment, and struggle with impulsive behaviors. While it can be challenging, BPD is treatable, and many people improve with the right support.

Common Symptoms of BPD: What It Feels Like

People with BPD often describe their experience as being on an emotional rollercoaster. Here are some common symptoms:

• Intense mood swings: You might feel extremely happy one moment, then suddenly overwhelmed by sadness, anger, or anxiety. These shifts can happen within hours or days, making it hard to predict how you’ll feel next.

• Fear of abandonment: Even small signs of rejection can feel devastating. This might lead you to cling to others or push them away to avoid being hurt.

• Unstable relationships: You may find yourself idolizing someone one day and feeling angry or betrayed the next. Relationships often feel like a constant up-and-down struggle.

• Impulsive behaviors: Acting without thinking, such as overspending, risky sex, substance use, or binge eating, can be a way to cope with overwhelming emotions.

• Unclear or shifting self-image: You might feel unsure about who you are, your goals, or what you value. Your sense of identity can change frequently.

• Chronic feelings of emptiness: Many with BPD describe a deep, persistent feeling of emptiness or numbness inside.

• Difficulty controlling anger: You may have intense anger or rage that feels out of proportion and hard to manage.

• Self-harm or suicidal thoughts: Some people use self-injury to relieve emotional pain, and suicidal thoughts can be common during crises.

• Feeling disconnected: During stress, you might feel detached from yourself or reality, as if watching from outside your body.

These symptoms vary in severity and frequency from person to person but can cause significant distress and impact daily life.

Causes and Risk Factors

BPD develops from a mix of genetic, environmental, and social factors. Childhood trauma, especially emotional abuse and neglect, is strongly linked to BPD. Differences in brain function related to emotion regulation also contribute to the disorder.

BPD Statistics in Malaysia: A Malaysian Perspective

A recent Malaysian study investigating childhood trauma among individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) reveals a concerning prevalence of severe early-life abuse and neglect. The majority of participants reported severe physical abuse and emotional abuse, each affecting nearly 80% of those studied. This highlights how common intense physical and emotional trauma is among Malaysians living with BPD.

In contrast, severe sexual abuse was reported by 28.2% of participants, while a significant portion, 43.6%, reported no sexual abuse at all. This suggests that although sexual abuse is a serious issue, physical and emotional abuses are more frequently experienced in this population.

Neglect was also notably high. About 43.6% of participants experienced severe physical neglect, with an additional 23.1% reporting low levels of physical neglect. Emotional neglect was even more prevalent, with 61.5% reporting severe emotional neglect during childhood.

Treatment Options

The most effective treatment for BPD is psychotherapy. Medications may be used to treat symptoms like depression or anxiety but are not the main treatment for BPD. Support from family and community, along with self-care practices such as regular exercise, and healthy routines, also play important roles in recovery.

How to Support Someone with BPD

• Listen without judgment and offer empathy.

• Encourage professional help and therapy.

• Be patient; recovery takes time.

• Educate yourself to reduce stigma and misunderstandings.

If you or a loved one is struggling with emotional challenges or suspect BPD, professional help is available. Contact us today for compassionate, expert support tailored to your needs.

References:

• Chapman, J., Jamil, R. T., Fleisher, C., et al. (2024). Borderline personality disorder. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

• National Institute of Mental Health. (2025). Borderline personality disorder.

• Nur Adiela Amiera, & NurFarhana Ardillah Aftar. (2024). Examining the presence of childhood trauma among patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in Malaysia. Jurnal Psikologi dan Kesihatan Sosial, 8, 131–139.