(gentle music) - [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers and welcome back to another video. Your love and support have enabled us to send your way another
wealth of everyday psychology. So, let's explore. Have you heard of borderline
personality disorder or BPD before? It's a personality disorder that affects about one to three
percent of the population. So, what is BPD? People with BPD struggle with self image and self perception. Their behavior and view
of others changes quickly as they battle waves of
sadness, anger, or anxiety. It's linked to traumatic events, brain chemistry, and family history. But these factors aren't always present in people with the disorder. Hidden BPD is a type in which the symptoms of the
disorder are internalized. They're not displayed outwardly, making its diagnosis difficult. And this leads your friends,
partner, or family members to misunderstand your actions as having a toxic personality or a different mental
disorder like anxiety rather than borderline
personality disorder. Before we begin, we would like to remind you that the purpose of this video
is to create awareness and should in no case be
used to self-diagnose. If you find you can relate to these signs, please reach out to a
professional for help. With that being said, here are seven hidden signs of borderline personality disorder. One, self hatred, self-harm. Do you often see the world in extremes and struggle to maintain
a sense of identity? One hidden sign of borderline
personality disorder is drastically low self
esteem or self hatred. This creates internal conflict
like constant self criticism, negative self-image, and feeling
like you're a bad person. Self-harm is another sign of borderline personality disorder. And this can escalate to suicidal thoughts or attempts at suicide. Two, difficulty regulating emotions. You cycle between periods
of intense emotions like emptiness, sadness,
anger, and anxiety. People with BPD struggle
to feel in control of their emotional
responses to situations. This is called effective instability and it's more intense and longer lasting than hormonal mood swings. Because people with hidden BPD tend to internalize their feelings, their mood swings likely won't
be as noticeable to others. It's important to note, however, that intense mood swings can also be a sign of mood disorders which is why it's so
important to get diagnosed by a mental health professional. In some cases, a person may be diagnosed with both borderline personality disorder and a mood disorder such as bipolar. Three, internalized anger. Intense anger can also be a sign of BPD. Some people verbally or physically lash out at others brought on by BPD. But in the case of hidden BPD, this anger is turned
inwards against the self and in the form of self hatred or is suppressed which
is even more lethal. Such anger can also manifest as repeated frustration
or extreme irritation when faced with interpersonal stressors that people without BPD or
other personality disorders can handle without getting upset. Four, fear of rejection. Would you agree that
rejection is hard to stomach even in the best of times? For those with BPD, fear of rejection is
yet another hidden sign. This could manifest in an irrational fear that loved ones will
leave you, social anxiety, or a desire to please everyone around you to try and prevent them
from rejecting you. The fact that people
with BPD often struggle to maintain relationships
only adds to this fear. Five, unstable relationships. Do you face difficulty maintaining interpersonal relationships like friendships, sibling bonds,
or romantic relationships? It can be difficult for people with BPD to preserve relationships because they often idealize
or think very highly of and then romanticize someone for a while and then devalue or distrust
or become disgusted with them. A 2016 study suggests
that some people with BPD react to relationship
stressors with impulsivity which generates instability
in relations as well. Six, impulsive decisions. While cycles of impulsive
decisions commonly occur in those with bipolar disorder
and other mood disorders, they're also a sign of BPD. Examples of impulsive decisions
someone with BPD might make are substance abuse,
spending or gambling sprees, skipping work or
appointments, unprotected sex, binge eating, or reckless driving. Impulsive decisions are
a hidden sign of BPD because others may think this impulsivity comes from low impulse control or another mental disorder instead of BPD. And seven, disassociation. Finally, people with
borderline personality disorder may disassociate more frequently and for longer periods of time than typical functioning people. Disassociation is when thoughts or emotions enter your mind and you find yourself incapable
of focusing on your actions, instead operating on autopilot or watching yourself do things without feeling connected to your body. Disassociation is a hidden symptom of BPD because others may assume
someone who is disassociating is just tired or distracted. Disassociation can also
be a symptom of PTSD or dissociative identity
disorder, also known as DID. But if it occurs alongside
the other things, it's likely a hidden sign of BPD. It's important to remember that mental disorders
affect everyone differently. Not everyone experiences all the symptoms. You might also experience
symptoms not listed here. That's why it's so important to seek help from a licensed mental health professional with experience in personality disorders if you think you or someone
you love might have BPD. Have you or someone, you
know, been diagnosed with BPD? Are you now better equipped to look out for its hidden symptoms? Let us know in the comments below. If you found this video helpful, be sure to hit the like
button and subscribe. And share it with someone
who might benefit from it. Thanks for watching
and we'll see you soon.
