Can A Teenager Have Borderline Personality Disorder?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

BPD is more common in girls and women; about 75% of teenagers diagnosed with borderline are female. It is important to note that, while adolescents and teenagers are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, many mental health professionals are hesitant to assign the diagnosis to individuals under the age of 18.

Can a 16 year old have BPD?

According to the DSM, borderline personality disorder

can be diagnosed in adolescents or even children under age 18

as long as formal criteria are met. Symptoms have to be occurring for more than a year, and they must be “pervasive, persistent and unlikely to be limited to a particular developmental stage.”

Can a 15 year old have borderline personality disorder?

Moreover, it often first appears in teenagers and young adults, but can take some time to

be diagnosed

. Due to the immense overload of emotions that they are dealing with, borderline personality disorder in adolescence can cause teens to find it difficult to connect with others.

Can you develop BPD as a teenager?

BPD is more common in girls and women; about 75% of teenagers diagnosed with borderline are female. It is important to note that, while adolescents and teenagers are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, many mental health professionals are hesitant to assign the diagnosis to individuals under the age of 18.

At what age does borderline personality disorder develop?

According to the DSM-5, BPD can be diagnosed

as early as at 12 years old

if symptoms persist for at least one year. However, most diagnoses are made during late adolescence or early adulthood.

Can 14 year olds have BPD?

BPD is more common in girls and women; about

75% of

teenagers diagnosed with borderline are female. It is important to note that, while adolescents and teenagers are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, many mental health professionals are hesitant to assign the diagnosis to individuals under the age of 18.

How do you discipline a child with borderline personality disorder?

  1. Learn as much as you can about BPD and DBT. …
  2. Take Care of Yourself. …
  3. Look Past the Borderline Personality Disorder Label. …
  4. Focus on Validation & Communication. …
  5. Learn to show love while holding boundaries. …
  6. Get professional help.

Can a 13 year old have borderline personality disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health condition. It is characterized by instability in relationships, moods, self-image, and behaviors. While the provision technically allows for the diagnosis of BPD in children under 13,

this is very rare

.

What triggers a person with borderline personality disorder?


Separations, disagreements, and rejections—real or perceived

—are the most common triggers for symptoms. A person with BPD is highly sensitive to abandonment and being alone, which brings about intense feelings of anger, fear, suicidal thoughts and self-harm, and very impulsive decisions.

How can you tell if a woman is borderline?

  • Fear of abandonment. People with BPD are often terrified of being abandoned or left alone. …
  • Unstable relationships. …
  • Unclear or shifting self-image. …
  • Impulsive, self-destructive behaviors. …
  • Self-harm. …
  • Extreme emotional swings. …
  • Chronic feelings of emptiness. …
  • Explosive anger.

Are borderlines aware of their behavior?

People with borderline personality disorders are

aware of their behaviors

and the consequences of them and often act in increasingly erratic ways as a self-fulfilling prophecy to their abandonment fears.

What happens if BPD is left untreated?

If left untreated, the person suffering from BPD may find themselves involved with

extravagant spending, substance abuse, binge eating, reckless driving, and indiscriminate sex

, Hooper says. The reckless behavior is usually linked to the poor self-image many BPD patients struggle with.

Does BPD show up on a brain scan?


Researchers have used MRI to study the brains of people with BPD

. MRI scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the inside of the body. The scans revealed that in many people with BPD, 3 parts of the brain were either smaller than expected or had unusual levels of activity.

Can BPD go away?

But for the most part, with informed and individualized treatment, BPD can be controlled in the same way as diabetes or other chronic conditions.

The disease may not go away

, but it can be managed in a way that affords a better quality of life.

How do I know if my child has borderline personality disorder?


A pattern of unstable and intense relationships

.

An unstable self-image or sense of self

.

Dangerous impulsivity

such as unsafe sexual encounters, substance abuse. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.

Can someone with BPD be a good parent?

People with borderline personality

disorder can be very effective and nurturing parents

, but because the symptoms of BPD can be very intense, for many people this does take some work. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.