Do I Have Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms? Signs and When to Seek Support

If you often feel like your emotions shift quickly or intensely, or if your relationships feel like a rollercoaster, you may have wondered whether something deeper is going on. You might have even asked yourself, Do I have borderline personality disorder?

Borderline personality disorder, or BPD, is a complex mental health condition that affects how people relate to others, how they manage emotions, and how they see themselves. This guide is here to help you explore what BPD is, what borderline personality disorder symptoms look like, and whether it may be part of your experience.

Borderline personality disorder is part of a broad category of personality disorders that are characterized by patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that deviate from cultural norms and impair a person’s ability to function in their daily life. BPD, specifically, is a mental health condition that affects a person’s ability to regulate emotions and maintain stable relationships. 

People with BPD often experience intense emotions that can shift quickly, struggle with a strong fear of abandonment, and may act impulsively when they feel overwhelmed. 

This condition can also affect a person’s sense of identity. It may feel difficult to understand who you are, what you want, or how to manage life’s ups and downs. BPD is more common than many people realize, and while it can feel incredibly isolating, it is also treatable.

Borderline personality symptoms often show up in patterns that impact relationships, emotions, and self-image. You might notice intense mood swings, a constant fear that others will leave, or behaviors that feel difficult to control when you are upset. 

These experiences are more than just personality traits. They are part of how your brain is wired to respond to stress, connection, and emotional pain.

Emotional dysregulation is one of the most defining features of BPD. This means that emotions can feel overwhelming, come on suddenly, or last longer than expected. A small disagreement may trigger panic or anger. A moment of connection can bring intense joy, followed by deep fear that it will disappear. BPD emotional dysregulation can make life feel exhausting.

This borderline personality disorder test is not a diagnosis but a tool to help you notice patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. If you find yourself relating to several of the following questions, it may be time to reach out and talk with someone who can help.

1. Do your emotions shift quickly and feel difficult to control or predict?

These changes might feel out of proportion to the situation and hard to calm down from.

2. Do you struggle with intense fear that people will abandon you, even when there is no clear reason?

You may go to great lengths to keep someone close or feel devastated by small signs of distance.

3. Do your relationships often feel unstable or all-or-nothing?

It might feel like someone is either everything to you or suddenly not safe or trustworthy.

4. Do you experience intense anger, self-blame, or shame that is hard to manage?

These feelings may come on suddenly and be difficult to explain to others.

5. Do you sometimes feel unsure of who you are or what you really want?

Your sense of self may shift depending on who you are with or how you are feeling that day.

While borderline personality disorder affects people of all genders, the way symptoms show up can sometimes look different based on social and emotional conditioning. 

BPD symptoms in women may be more likely to involve emotional expression, relationship struggles, and self-harm behaviors. These patterns can lead to earlier diagnosis but also reinforce stereotypes about being overly sensitive or dramatic.

However, signs of borderline personality disorder in males present more often through anger, impulsivity, or numbing behaviors like substance use or risky actions. Men may be less likely to be diagnosed with BPD and more likely to be misdiagnosed with depression or antisocial behavior, even when the core emotional struggles are similar.

Borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder are often confused because both involve intense emotional shifts, but the nature and timing of those shifts can help clarify the difference.

In bipolar disorder, mood changes tend to last for days or weeks and often follow a cycle. These shifts move between depressive lows and manic or hypomanic highs. 

In contrast, borderline personality disorder involves more rapid emotional changes that are often triggered by events or interactions and can shift within hours.  These emotional reactions are usually tied to relationships or self-image and come with a strong fear of abandonment or rejection. 

Accurate diagnosis matters because the treatments for these two conditions are different.

Living with BPD can feel overwhelming, but with the right support, it’s possible to make sense of your emotional patterns, build stability, and create stronger relationships.

At Neurish Wellness in Orange County, CA,, we offer compassionate, evidence-based care in a beautiful homelike environment, along with targeted therapy for borderline personality disorder. Therapeutic approaches include dialectical behavior therapy (or DBT), trauma-informed therapy, and individual support.

Whether you’re just starting to explore what BPD means for you or have been living with it for years, we are here to support you in finding clarity, connection, and hope. Reach out to us today to get the process started.