se many borderline characteristics such as lack of identity, impulsive behavior, extreme mood swings are a fairly normal part of growing up, it is very difficult to diagnose borderline personality disorder before the age of 16. Researchers have chosen the age of 16 because that is when more stable patterns of behavior begin to show. This disorder causes patients to be uncertain about which types of friends to chose, and what types of values to believe in. Sexual orientation, career goals, and other long-term plans are many of the confusions that borderline patients have to deal with. Borderline patients behavior usually swings from being dependent to completely being self-assertive. These mood swings usually last only a few hours and max out at no more then a few days. They can be triggered by criticism or fear of abandonment, but almost anything can actually be the cause. Borderliners exhibit behavioral dyscontrol, which means they have a very hard time restraining their impulses (Ross, 1995). Many borderlines are sexually promiscuous; have extreme shopping sprees, eating binges, and usually abuse drugs and gambling. Many of these compulsions cause other mental and physical problems, aside from the problem that exist from the borderline itself. Stress! As with all personality disorders, stress is an important factor in behavior traits. In the case of borderline personality disorder, stress triggers dysphoria, which is a combination of anxiety, depression, and anger that can rapidly intensify. Rage can be exhibited in several ways, physical violence directed towards friends or family, self-mutilation, or actual suicide attempts. Some examples of self-mutilation are carving words in their skin, scraping sandpaper across their face, and even searing themselves. The oddest thing is that self-mutilation appears to calm the rage, and patients say that they are relieved of dysphoria by using this technique. Another key factor...
