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Anyone here have it, or perhaps knows a person who has it?

From wikipedia: The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; "black and white" thinking, or splitting; chaotic and unstable interpersonal relationships, self-image, identity, and behavior; as well as a disturbance in the individual's sense of self. In extreme cases, this disturbance in the sense of self can lead to periods of dissociation. These disturbances can have a pervasive negative impact on many or all of the psychosocial facets of life. This includes difficulties maintaining relationships in work, home and social settings. Attempted suicide and completed suicide are possible outcomes, especially without proper care and effective therapy.

Onset of symptoms typically occurs during adolescence or young adulthood. Symptoms may persist for several years, but the majority of symptoms lessen in severity over time, with some individuals fully recovering. The mainstay of treatment is various forms of psychotherapy, although medication and other approaches may also improve symptoms. While borderline personality disorder can manifest itself in children and teenagers, therapists are discouraged from diagnosing anyone before the age of 18, due to adolescence and a still-developing personality.

I wouldn't use Wiki to self-diagnose yourself. The teen years can be messy emotionally. But sounds like you could also be describing depression. If you really think this is what you're going through, go see a psychologist or psychiatrist and get a professional diagnosis. Of course, you might just need someone to talk with, so therapy in general might work for you.

Good luck and hang in there!

ShagonTheHate saidFrom wikipedia: The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; "black and white" thinking, or splitting; chaotic and unstable interpersonal relationships, self-image, identity, and behavior; as well as a disturbance in the individual's sense of self. In extreme cases, this disturbance in the sense of self can lead to periods of dissociation. These disturbances can have a pervasive negative impact on many or all of the psychosocial facets of life. This includes difficulties maintaining relationships in work, home and social settings. Attempted suicide and completed suicide are possible outcomes, especially without proper care and effective therapy.

Onset of symptoms typically occurs during adolescence or young adulthood. Symptoms may persist for several years, but the majority of symptoms lessen in severity over time, with some individuals fully recovering. The mainstay of treatment is various forms of psychotherapy, although medication and other approaches may also improve symptoms. While borderline personality disorder can manifest itself in children and teenagers, therapists are discouraged from diagnosing anyone before the age of 18, due to adolescence and a still-developing personality.

Ahh yes my sister has that... It's a lot more common than you think

Do you find this occurs to you every 5 weeks for approximately 3-4 days and is accompanied by cramps and mentural bleeding?

EricLA saidI wouldn't use Wiki to self-diagnose yourself. The teen years can be messy emotionally. But sounds like you could also be describing depression. If you really think this is what you're going through, go see a psychologist or psychiatrist and get a professional diagnosis. Of course, you might just need someone to talk with, so therapy in general might work for you.

Good luck and hang in there!

I agree with every word of what you say here.

ShagonTheHate saidAnyone here have it, or perhaps knows a person who has it?

It's "borderline syndrome" (try using Firefox which will teach you how to spell via its spelling checker). It's now known as borderline personality disorder, or BPD.

There are folks running around with it. They can be hard to spot unless you've had a chance to observe someone for a bit of time.

Treatment can require years of therapy.

Folks with BPD are usually pretty messed up, and live in a world with a different reality than what most see.

I guarantee there's a few folks here with it. I can think of at least two examples that scream BPD.

The term borderline personality disorder (BPD) is still used, but many mental health care workers believe the name should be changed. Early mental health workers believed that the afflicted existed somewhere on the border between two psychiatric disorders, neurosis and psychosis. This is no longer felt to be the case. Newer names have been proposed such as Emotion Dysregulation Disorder, Unstable Personality Disorder, and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
The Individuals with this disorder that I know have significant problems. Life has not been easy for them. Couple of them have been in and out of the psychiatric unit for suicide attempts or cutting episodes. The one has spent time in jail for theft. I'm not a psychologist so I don't know if these are extreme cases or the norm for individuals with BPD.
The following article summarizes the symptoms.
http://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.com/

The problems associated with BPD include impulsivity (including suicidality and self-harm), severe negative emotion such as anger and/or shame, chaotic relationships, an extreme fear of abandonment, and accompanying difficulties maintaining a stable and accepting sense of self. Thus, BPD is characterized by pervasive instability of mood, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and actions, often negatively affecting loved ones, family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity

You should not self diagnosis yourself. If you are having a lot of emotional turmoil in your life, you should see a professional and get the proper diagnosis.

Princess Diana may have had BPD. She went public with her cutting drives.
http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/51/2/259

http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Princess_Diana

Are you a Republican?

As a mental health clinician, BPD is a complex and at times difficult to diagnose disorder that is characterized by all of the above - because it can have many overlap symptoms with other psychiatric issues, it really requires a clinician skilled at differential diagnosis. I used to complain earlier in my career that the BPD diagnosis was often given in error by clinicians who felt frustrated with difficult clients who may have had some of the above listed symptoms.

There is overlap with bipolar disorder, substance abuse, other personality disorders, PTSD (particularly where the trauma is related to early childhood sexual abuse).

The thing with most psychiatric diagnoses is any of us can appear to have nearly any diagnosis from time to time. Factors such as extent of impairment of functioning, duration and frequency all have to be considered.

Simplest answer is seek professional consultation with a person skilled in diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders.

Why are you interested?

I've known several people with diagnosed borderline personality: my mom, a couple foster kids my parents helped out with, and a couple guys I've dated. They're some of the most fucked up people you'll ever meet!

I don't think fucked up is a good discription. Working for a large psychiatric group over the years has changed my perception of mental illness. I think everyone is fucked up at times. Buy I also believe the people you allow to get close to you can affect you sanity. Yes BPD is real but most psychiatrist do not give people an axis 2 diagnosis. I think it is a difficult thing to diagnos. But the patients I see in clinic have all been sexually abused in early childhood.
That's a whole other topic. It's a shame adults do not do more to protect children.

Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most challenging psychiatric disorders for everyone involved: patients, their families, friends and their treaters.

Briefly the diagnostic criteria are as follows:

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.

2. a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.

3. identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.

4. impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.

5. recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior

6. affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).

7. chronic feelings of emptiness

8. inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)

9. transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms

A more detailed discussion is here: http://www.borderlinepersonalitytoday.com/main/dsmiv.htm

One over-riding hallmark of people suffering from BPD is a near total intolerance of their own emotions.

Probably the gold standard of treatment for BPD is known as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which was pioneered by Marsha Linehan: http://behavioraltech.org/index.cfm?CFID=21732293&CFTOKEN=52905124

If you think you or someone you know may be suffering from BPD, I would urge you to seek an assessment by a highly experienced psychologist or psychiatrist and, if you are not thoroughly convinced by their diagnosis, seek a second opinion. BPD is a scary, frustrating, and very dangerous condition for people who have it. For people close to patients with BPD or for clinicians treating patients with BPD, the syndrome can be harrowing - especially if it occurs alongside other diagnoses - such as an anxiety disorder or substance abuse - as it very often does.

Yeah I have two family members, a former sister-in-law, and an ex bf who are guaranteed or quite likely to be BPD.

It's been very tough having relationships with them. But, I've learned to deal with it in a manner that is constructive and healthy for me.

Often enough, that means diminished contact, not taking their actions/words personally, etc.