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Journalism of Courage
Being a teenager is difficult. Teens go through many changes, including social and educational changes and hormonal mood swings. Sometimes teens act without thinking if they will get into trouble, with out-of-character actions, thoughts and feelings all being part of the typical teen experience. Other times, emotions may overpower a teenager, maybe even control their actions. Some young people may also spend a lot of time being overly worried about social situations. It’s important to be able to tell the difference between “typical” teen moodiness and signs of a mental health condition, such as BPD. Below you can learn more about the condition to understand what typical teen behaviour may be — and what may be a sign that help is needed.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition in which people often struggle with self-image, mood swings, impulse control, an intense fear of abandonment and low feelings of self-worth. BPD may cause people to have a difficult time controlling their emotional reactions to certain situations. It’s not unusual for people with BPD to live with other mental health conditions, such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder.
As the disorder is common and complex — it’s important to recognise its signs and symptoms. The sooner BPD is diagnosed, the faster it can be treated.
Like with any mental health diagnosis, what’s within a normal range for that person’s age, culture, and so, is taken into consideration. When mental health professionals consider a BPD diagnosis, they look for the following key symptoms:
The following are significant symptoms that may indicate borderline personality disorder in a child or teenager.
This is one of the first signs people may notice, with some teens engaging in self-harming behaviour. They may cut themselves, burn or pick their skin, or punch a wall. Plenty of other issues may appear as well: the child or teen may use substances or engage in dangerous sexual behaviour.
Many kids and teens with emerging BPD have trouble managing relationships. They may have an intense fear of abandonment or may have trouble controlling their anger. When very emotionally distressed, some teens may hold irrational or paranoid beliefs. These fears and beliefs may make it hard to develop friendships or romantic relationships.
There may be strong emotional reactions to seemingly minor issues, where they may appear to overreact to everything. Minor issues may feel like the end of the world. It is difficult for health care professionals and parents to look at these signs and know whether an adolescent has emerging BPD or if the individual is simply going through a normal teenage phase.
With this in mind, a teenager who displays any or all of the characteristics associated with BPD might look around and ask themselves: “Does it seem that other people can deal with things I can’t deal with?” or “Why aren’t others struggling like I am?”
A teenager who feels strong emotions for longer periods than others or takes longer to get back to their emotional baseline may have the condition. Strong reactions to seemingly small irritations — a sense that minor issues feel like the “end of the world” and that behaviours like self-harm, drugs, or death seem to be the only way to make these stop — could be signs of a serious problem.
Teens with these actions and reactions should seek help for their symptoms.
Just like adults, kids react to situations with their own unique responses. If you were to touch the arm of a very ticklish child and touch the arm of one who isn’t, they would react very differently. The same holds true when it comes to the reactions of people with borderline personality disorder versus those without it.
When children grow up in a social or family environment that does not match their temperament, they may develop poor self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence. They may have a hard time trusting others and have issues with their own identity.
When these children become teens, they can feel lost and engage in high-risk behaviours. They may look for ways to deal with feelings of emptiness; this is when symptoms of BPD can emerge.
Teens can begin to experience periods of depression, which can easily progress into self-harming behaviour or thoughts of suicide. These issues require immediate attention and the introduction of effective treatment.
Any thoughts, feelings, or signs of self-harm must be addressed as quickly as possible.
It’s important to know that BPD is treatable. It is possible for teens and their families to find relief after an accurate diagnosis has been made and the teen is engaged in evidence-based treatment and therapy.
