Is BPD complex PTSD?

cPTSD results from chronic or long-term exposure to trauma, while BPD is a personality disorder. cPTSD can develop from any prolonged traumatic experience, such as childhood abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or being in a war zone.


Is BPD the same as complex PTSD?

Individuals with complex PTSD often over-regulate emotions, using emotional numbing, withdrawing, or dissociation to cope with reminders of traumatic experiences. On the other hand, BPD is characterised by under-regulation of intense emotions, resulting in expressions of intense anger or self-harm.

Can you have complex PTSD and BPD?

Yes, you can have CPTSD and BPD together. Research suggests that BPD may occur more often when CPTSD is diagnosed than CPTSD occurs when BPD is diagnosed. There's also evidence that the two are more likely to be connected when the initial trauma stems from physical neglect and emotional abuse.


Is BPD a form of cPTSD?

BPD can sometimes be mistaken for PTSD or C-PTSD, and vice-versa. C-PTSD is a subset of PTSD which is associated with long-term or chronic exposure to trauma – much like BPD. Both can cause emotional distress, mood swings, flashbacks, anxiety and anger.

Is BPD complex trauma?

BPD is a complex disorder and affects every person differently. Common symptoms are emotional instability, erratic behavior patterns, and intense feelings of emptiness as well as a poor sense of self. Unlike PTSD, which is understood to be a fear-based disorder, complex PTSD is believed to be rooted in shame.


BPD vs. CPTSD: How to Spot the Differences



What kind of trauma does BPD come from?

Stressful or traumatic life events

Often having felt afraid, upset, unsupported or invalidated. Family difficulties or instability, such as living with a parent or carer who experienced an addiction. Sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect. Losing a parent.

Does BPD count as a disability?

The Social Security Administration placed borderline personality disorder as one of the mental health disorders on its disabilities list. However, you'll have to meet specific criteria for an official disability finding. For example, you must prove that you have the symptoms of the condition.

What is cPTSD misdiagnosed as?

Misdiagnosis with BPD

Some of the symptoms of complex PTSD are very similar to those of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and not all professionals are aware of complex PTSD. As a result, some people are given a diagnosis of BPD or another personality disorder when complex PTSD fits their experiences more closely.


How do I know if I have BPD or cPTSD?

Key Differences Between BPD and cPTSD. While both disorders may experience symptoms associated with fear within relationships, one distinguishing factor seen in BPD that is not often seen in cPTSD is a fear of abandonment.

Can you have BPD without cPTSD?

Thus, in actual clinical practice BPD may occur without comorbid PTSD and cPTSD/DSO symptoms, just as the DSO features of cPTSD may occur without comorbid PTSD symptoms [12].

Why do antidepressants not work for BPD?

Limited therapeutic effectiveness of antidepressants in BPD may be related to lack of serotonin receptor specificity, since 5-HT2A but not 5-HT2C antagonism is associated with decreasing impulsivity.


How many people with BPD have trauma?

Studies show that anywhere between 30 and 80 percent of people with BPD meet the criteria for a trauma-based disorder or report past trauma-related experiences.

Is BPD caused by childhood trauma?

In 30% up to 90% of cases BPD is associated with abuse and neglect in childhood and these percentages are significantly higher than those registered in other personality disorders (13–15). Some authors proposed affect regulation difficulties as central mediator in the relationship between childhood trauma and BPD (16).

Is C-PTSD a valid diagnosis?

Although the concept of C-PTSD is longstanding, it is not in the fifth edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5), and therefore isn't officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).


What is quiet BPD?

People with BPD tend to experience intense emotions. In theory, “quiet BPD” describes when these significant feelings are directed toward yourself without letting others see them. Some of the emotions associated with BPD include: anger or rage. anxiety.

What disorders can be misdiagnosed as BPD?

The symptoms of BPD are very broad, and some can be similar to or overlap with other mental health problems, such as:
  • Bipolar disorder.
  • Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD)
  • Depression.
  • Anxiety.
  • Psychosis.
  • Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)


What happens when CPTSD is triggered?

Overview. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.


Does CPTSD cause brain damage?

According to recent studies, Emotional Trauma and PTSD do cause both brain and physical damage. Neuropathologists have seen overlapping effects of physical and emotional trauma upon the brain.

What benefits can I get on borderline personality disorder?

BPD is included in the Social Security Administration's Bluebook under the Mental Disorder listing 12.08. The Bluebook contains more than 100 disabling medical conditions that can qualify individuals for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.

What are the benefits of BPD?

8 positives of BPD / EUPD
  • Loyalty. Those with BPD tend to be extremely loyal and trustworthy. ...
  • Empathy. People with BPD are extremely sensitive to their own, and others' emotions and feelings. ...
  • Resilience. ...
  • Courage. ...
  • Elation. ...
  • Creativity. ...
  • Resourcefulness. ...
  • Intuition.


Is BPD on a spectrum?

It is now clear that DSM-IV-defined BPD is a heterogeneous construct that includes patients on the mood disorder spectrum and the impulsivity spectrum (Siever and Davis, 1991), in contrast to the original speculation that these patients might be near neighbors of patients with schizophrenia or other psychoses.

What part of the brain is damaged in BPD?

BPD has been linked to the amygdala and limbic systems of the brain, the centres that control emotion and, particularly, rage, fear and impulsive automatic reactions.

Does BPD have empathy?

People with BPD score low on cognitive empathy but high on emotional empathy. This suggests that they do not easily understand other peoples' perspectives, but their own emotions are very sensitive. This is important because it could align BPD with other neurodiverse conditions.


At what age does borderline personality disorder develop?

Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. The condition seems to be worse in young adulthood and may gradually get better with age.

Are people with BPD more likely to be abused?

The most common form of adverse experience reported by people with BPD was physical neglect at 48.9%, followed by emotional abuse at 42.5%, physical abuse at 36.4%, sexual abuse at 32.1% and emotional neglect at 25.3%.