Borderline Personality Disorder Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Borderline Personality Disorder - Research Paper Example When a person has borderline personality, they are unable to control the emotions that they want to feel, frequently displaying emotions that are inappropriate for any given situation. Borderline personality alters the way in which a person views themselves, their surroundings, and their relationships with others. One of the first signs that someone may be suffering from borderline personality disorder is that they begin to look down on themselves, regarding themselves as evil or worthless, or feeling as though they do not exist at all. The person becomes insecure and loses their sense of self-worth. This often leads to problems within the work area, family, or intimate relationships. One moment the person may completely adore someone, and then the next moment they may want absolutely nothing to do with them (Kreisman & Straus, 1991); these feelings can also describe how a person feels about themselves. Someone being effected by borderline personality disorder cannot decide how they really feel about someone, and even if their explanations of their feelings to themselves make sense, their emotions often say something entirely different. To make matters worse, thei r emotions change from day to day, so they can never pinpoint their honest feelings. Other symptoms of borderline personality disorder include risky behavior, such as unsafe sex, gambling, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and reckless driving, as well as a difficulty in controlling the impulses to engage in the aforementioned activities. Intense emotions that come and go often, uncalled for anger and negativity, and harsh but random spikes of depression or anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and attempts are also symptoms that have been linked to borderline personality disorder. One of the more common symptoms is a fear of being alone, as a person with borderline personality realizes that they are pushing people away without that being their intentions, yet they are not sure how to make their emotions