Borderline Personality Disorder / Emerging BPD in Teens

Teen years are often filled with emotional highs and lows. During the teen years, parents may feel disconnected from their child without any clue as to why. Teens may appear to be arguing for no other reason than they feel compelled to oppose whatever position a parent has taken, and they resist attempts to find any common ground with which to communicate with their parents.

This is often called “rebellion,” and these examples are common. In most cases, teens grow up and grow out of the need to do battle at every turn.

However, in some cases, these symptoms may be early signs of a personality disorder in adolescents that will require treatment later on. At this stage of their lives, these traits are labeled “emerging” personality disorders in youth because they are still forming. As they are still young, many teens have not yet received a formal diagnosis.

What is a personality Disorder

A personality disorder is a mental illness marked by enduring unhealthy behaviors, patterns of thought, and internal experiences in many areas of an individual’s life. These patterns usually develop early in life and can be extremely difficult to change. They often have a significant impact on the person’s general mental health and overall well-being.

The ongoing pervasiveness of some of these unhealthy patterns also affects one’s daily functioning. They often make navigating relationships difficult and can increase one’s instability in school and/or work.

Types of Personality disorders

Cluster A Personality Disorders in Teens

These disorders are often characterized by odd, eccentric thinking or behavior.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

This disorder is marked by severe social anxiety, thought disorder, paranoid ideation, derealization, transient psychosis, and unconventional beliefs. Teens with Schizotypal Personality Disorder might have odd behaviors or thinking and unusual perceptual experiences, such as hearing a voice whisper their name.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Characterized by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others, teens with Paranoid Personality Disorder believe that others are deceiving or harming them without adequate evidence. They may be reluctant to confide in others, bear grudges, or interpret benign remarks as threatening or demeaning.

Cluster B Personality Disorders in Teens

Disorders in this cluster are characterized by dramatic, overly emotional, or unpredictable thinking or behavior. These are the most common personality disorders seen in teens.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Teens with this disorder have an inflated sense of their importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. They may react with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

This involves excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Teens may feel uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention, may use physical appearance to draw attention, or may have rapidly shifting and shallow expressions of emotions.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Marked by instability in personal relationships, self-image, and emotions, teens with Borderline Personality Disorder experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days. They may have suicidal behavior or threats and self-harming behavior.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

This disorder is characterized by a disregard for and violation of the rights of others, beginning by age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) criteria such as deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggressiveness, reckless disregard for safety of self or others, consistent irresponsibility, and lack of remorse.

Cluster C Personality Disorders in Teens

These disorders are characterized by anxious, fearful thinking or behavior and are not often seen in teens.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Unlike OCD, OCPD involves a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency. Teens with OCPD may be excessively devoted to work and productivity, excluding leisure activities and friendships.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Teens with this disorder have a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation. They may have difficulty making everyday decisions without excessive advice and reassurance from others. This disorder is often attributed to a reactive attachment disorder.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Feelings of extreme social inhibition, inadequacy, and sensitivity to negative criticism and rejection characterize this disorder. Teens with Avoidant Personality Disorder may avoid work activities or refuse to engage with people unless they are certain of being liked and fear being embarrassed or ridiculed. This disorder is often attributed to a reactive attachment disorder.

Warning Signs of Personality Disorder in Teens

If you are concerned your teen might have a personality disorder, there are some common symptoms to be aware of.

  • Changes in sleep patterns.
  • Instability in establishing and maintaining relationships.
  • Social isolation — your teen appears withdrawn and reluctant to engage in social habits.
  • Ongoing depression — it is difficult for your teen to find joy or happiness in anything, and previously enjoyed activities no longer appear to satisfy him or her.
  • Increased defensiveness — your teen is acting and/or reacting in a much more defensive manner. Defensiveness can appear through harsh language, attacking others verbally, and showing disdain towards others.
  • Difficulty trusting — suspiciousness and even paranoia around other people’s motives are very common for teens with emerging personality disorders.

Personality Disorder Diagnosis in Teens

There is an ongoing debate as to whether or not it is appropriate to diagnose a teen with a personality disorder. While your teen may be demonstrating teen personality disorder symptoms, many mental health professionals will hesitate to assign a formal diagnosis.

This is because a teen’s personality continues to develop and change and, thus, is not yet fixed. On the other hand, some mental health professionals believe early diagnosis allows for early intervention and treatment. Therefore, it is often the best chance for the teen to lead a healthy life.

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PROs For Diagnosing A Personality Disorder (Teens)

  • The teen and their family can seek support immediately.
  • A diagnosis can allow for long-term treatment planning and prevention.
  • The teen can get a better understanding of their struggles and symptoms and gain validation.
  • Diagnosis allows access to effective treatments, which can only be accessed with the proper diagnosis.

CONs For Diagnosing A Personality Disorder (Teens)

  • Personality disorder diagnoses tend to carry significant stigma.
  • While the teen may grow out of certain behaviors, the label may stay with him or her into adulthood.
  • Many treatment centers will not treat teens who have been diagnosed with personality disorders because of the belief that there won’t be any progress or change.

The difference between a rebellious teen and one that has an emerging personality disorder is the length, depth, and pattern of the behavior.

Length

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a clinical guide published by the American Psychiatric Association, the pattern of behavior that qualifies for possible diagnosis as a personality disorder must be “enduring.” In other words, abnormal behavior must be displayed for a specific length of time, and one episode, or even a few, does not necessarily indicate an emerging personality disorder.

Depth

Extreme reactions to situations, including panic, hysteria, rage, and alternating between periods of depression or gloomy attitudes, are possible indicators when combined with the other two criteria.

Breadth

Personality disorder symptoms in teens tend to exhibit an extremely wide range of emotional reactions.

If you suspect an emerging or borderline personality disorder in your teen, you must seek professional help at once. The consequences may be devastating if left untreated. If your teen has been formally diagnosed with a personality disorder, constant teen mental health interventions are required. In either case, Polaris Teen Center can help.

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Polaris Teen Mental Health Center in Los Angeles

Polaris Teen Center is a respected adolescent mental health treatment center that provides a safe haven for healing and growth for adolescents, including those with emerging personality disorders. Our teen treatment center services provide an environment that supports healing within the whole family by involving parents and loved ones in the treatment process. The staff at our adolescent mental health facility is dedicated to the health and well-being of your son or daughter.

Many teen treatment centers claim to provide individualized treatment. Polaris®, however, offers truly individualized care and teen therapy because our residential clients are limited to six. As a highly focused adolescent mental health facility, our team develops an invaluable awareness of each person’s unique qualities and adjusts to individual needs.

For more information on how polaris teenage residential treatment center can help by providing experienced, compassionate management of an emerging personality disorder, contact us today.

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