Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a disorder characterized by an intense fear of abandonment, self-harm or suicidal behaviors, and an unclear sense of self. While there are believed to be some biological factors towards the development of BPD, many people who suffer from BPD experienced trauma in their early years and can display bouts of intense anger and emotion seemingly out of nowhere. According to the DSM-V, for someone to be diagnosed with BPD, they must display five or more of nine different symptoms. However, because of the various combinations of symptoms someone can have, BPD displays very differently from person to person. In his 1995 book, Disorders of Personality: DSM-IV and Beyond, Theodore Millon divides these different manifestations of BPD into four different categories: self-destructive, discouraged (quiet), impulsive, and petulant. Millon was a leading expert in the field when it came to the study of personality disorders and also helped divide out the subtypes of the other nine personality disorders recognized in the DSM-V. While these subtypes help categorize how BPD manifests differently in different people, they are by no means clear-cut categories and it’s entirely possible for someone who suffers from BPD to fall under multiple subcategories. If you believe that you or a loved one may suffer from BPD please consider reaching out to a therapist to discuss diagnosis and/or treatment. While there is no medication or outright cure, a variety of therapy styles have been shown to improve symptoms and therefore help improve the lives of people suffering from this disorder.
Self Destructive BPD
As the name suggests, self-destructive BPD is heavily characterized by self-harming and suicidal behaviors. While these behaviors can include the more obvious self-harming behaviors such as cutting, they can also include reckless driving, self-sabotaging at jobs or in relationships, or even refusing to seek medical treatment for injuries or illness. This self-destructive behavior is a manifestation of intense self-hatred or bitterness, with the explosive anger BPD is known for turned towards themselves more than others. Their fear of abandonment is often seen as being out of control. They are often angry or bitter, though they may not show this as much towards others as towards themself.
Discouraged (Quiet) BPD
People with Discouraged or Quiet BPD tend to be people-pleasers, often appearing as codependent and can sometimes appear to have Dependent Personality Disorder rather than BPD. Similar to Self Destructive BPD, those with quiet BPD tend to internalize their anger and emotions, letting it build up until it explodes. While these emotional outbursts can seem random to others, many times the individual suffering from Discouraged or Quiet BPD has been suffering for a long time. With a strong desire for acceptance and approval, it’s not uncommon for those with this subset of BPD to feel like a burden around others and it’s very common for them to resort to self-harming behaviors as a coping mechanism.
Impulsive BPD
Similar to Histrionic personality disorder, those with Impulsive BPD are constantly after the next thrill. Likely to be charismatic and energetic, they can switch to cold and hostile when they believe others let them down. Easily bored, they will often engage in risky behaviors without considering the consequences. While impulsive behavior is one of the general symptoms of BPD, it’s exaggerated in those with the Impulsive subtype. They can also seem more prone to anger than other subtypes as their impulsive nature can lead them into conflicts and fights.
Petulant BPD
Also referred to as the “angry” subtype, those who fall under the Petulant BPD category can switch quickly between explosive anger and feeling worthless. Often seen as stubborn or defensive, they can at times be passive-aggressive or lash out towards others during BPD episodes. Much of this anger comes from a disconnect between their strong desire to be around people and their fear of being abandoned. Quick to grow disillusioned with others when things don’t go the way they expected, they can often be seen as unpredictable by others around them.
Due to the wide range of symptoms, BPD manifests differently in each person. While some people may not have the self-destructive tendencies others do, their fear of abandonment may be debilitating. While these subsets help categorize the different ways BPD can manifest, they are by no means clear-cut categories. Many people who suffer from BPD fall into multiple categories when it comes to their symptoms, but they are all still suffering from the disorder. No matter what symptoms someone with BPD has, they deserve safe unbiased treatment from therapists so they can help learn to control these symptoms.
