Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by difficulties regulating emotions, impulsive behavior, and unstable relationships. While the exact causes of BPD are unclear, research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. Many people wonder at what age BPD symptoms tend to emerge. Here is an overview of when borderline personality disorder commonly begins to manifest.
Childhood
Many mental health experts believe that the roots of BPD lie in childhood. Research shows that individuals who develop BPD often experienced childhood trauma, abuse, neglect, or invalidating environments growing up. These types of adverse experiences can impact emotional and psychological development.
While full-blown BPD is rarely diagnosed in children under 12 years old, early signs and symptoms may begin to appear in childhood. These can include:
- Intense and rapidly fluctuating emotions
- Explosive anger or rage
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Fear of abandonment
- Unstable or shifting self-image
- Impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors
- Intense but unstable relationships
If a child exhibits several of these signs continually and across settings, it may indicate emerging BPD. However, only a mental health professional can make an accurate diagnosis.
Adolescence
The teenage years are when the symptoms of BPD often become more pronounced and impairing. During adolescence, identities, emotions, and relationships naturally go through significant transitions. For teens predisposed to BPD, this developmental stage can bring greater difficulties.
In addition to the childhood symptoms, typical BPD signs and behaviors that may surface or worsen during the teen years include:
- Increased impulsivity and risk-taking, including self-harm, substance abuse, reckless behaviors, or unsafe sexual activity
- Ongoing feelings of emptiness, loneliness, or dissociation from oneself
- Frequent mood swings and intense emotional reactions
- Chronic feelings of boredom or isolation
- Low self-worth and self-loathing thoughts
- Hostility, inappropriate anger, or difficulty controlling anger
- Periods of severely depressed mood or anxiety
- Paranoid thoughts or dissociative states
The volatile emotions, impulsivity, and relationship conflicts typical of untreated BPD can significantly impact a teen’s life. They may struggle in school, engage in substance abuse, experience depression or suicidal thoughts, or have trouble maintaining stable friendships.
Early Adulthood
Early adulthood is the most common time for an official BPD diagnosis. By this stage, a distinct and pervasive pattern of BPD symptoms is usually clear. The instability and inner turmoil characteristic of the disorder frequently interrupt pursuits like higher education, careers, and relationships.
Some specific BPD signs that often prompt people to seek diagnosis and treatment in early adulthood include:
- Having multiple unstable, intense personal relationships characterized by extremes of idealization and devaluation
- Ongoing feelings of emptiness, loneliness, anger, or depression, sometimes with suicidal behavior or threats
- Impulsive and risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating, or spending
- Frequent mood swings, irritability, or inappropriate displays of anger
- Multiple changes in goals, careers, values, or life plans
- Periods of dissociation or paranoid thinking
- Chronic feelings of boredom or emptiness when alone
Without treatment, the tumultuous emotions and instability usually intensifies and leads to greater impairment in relationships and day-to-day life.
Later Adulthood
With appropriate treatment and support, many people with BPD experience an improvement in symptoms by later adulthood. However, research shows that BPD can still impact some people throughout their lives.
In later adulthood, typical ongoing struggles can include:
- Difficulty dealing with loss or perceived abandonment
- Continued problems sustaining long-term relationships
- Ongoing feelings of emptiness or boredom
- Substance abuse issues
- Financial or occupational instability
However, symptoms tend to improve with age. And some people with BPD eventually achieve greater stability in relationships, work, and regulating emotions. Research shows that many therapy techniques and life experience can help reduce BPD symptoms during adulthood and later life.
Conclusion
In summary, borderline personality disorder usually has its roots in childhood trauma but often does not become a full-fledged disorder until late adolescence or early adulthood. The typical symptoms include emotional instability, impulsivity, relationship conflicts, a weak sense of self, and self-destructive behavior. While considered a lifelong condition, many people with BPD experience an improvement in symptoms and impairment as they age. With comprehensive treatment, certain lifestyle changes, and interpersonal skills, recovery from BPD is possible.