Many people experiencing borderline personality disorder (BPD) first receive a diagnosis in their teens. It’s a mental health condition that can manifest with many possible symptoms and presentations. People experiencing BPD experience it in different ways. They also have different opinions about using the term to identify themselves. It’s common to experience other mental health conditions, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with BPD.

BPD can run in families. However, it often arises when a young person endures stressful situations or abuse. This article explores childhood experiences that can lead young people to develop borderline personality disorder.

What is borderline personality disorder?

Borderline personality disorder involves difficulties with a person’s sense of identity, their relationships or their emotions. People experiencing BPD may have intense or overwhelming feelings that can change quickly. Most people receive a BPD diagnosis when their symptoms start to make it hard to cope on a daily basis.

Some common symptoms of BPD include:

• An overwhelming worry that you’ll be abandoned or rejected. You may take drastic action to prevent this from happening.
• Taking big risks or doing things without thinking, such as binge eating or self-harm
• Intense emotions that can change very quickly (e.g., feeling elated one moment and deeply distressed after something happens to change that)
• Feeling unable to control your actions when your emotions are intense
• Not feeling a clear sense of self. You may also feel like a different person depending on who’s around you.
• Having difficulty with relationships. You might tend to see relationships as either perfect and great or absolutely terrible.
• Feeling lonely or empty a lot of the time
• Experiencing paranoia or dissociation

What are some common childhood causes of borderline personality disorder?

The causes of borderline personality disorder aren’t always clear. While many people with this condition have a genetic predisposition or early traumatic experiences, some don’t. Traumatic experiences might include abuse and neglect. Other situations that make you feel unsafe or invalidated can have similar effects. An unstable home environment, insecure relationships and ongoing stress can all contribute to BPD. Too much stress at certain stages of development can affect function and connectivity in certain areas of the brain. This results in emotional and cognitive differences that cause difficulties. People who develop this condition often have multiple co-occurring disorders, according to a review of 20 years of research on BPD. These may include mood and anxiety disorders or behavioral disorders like addictions or eating disorders.

Unstable family relationships

Growing up in an unstable home environment can create conditions for children to develop BPD as a teen or an adult. Because BPD can run in families, having a family member with unmanaged BPD symptoms can be a contributing factor. Inappropriate boundaries with family members, such as parents oversharing about problems in their relationship, may cause a child to have similarly unhealthy boundaries. Being separated from a parent, having a caregiver with a substance use disorder or having invalidating relationships can also increase your likelihood of developing BPD.

Abuse and neglect

Some young people develop BPD when their physical or emotional needs are neglected. Sexual assault, coercion or manipulation can lead to the kinds of symptoms that characterize BPD. Teens and adolescents may also develop this disorder after being physically abused.

Traumatic events

Other types of traumatic experiences and losses can contribute to borderline personality disorder — for instance, losing a parent or a caregiver who was close to you or witnessing hostility and violence. Events without a specific cause, like car accidents and natural disasters, can also bring about symptoms of BPD.

Fear and distress

Being exposed to long-term distress for any reason (e.g., feeling that you or your loved ones may be in danger or witnessing someone else’s emotional turmoil) can cause difficulty with your emotions, sense of self and relationships. Situations that put children in an adult role prematurely, such as earning money for their family, can cause a high level of ongoing stress.

Get help for borderline personality disorder at Embrace U

Even experts disagree about what borderline personality disorder is and how it should be identified and treated. Unfortunately, this can result in misunderstandings and misdiagnosis. In our outpatient programs for adolescents and teens at Embrace U, we provide a lot of education to help patients learn about their conditions and take an active part in their own treatment processes. We also involve family members to ensure that patients have the support they need to maintain their mental health after treatment. 

Some care providers are hesitant to diagnose teens with BPD. However, when left untreated, the emotional symptoms and relationship dynamics that characterize BPD have a very real impact on teens’ lives. Treatment at Embrace U is about more than labeling and symptom reduction. We help teens develop a healthy self-image and positive skills for healthy relationships and emotional regulation. The things you learn in treatment will continue to benefit you long into adulthood.

Have questions about borderline personality disorder or treatment? Contact our team or give us a call today.