by Jennifer Moll

Created on: April 23, 2009

Do you suffer from intense mood swings? Relationship problems? Aggressive behavior? If you do, you may suffer from borderline personality disorder. This disorder is a mental illness where a person experiences intense mood swings, impulsive behaviors and usually severe relationship and self-worth problems. People that suffer from this disorder often times also suffer from other problems such as depression, eating disorders and/or substance abuse.

Signs of borderline personality disorder first appear in childhood most of the time. However, some people don't have any symptoms until early adulthood. Treatment is available, but getting better takes time, often years because it is hard to improve problems with emotions and behaviors.

Emotional or behavioral problems are suffered by everyone from time to time. However, when these problems become severe, repeat over long periods of time and are disruptive to your life, you may have borderline personality disorder. Common symptoms include:

intense emotions and/or mood swings

self-destructive, impulsive behaviors (substance abuse, binge eating, reckless driving)

relationship difficulties

low self-esteem

frantic fear of being abandoned

aggressive behavior

empty feeling

anger problems (violent temper)

harmful to yourself

suicidal attempts and/or thoughts

paranoid feeling

It is very easy to confuse this disorder with other mental illnesses, so be sure to see a doctor for proper diagnosis if you or someone you know suffers from any of these symptoms.

Experts do not know what causes borderline personality disorder but, they do know that problems with chemicals that help control moods within the brain play a role. Approximately two out of one hundred Americans suffer from this disorder and it seems to run in families. People that have experienced any type of childhood trauma have a higher risk for getting this disorder.

There is not a known cure for borderline personality disorder but, the symptoms can be treated. Although challenging, long-term counseling is a significant part of the treatment plan for this disorder. There are also medications available to help treat depression and help control moods that are associated with this disorder.

Treatment is very challenging and an improvement may take years. Some people even have a relapse of symptoms and this is quite a common occurrence. However, the majority of sufferers that are treated do show improvement in time.

Be sure to seek medical advice for borderline personality disorder if you experience any of the warning signs so a treatment plan can be put in place as soon as possible and you will be on the road to recovery.

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