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Introduction:
The self-destructive habits of Quiet BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) vary from person to person. It not only affects the person’s mental condition, but it takes a toll on social identity, making them struggle in their personal and professional life. However, one can get the help they need, thanks to a simple test or by taking expert advice.
Anita is a working mother with two daughters – Maya and Kimi. Anita works a 9-5 job where she has to drive to work every day. On her way home, she sometimes stops by the vegetable market; however, when looking at the crowds, she avoids this routine; she says, “I get irritated if I have to stop by the grocery store, especially when it’s crowded.” When she finally makes it home, Anita is not in a great mood. “When my daughter asks me if I am in a bad mood, this irritates me even more,” she says, adding, “ I sometimes shout back at her, and she usually shouts back. Over the next 30-60 minutes, I am in an angry/guilty mood, till my favorite TV serial starts to play.” Five minutes into the TV serial, Anita is in a good mood. “I don’t understand why my daughters are always in such a bad mood? They should know when the arguments are over.”
Unbeknownst to Anita, she has Quite a Borderline Personality disorder. Her symptoms may or may not get worse as time progresses, but one thing is for sure – she needs help.
The causes of Quiet Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often vary in type and degree from one person to another. It, therefore, makes sense that the symptoms also vary considerably in type and severity. When diagnosing QBPD, it is essential to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all description of why a person feels, thinks, or acts a certain way. Nonetheless, once the primary symptoms of BPD have been established, it becomes apparent to family, friends, and in some cases the individuals about the presence of a disorder and its influence on everyday life. In some cases, simply recognizing the presence of QBPD is a critical first step in regaining control of one’s life.
What Causes Quiet Borderline Personality Disorder?
There is significant scientific evidence that provides key insights about BPD. Research shows that the disorder results from physiological and chemical disturbances in certain pathways in the brain that control specific brain functions. Individuals with QBPD are generally born with these disturbances, and they are usually amplified by events that occurred during one’s life.
A published paper on the prevalence of QBPD in India on ResearchGate indicates [1] the severity of the disorder, with up to 15% of the overall population suffering from the condition. What was once thought to occur more frequently in women, is now being severely scrutinized by the scientific community to indicate otherwise.
Symptoms of Quiet Borderline Personality Disorder
For an individual to be diagnosed with QBPD, they must experience or demonstrate a minimum of 2 symptoms from the four symptoms listed below. Experts in the field of personality disorder refer to these symptoms as behavioral dimensions or domains.
- Erratic or poorly-regulated emotions
- Impaired perception and reasoning
- impulsiveness
- Disturbed relationships with family and friends
Most individuals with QBPD don’t have all four symptoms together. However, most do have at least one symptom with overpowering ferocity over others. Individuals should be able to recognize when overpowering symptoms through their actions and consequences. Clear signs are characterized as appearing dramatic, hyperemotional, and erratic.
Poorly Regulated Emotions
Many experts in personality disorder traits believe that an inherent difficulty in regulating emotions is the driving force behind many of the symptoms of QBPD. This manifests itself in quickly changing feelings and difficulty accurately perceiving and expressing emotional responses, especially to unpleasant events. In other words, you might find yourself overly reacting to everyday events while at the same time, your emotional responses may seem blunted, as observed in the above example.
Impulsivity
The tendency towards impulsive, self-damaging behavior is a strong indication of QBPD. Most experts in this field believe that impulsivity is the most harmful symptom of the disorder. Impulsivity is a consequence of a long-term outcome disorder. Patients show impulsivity at their last stages of BPD, while other symptoms have remained undiagnosed. Research shows that individuals diagnosed with impulsivity suffer from an imbalance between the neural systems of emotion and reasoning. Some impulsive behavior symptoms to watch out for are binge-eating, spending money recklessly, uncontrolled gambling, violent and aggressive behavior, shoplifting, and more [3].
Impaired Perception and Reasoning
Individuals with QBPD [2] often report difficulties with memory, especially under stress. It’s also common to misperceive experiences, expecting the worst out of others. Other issues are related to focus and concentration, where organizing thoughts and actions are a challenge. Another system of impaired perception is experiences of auditory hallucinations, i.e. hearing sounds and conspiring voices that are internally produced. These difficulties that hinder the perception of reality may frequently result in faulty decisions with highly detrimental consequences.
Disturbed Relationships
Individuals with QBPD [2] have acute difficulties establishing trusting, consistent, interdependent, and balanced relationships with family members, peers, and others. This results from disturbances in perceiving their emotions and value systems realistically while empathizing with others. Individuals may notice fluctuations in feelings and attitudes towards others who are most important to them. There is also a greater need to worry about their wellbeing, success, and faithfulness to you.
What to do if you notice any of the Symptoms of QBPD
QBPD can be difficult to identify as the causes and symptoms vary. However, the sooner you begin to take stock of your symptoms, the sooner you must act. Individuals must not feel shame in sharing their feelings with others and recognizing issues that need confronting. Studies show that accepting disorders within our personality is singularly the biggest step individual suffering from QBPD should take. While you may struggle with persistent guilt and low self-worth, it’s also significant to remember that you are not alone. As explained earlier, thousands, if not millions of people suffer from some form of QBPD. It’s perfectly normal to confront these issues head-on and seek help.
If you require a professional mental health expert, don’t delay. Reach out today. Remember:
- Do not be ashamed to share your feelings.
- Act as soon as possible
- Recognize issues and confront them.
- Accept the disorder as the first biggest step.
- Consult with a professional mental health expert immediately.
References
| [1] | S. Gupta and S. K. Mattoo, “Personality disorders: prevalence and demography at a psychiatric outpatient in North India,” Int. J. Soc. Psychiatry, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 146–152, 2012.
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| [2] | F. Kulacaoglu and S. Kose, “Borderline personality disorder (BPD): In the midst of vulnerability, chaos, and awe,” Brain Sci., vol. 8, no. 11, p. 201, 2018. |
| [3] | N.-M. Bakhshani, “Impulsivity: a predisposition toward risky behaviors,” Int. J. High Risk Behav. Addict., vol. 3, no. 2, p. e20428, 2014. |
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