What is borderline personality disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). Its symptoms overlap with other personality disorders. This toolkit calls it BPD as this is the most common term used in research and online.

A diagnosis of BPD will usually be made by a psychiatrist, or as part of a multidisciplinary mental health assessment. Historically there has been stigma in receiving a diagnosis of BPD, and in fact it is often underdiagnosed in the general population. No two people with BPD will have the same symptoms, and how these difficulties affect you on a daily basis may change over time. Common features described by people who have BPD include:

• being overwhelmed by negative feelings such as distress, anxiety, worthlessness or anger
• finding it difficult to have lasting and close relationships, especially with partners, children and professional carers
• self-harming behaviours (for example, abusing drugs and alcohol, or taking overdoses)
• impulsive behaviour
• sometimes, feeling disconnected or detached from the world around you.

Receiving a diagnosis of BPD can affect everyone differently: for some people it is a relief and can help make sense of difficulties in life, while other people may feel angry or labelled by such a diagnosis. If you have BPD, you are likely to experience and react to life events in a way that  can seem  different to how most other people do. Women or birthing parents with BPD can find it more difficult to engage with healthcare professionals when pregnant and after giving birth. Becoming a parent when you have BPD can add to difficulties with your physical and mental health. There is more risk of anxiety or depression. Parenting may be more stressful and developing a bond with your baby may be harder.

The SeeMe website provides more information about borderline personality disorder.