Borderline Personality Disorder vs. Narcissism: Key Differences You Should Know
Imagine living in a world where your emotions roller coaster never gets off track. On the one hand the relentless search for approval; on the other the relentless seeking to use relationships to get what you want. As a result, borderline personality disorder (BPD) and narcissism can be difficult for many to make sense of due to such layered behavior. In fact, research indicates that 13% of people with BPD also exhibit narcissistic personality traits, a number that can climb as high as 39% in some circumstances. In this blog, we’ll simplify complicated disorders like borderline personality disorder and narcissism, explain their key differences, existing treatment options along with the coping strategies if these disorders coexist. Your Mind Is Your Home, Make It a Safe Place Again You weren’t meant to live in chaos, self-doubt, or endless emotional pain. rough DBT for emotional stability, CBT for thought transformation, and Schema Therapy for deep-rooted healing, you can reclaim control of your life. You Deserve to Heal 732-798-7743 What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? At any given point in time, 1.6% of adults struggle with borderline personality disorder in the U.S. It’s an intense mental health condition categorized by rapid and intense mood swings and fear of abandonment, which often leads to unstable relationships and a distorted self-image. Take a simple example of going out with one of your close friends. If the plan succeeds, you are happy, but if the plan cancels, you suddenly feel betrayed, sad, and rejected. People with this disorder often: Feel a fear of getting abandoned by the group- be it a real or a perceived notion Idealize someone and devalue them when they fail to meet their expectations Struggle to identify who they are and how they want to build the future Indulge in impulsive behaviors like binge eating, mindless scrolling, reckless buying, and it can even lead to self-harm What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)? In the U.S., around 1 in every 200 people are diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which is more prevalent in males, as 75% of them are men. It’s a mental health condition where the person has an excessive need for admiration followed by a lack of empathy for others. People with narcissist traits: Believe they deserve special treatment and always want to be the center of attention Faces difficulty recognizing others’ emotions Find it difficult to handle criticism Use others for their good without pondering upon the consequences What is a Borderline Narcissist? We often use Borderline Narcissist for people portraying both Borderline personality disorder and Narcissistic personality disorder. Understanding this from an example more prevalent in real life would help us get better clarity and differentiate between borderline personality disorder vs. narcissism in individuals like these. Let’s understand it in 3 phrases: 1. Idealization phase Suppose you recently started a relationship, and because of the efforts from both ends, you start thinking that this is the best thing that happened to you. You start seeing the other person as “perfect.” 2. Devaluation phase When the relationship grows, and there’s a minor inconvenience, a person with borderline narcissistic personality starts to throw tantrums and blame the other person for every “wrong” that happened. They start “de-valuing” someone in and out. 3. Low self-esteem phase The final stage that a borderline narcissist faces is the feeling of unworthiness and fear of getting abandoned by the group. Hence, when things seem out of control, they begin manipulating others to stay in their lives and always have a victim mentality. Borderline Personality Disorder vs. Narcissism: Overlapping Symptoms It’s difficult to see how both the disorders exhibit similar symptoms until seen particularly. Some of the commonly seen overlapping symptoms in borderline personality disorder vs. narcissism are: 1. Emotional Instability People with BPD and NPD both exhibit intense emotional responses and can find it difficult to navigate and manage their emotions in the long run. People with BPD often associate themselves with feelings of abandonment, whereas narcissists experience strong emotions of anger or distress whenever someone challenges their self-image. 2. Facing difficulty with relationships People with borderline personality disorder vs. narcissism often find it difficult to navigate through relationships because they idealize other people and de-value them at the other moment. 3. Sensitive to handling criticism The methods might slightly be different from one another, but people with BPD and NPD can’t handle criticism or rejection and see that as a source of motivation to become better. Instead, they try to control the other person by blackmailing, self-harming, or showing some withdrawal symptoms. Borderline Personality Disorder vs. Narcissism: Key Differences While characteristics of borderline personality disorder vs. narcissism might look similar, we can notice some key differences: 1. Self-image Issues While people with BPD might experience a fragile and unstable self-image, like changing careers in order to find what’s stable for them in the long run, people showing off narcissistic personalities have inflated their self-image to an extent where they believe they deserve to be treated specially and everyone should see them as superior. 2. Level of Empathy People with BPD often are more empathetic but unable to manage the outbursts that can happen, making the situation worse. However, people with NPD showcase a lack of empathy while taking advantage of others’ vulnerability. 3. Primary Cause BPD arises from the fear of getting abandoned, while NPD arises from giving too much importance to oneself. Existing Treatment Options for BPD & NPD Every disorder has a treatment plan best suited for short-term and long-term recovery. Based on the symptoms and level of effect it had on your brain, here are some treatment options for borderline personality disorder vs. narcissism: Treatment Options for Borderline Personality Disorder 1. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): It’s a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) specifically developed for BPD, which focuses on helping individuals reduce self-harm behaviors, regulate their emotions, and improve interpersonal relationships. Mindfulness, self-soothing behavior, and the ability to handle various situations are some of the key skills accompanied by DBT. 2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy