Diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be a lonely life. Friends and family may dismiss the relationship, rather than trying to understand the symptoms and behaviors. Even if a strong support system is in place, dealing with social stigma may increase the challenges of a debilitating mental disorder. One challenge in diagnosis is that the symptoms […] read more

Overlap Between Sex Addiction and Personality Disorders

Sex addiction is one of several terms used to describe an ongoing, dysfunctional and mentally distressing pattern of sex-based behaviors, thoughts or urges. Despite research findings that support its existence, this pattern has no official standing in the U.S. as a diagnosable disorder or condition. According to the results of a study published in 2013 […] read more

On March 27th, 2014, posted in: Mental Health by Tags: , ,

How to Come Out of the Closet About Family Mental Illness

It’s the thing we don’t even want to think about, let alone discuss with others. It’s the addiction, the chronic depression, the agoraphobia, the stint in the psych ward. When mental illness invades our homes we tend to isolate and wall off, either out of shame, or fear, or from simply not knowing what to […] read more

On March 13th, 2014, posted in: Mental Health by Tags: ,

Key Differences Between Bipolar II and Borderline Personality Disorder

Bipolar II disorder and borderline personality disorder share several common symptoms, enough that differentiating between the two conditions is tricky. Both are mood disorders, meaning that the emotions are severe enough to create disruptions in daily living. Yet there are key differences between the two. read more

What Is a ‘Quiet’ Borderline?

Keisha had never been what anyone would call an extrovert. She was an observer and a listener, which can sometimes just be other words for shy. She rarely liked to put herself out there, but when she did, she went all-in. Her relationships were extremely important to her, far more than the people in them […] read more

On December 26th, 2013, posted in: Mental Health by Tags: ,

BPD and PTSD: Symptom Overlap

Charlie was like most of the women sitting in her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) recovery group. She’d experienced intense feelings of abandonment, fear and repeated instances of trauma. Her mother had been addicted to crack cocaine during Charlie’s elementary school years and had taken Charlie with her into places no adult should go, let alone […] read more

On December 11th, 2013, posted in: Mental Health by Tags:

Borderline Personality Disorder Subtypes Part I: The Discouraged Borderline

Brandy never seemed to grow out of her “emo kid” persona. At 23, she is still obsessed with dark, emotionally dense music and sad anime storylines. Her wardrobe is almost entirely black and she is never seen publically without heavily lined eyes—at once making her appear older and more experienced, yet simultaneously childlike and naïve. read more

On October 10th, 2013, posted in: Mental Health by Tags:

Links Between Personality Disorders and Compulsive Gambling

Compulsive gambling, known formally as pathological gambling, is a psychiatric disorder that involves a persistent fixation with gambling that continues in the face of seriously negative personal or social consequences. Along with a varied range of other conditions that feature impulsive behavior, it’s officially categorized as an “impulse disorder not otherwise specified.” Current guidelines group […] read more

On July 5th, 2013, posted in: Mental Health by Tags: ,

Healthy Relationships and Borderline Personality Disorder

For those living in close relationship with a person who suffers with borderline personality disorder (BPD) it can become easy to lose perspective about what a healthy relationship actually looks like. The person with BPD often creates high levels of conflict in relationships and without being aware, engages in narcissistic behaviors. Below is a list […] read more

On September 14th, 2012, posted in: Mental Health by Tags:

Family History of Substance Abuse Linked to Majoring in Humanities

If your family has a history of bipolar disorder or substance abuse, your college major is more likely to be in the humanities or social sciences. On the other hand, having a sibling, parent or grandparent with an autism spectrum disorder makes you more likely to major in science or technology, according to a new […] read more

On February 11th, 2012, posted in: Mental Health by Tags: