What does it mean

[nastursim]

Just a question, what does it mean to have borderline traits??? I have major PTSD, OCD, anxiety, social phobia, nd depression and it was also said that I have borderline traits. COuld anyone explain this??

[Steph4302]

For Borderline Personality Disorder and all mental health disorders alike, there are different symptoms (or traits for personality disorders) that an individual needs to exhibit in order to be diagnosed with a disorder. You  need to have a certain number of traits or symptoms in order to be diagnosed. If you don't have the minimum number of criteria needed to be diagnosed, your dr. may say or suggest that you have "traits" that are usually related to a disorder, in your case, borderline personality disorder. The following are "traits" expressed by individuals with borderline personality disorder:

1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
2.  A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships
3. Identity disturbance
4. Impulsivity in two areas that are potentially self damaging
5. Recurrent suicidal behaviors, threats, or self mutilating behavior
6. Affect (emotional) instability due to a marked reactivity of mood
7. Chronic feelings of emptiness
8. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger
9. Transient, stress related paranoid ideation or severe dissociation

In order to be diagnosed with BPD, you need to have 5 of the above symptoms. After reviewing the symptoms and evaluating yourself in regards to them, if you feel as if you have a couple of the symptoms but not 5 of them, than that is why you were told that you have "borderline traits."

Did you take a personality test recently? Results of the test could suggest borderline traits as well.

There is also a diagnostic construct presently being researched called "Complex PTSD." Complex PTSD usually results from childhood physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or domestic abuse in adulthood. Complex PTSD is recognized as almost a combination of traditional PTSD and Borderline PD. You can google Complex PTSD for more information - I also have the latest research articles if you are interested.

Now, with all of the other diagnoses that you mentioned, I wouldn't worry much about having borderline traits. Many of the above symptoms are spread out and expressed in some of the disorders that you have already been diagnsed with. Are you currently receiving some type of threapy and medication?

Hope this helps. Please ask me more questions if this was not clear for you. Take care.

Stephanie

[Jade59]

I had never heard of Complex PTSD.  Very interesting, thank you!!

[nastursim]

Thankyou for explaining that to me. I am on medication, I take a high dose of luvox and zyprexa. I see a psychiatrist regularly. It was my psych who said that i have these traits. I do suffer with complex PTSD,