Borderline personality disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is a Personality Disorder, but an individual with it can suffer from Structural Dissociation. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder rather than a Trauma Stressor-Related or Dissociative Disorder, but it could be called a distant cousin in some respects. After an individual has borderline personality disorder, they can become overwhelmed by Structural Dissociation. The overwhelming is due to a build up of unprocessed trauma memories. When this happens, then the person with borderline personality disorder will have some dissociative symptoms. Unfortunately, unlike the trauma and Dissociative Disorders, resolving unprocessed memories and integrating the created states that resulted from Structural Dissociation will only fix the trauma related (dissociative) symptoms. The borderline personality remains.

Structural Dissociation in borderline personality disorder
Each bullet addresses a "box" on Chart C, and this diagram shows how Structural Dissociation happens in an individual who has borderline personality disorder. The only major difference, at least that would be outlined in a brief form as is here, is that the person already has the mental disorder and it is not caused by Structural Dissociation.


 * An individual already has borderline personality disorder - It is important to understand that Structural Dissociation does not cause borderline personality disorder.


 * "The mind seeks input" - A trauma event occurs and the mind is unable to process it, and it sends a signal to the brain for more information.


 * "The brain is unable to respond to the mind" - The brain does not know what to tell the mind because it's confused.


 * "A secure attachment was never formed in childhood with a primary caregiver" - Any individual who has obtained a secure attachment with a primary caregiver during childhood will eventually be able to process their trauma memories even if it takes a few weeks, but not someone that never formed an attachment with a primary caregiver. For them the cycle continues.


 * "Trauma memories are not processed" - The mind and brain attempt communication back and forth, until the signals fade to where they are almost negligible.


 * "The brain seeks information from the mind" - The brain asks for information from the mind and the mind does not answer, and so the brain sends out signals that cause the individual distress.


 * "The mind, brain and individual are overwhelmed" - The mind becomes overwhelmed, followed by the brain and then ultimately the entire individual.


 * "Structural Dissociation occurs" - Overwhelming of the individual results in Structural Dissociation and the personality "splits" into two divisions, one part only dealing with daily life activities (ANP) and the other that handles the trauma memories (EP).


 * "The trauma cycle repeats until the trauma memories can be processed, and the resulting ANP and EP have integrated" - It's important to understand that processing trauma memories and integrating the ANP and EP will not fix borderline personality disorder, but it will relieve the dissociative symptoms the individual is experiencing.

Trauma history
Severe, early traumatization and attachment disturbances are frequent in people with BPD. .

Dissociative symptoms will exist only if Structural Dissociation has occurred
High rates of dissociative symptoms have been reported in some people with borderline personality disorder.

Emotional distress and harm
The term "self-mutilating behavior" is more commonly referred to as self injury, self-harm and sometimes non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Self-harm and repeated suicide attempts are one of the eight criteria for the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, and only five of the eight are required.

Physical symptoms and health issues
Health problems may include autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome , gastroesophageal reflux disease , irritable bowel syndrome , headaches, morbid obesity , chronic pelvic pain  , joint pain, and non-epileptic seizures  (PNES).

States in DID that "act" like they have BPD
The same individual cannot have both borderline personality disorder and dissociative identity disorder, but individuals with dissociative identity disorder can have states that "act" like they have borderline personality disorder.



Diagnostic manuals
'''Diagnostic manuals like the DSM and ICD are not meant to be used to understand any mental disorder. Their intent is to give the minimum criteria needed to diagnose a disorder. The criteria listed here is paraphrased, as proper etiquette demands.'''