Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, and unstable relationships. While the symptoms are severe in some cases, many people have a milder form of BPD that is often undiagnosed. If you relate to some of the key signs and symptoms of BPD, you may have a mild case that is worth exploring further with a mental health professional.
What is BPD?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by difficulties regulating emotions, impulsive and risky behaviors, unstable interpersonal relationships, and problems with self-image. People with BPD often experience intense and rapidly fluctuating moods, feel empty or unsure of their identity, engage in self-destructive behaviors like substance abuse or unsafe sex, have chaotic relationships, show intense anger, and make impulsive decisions without concern for consequences.
While the symptoms of BPD can be severe and disabling for some, others experience a milder form of the disorder. Mild BPD means having fewer and less extreme symptoms that still cause significant distress and dysfunction. Those with milder BPD are often able to function in work, school, and social settings but still struggle emotionally.
Signs and Symptoms of Mild BPD
If you relate to several of the following signs and symptoms, you may be experiencing a milder form of BPD:
- Difficulty regulating and coping with emotions – Experiencing frequent mood swings, getting easily upset over minor things, feeling emotions very intensely.
- Unstable relationships – Having intense and stormy relationships characterized by idealization and devaluation, fear of abandonment and rejection, distrust of others.
- Impulsive behaviors – Acting recklessly or spontaneously without regard for consequences, like binge eating, drug use, unsafe sex, or excessive spending.
- Identity disturbance – Feeling unsure of who you are, what you value, and where you are going in life.
- Emptiness – Feeling bored, empty, or lonely even when surrounded by people.
- Anger issues – Having difficulty controlling anger, occasional explosive outbursts.
- Self-harm – Engaging in non-suicidal self-injury like cutting or burning as a way to cope with distress.
Unlike full-blown BPD, those with milder symptoms are often able to finish school, maintain jobs, and have long-term relationships. However, they continue having chronic feelings of emptiness, impulsivity issues, relationship problems, and difficulties handling emotions.
Causes
It’s unclear exactly what causes BPD, but research suggests that genetics, brain structure and functioning, and environmental factors play a role:
- Genetics – BPD seems to run in families, indicating a genetic component. Someone with a close relative with BPD is 4-7 times more likely to have it.
- Brain structure – Brain imaging shows differences in key areas of the brain related to emotion regulation, impulsivity, and aggression in people with BPD compared to healthy controls.
- Brain functioning – Several brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin may function abnormally and contribute to BPD mood and behavior symptoms.
- Environmental factors – Many people with BPD have a history of childhood trauma like abuse, neglect, separation from caregivers, or an invalidating home environment.
In those with a mild form, it’s speculated that perhaps their genetic and environmental risk factors weren’t as pronounced as in severe BPD. However, more research is still needed on the exact causes.
When to See a Doctor
If you see yourself identifying with mild BPD symptoms, it’s important to seek professional help. Getting an accurate diagnosis and starting treatment early can help manage symptoms before they progress or severely impact different areas of functioning.
See a doctor or mental health professional right away if you:
- Feel like your emotions are too intense to handle
- Have thoughts of harming yourself
- Struggle to maintain stable relationships
- Engage in reckless behaviors like drug abuse, throwing tantrums, binge eating
- Have chronic feelings of emptiness or loneliness
- Have trouble keeping a job or finishing school due to mental health issues
A psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or counselor can provide an official diagnostic assessment to confirm if you have mild BPD. They can also recommend the most effective treatment approaches.
Diagnosis
Getting diagnosed with mild BPD involves:
- Mental health evaluation – A doctor or mental health professional will ask about your symptoms, thoughts, behaviors, history, and functioning. They may also speak to your family members.
- Questionnaires – You’ll be given questionnaires and personality assessments to complete.
- Criteria review – Your doctor will see if you meet the diagnostic criteria for BPD in the DSM-5 psychiatric manual.
- Ruling out other causes – Other mental health issues like depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, or bipolar disorder may be ruled out first.
- Severity assessment – The frequency and impact of your symptoms will be assessed to determine if it is a mild presentation.
This comprehensive evaluation process determines if BPD is the accurate diagnosis and how mild or severe it may be.
Treatment
Addressing mild BPD symptoms early is important to prevent them from getting worse over time. Treatment options may include:
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy or counseling is the mainstay treatment for mild BPD. Different types like:
- DBT – Dialectical behavior therapy helps with emotion regulation, impulsivity, self-harm urges, and interpersonal skills.
- CBT – Cognitive behavioral therapy can change unhealthy thought and behavior patterns.
- Schema therapy – Identifies and changes long-held, self-defeating schemas or beliefs.
- Interpersonal therapy – Improves relationship and social skills.
Most people with mild BPD respond well to weekly individual therapy sessions.
Medications
There are no medications specifically approved for BPD. However, certain ones may help manage symptoms like:
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety drugs
- Mood stabilizers
- Antipsychotics
Medication can help stabilize mood swings, impulsivity, or self-destructive thoughts in BPD when combined with psychotherapy.
Self-help strategies
Making positive lifestyle changes enhances BPD treatment. This can include:
- Following a balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing alcohol and drug use
- Developing healthy sleep habits
- Practicing relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga
- Joining a BPD support group
- Setting small, achievable goals each day
With consistent treatment and self-care, many people with mild BPD can feel and function much better.
Coping Strategies
In addition to professional treatment, certain self-help coping strategies can be effective for mild BPD. Try to:
- Identify triggers – Become aware of situations that tend to make your symptoms worse so you can avoid them or be prepared.
- Use grounding strategies – When emotions feel overwhelming, distract yourself or calm down by using strategies like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, listing objects you observe around you.
- Manage relationships – Set healthy boundaries in relationships, communicate needs clearly, allow yourself space when feeling irritable or distrustful.
- Improve distress tolerance – When you feel like you can’t handle emotions, wait it out without acting rashly. Remind yourself the feelings will pass.
- Practice self-soothing – Do healthy activities that comfort you like taking a bath, listening to music, spending time with pets.
- Moderate emotional reactions – Express feelings assertively, not aggressively. Think before acting on impulses.
Mastering these skills takes practice but can greatly improve coping.
Moving Forward with Mild BPD
Living with mild BPD has its challenges, but the right treatment approach helps manage the condition effectively. Many people with mild symptoms learn how to handle their emotions, improve relationships, and prevent their BPD from worsening over time. Have an open discussion with your doctor about all available options so you can get the most appropriate care.
Consistent treatment, developing healthy coping strategies, and having a strong support system all empower you to gain control over your BPD symptoms, feel better, and live a fulfilling life.
Conclusion
Mild BPD is when you have fewer or less severe symptoms of borderline personality disorder that still interfere with functioning and wellbeing. Knowing the common signs like emotional instability, anger issues, unstable relationships and impulsivity can help you identify it. Seeking professional help early to get diagnosed and starting treatment is key. With the right psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, coping skills and support system, many people can successfully manage their mild BPD.