Understanding the Subtypes of Borderline Personality Disorder

We’re going to revisit BPD subtypes in this video and clarify some questions from the first one. A subtype is a different presentation or form of an idea or concept. For our purposes, “borderline personality disorder” is the general term we use for this disorder, and the subtypes are the specific presentations, or forms, of BPD.

Discouraged or “Quiet borderline” BPD
• Clingy
• Follow the crowd
• Dependent

Impulsive BPD
• Flirtatious, captivating, elusive, superficial
• Thrill seekers
• Highly energetic

Petulant BPD
• Unpredictable
• Irritable, complainers
• Impatient•

Self-Destructive BPD
• Impulsive
• Indecisive
• Between apologetic submissive to stubborn resistant

These are overlapping in many cases and can be situationally specific to person or place.

How do you understand more about BPD subtypes:

First, identify which type or types are most prevalent for you and start there. Then pair this with situations or with core content, those driving forces to engage in maladaptive patterns.

Let’s explore what we know so far. What’s the benefit to learning your BPD subtypes? This can help you build insight which helps you recognize issues to open the possibly to do things differently for yourself and use adaptive patterns to manage BPD symptoms and issues.

This is just the beginning to understanding yourself and BPD.

If you want to learn more, there is a subtype assessment and activity included in my workbook, the BPD workbook.

Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Texas, international speaker, and award winning author. He has been specializing in the treatment and assessment of individuals with personality disorders for over 15 years in the state and federal prison system, universities, and in private practice. His specialty areas include personality disorders, ethics, burnout prevention, and emotional intelligence.

He has published several articles in these areas and is the author of:

Thank you for your attention and I hope you enjoy my videos and find them helpful and subscribe. I always welcome topic suggestions and comments.

Citation:

Millon, Theodore; Carrie M. Millon; Seth Grossman; Sarah Meagher; Rowena Ramnath (2004). Personality Disorders in Modern Life. John Wiley and Sons.

[ashreactive]

"but we can't punch anybody in the head, right?" HAHA your transparency and gentle nature really is a gift

[ninacael]

Could you do a video on quiet borderline vs avoidant personality disorder?

[LaGrossePaulik]

I was very suspicious about my diagnosis at first, because I'm clearly not angry towards others. In fact I am not angry enough sometimes, I'm rather passive and submissive. My psychiatrist explained to me that I was in fact very angry towards myself, as I beat and mutilate my body, and belittle myself constantly. Also, I learned that 'quiet' BPD type and self-destructive are subtyped. We always have the image of the furious person, but it's not always the case! Thank you for your precious information. Can't wait to receive your book (it takes times as I live in France). All my best for the BPD community here, it's good not to feel alone...

[alohi]

Youre a life saver, doc. Literally. Thanky you for all the time and energy you put into helping those of us with BPD.

[raniontherocks]

Im glad you clarified that the sub types can and do overlap, because three of them are all me. 😐 I'm working on it. Meds help.

[Gabriella-jnxj]

You have such a soothing voice, I like how you said “ok” after explaining something

[Pari-ulwb]

You hit the nail in the head when you described how subtypes fluctuate between settings- that encapsulates what BPD is because we don't know who we are, so I guess we're just one type of BPD in one situation and another type in another haha

[catienajar]

here! DBT has helped me to recognize my part in my suffering, how I can heal myself without the help of my loved ones, and therefore has decreased my self-destructive tendencies when they can’t fulfill me. It’s been a long road but I’m happy to say that I’m a lot more social now and can use DBT skills and mindfulness daily to help me cope if I’m having trouble relating to others or I start getting negative thoughts about them or myself. I appreciate you making these videos because if I hadn’t found out what BPD was, I wouldn’t have gotten the help that I needed ❤️

[edgreen]

Petulant -fault finding
2)impulsive seductive
3)quiet or discouraged dependecy.
4 self distructive vacillate between quiet and impulsive

[hollynoneya]

I am very different in different circumstances. I came across your videos when i was dx and you have helped me so greatly. I’m lucky enough to still be in the military with this diagnosis because I’ve learned to control my impulse emotions. Knowledge is the key to success and healing. I learned my negative coping skills as a kid in abuse. I’m an adult now and I work hard to make sure my kids will never experience the same things as me

[Spookyvoids]

Thank you for all the work you do. I haven't been able to find a psychologicist since I moved. And your videos give me hope to continue to work on bettering myself. I have Borderline Personality Disorder. But it does not define me.
Your videos really help me while I wonder who I can possibly go to that can possibly understand who I am, and finding another psychologist. It's still an ongoing process because I have a hard time opening up to new doctors.
But you give me hope. And I am ever so thankful for that.
You try to understand us and our emotions, help us deal with these emotions and your videos have made such an impact on my life while seeking a new mental health provider.

I cannot thank you enough. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate the work you do.

Thank you Sir.

[ocpd]

Just started your BPD workbook a few hours ago, taking a break from it, and found you have a new video here. Working through the attachment style section, I was shocked at how clear it is regarding the preoccupied and fearful being related to BPD. It is very helpful, and I feel hopeful for the first time in a while.

[betty-nugz]

I really hope to find a therapist at least half as knowledgeable about BPD as you are, you are helping so many people with your compassionate approach. I appreciate you so much.

[ellebannana]

Thank you for all your incredible knowledge-sharing and insight, and the thoroughness of your documentation on this channel. People like you are instrumental in overturning the stigma associated with such a misunderstood condition.

[dustandamemory]

“Where did you get that preposterous hypothesis
Did Steve tell you that perchance?
Steve....”

-Flight of the Concords

[CasuallyVideos]

Just bought the book ... thank you for all that you do.

[treenibean]

I'm all of those subtypes depending on where and who I'm with. Also, I tend to differ from day to day.

[jakeroe]

I see myself leaning towards the more destructive side lately, i think I am relapsing with my BPD, one of my major problems for the longest time was not being able to keep a job for very long but here lately, I stayed at the same job for 3.5 years but then I get transferred and then terminated a month later for bogus reasons and I was doing so well between 2015 and 2017 then I took on other jobs, got let go from most of them yet still maintaining this job, not only that, my truck broke down and my cat died all in the same damn week.

[luvibugi]

in your workbook i got consistently similar averages between all but impulsive. i appreciate your mentioning of the prevalent overlap both in this and your prop bpd type videos. labels are tempting because they give a false sense of control over bpd and the illusion of a direct path... so your input in the overlap reaffirmed & grounded how people are complex and to focus on your triggers instead of specific symptoms and types!

Thank You Dr.Fox from Florida!

***You won’t see this and it’ll likely get lost in the sea of comments lol but,

back in late 2018 a video of yours helped me make sense of the intense disarray behind my maladaptive patterns and feelings of irreversible brokenness and the storms i brought into close relationships at that point and throughout my life ... you taught me what “ bpd lens “ was, “favorite person”, the black and white thinking, and especially helped when teaching me to manage Splitting. Immediatelyi felt understood and my “knowing” of being forever damaged was challenged.. moreso gradually i applied your techniques in managing my perceptions and emotions which ultimately helped me make sense of my bpd diagnosis and manage it effectively!

Shortly after regularly watching your videos i became receptive to the idea i could change and ended up seeking professional help and slowly opened up to loved ones (you helped me challenge the paranoia of them weaponizing my vulnerability and instead reassure myself they cared), i was later prescribed medication for MDD (u knowingly perpetuated by my bpd for almost all my life) and sought both professional help while watching+taking notes in a journal from your vids and slowly getting through your bpd workbook... it was lifechanging and now it’s summer 2021 and there are struggles yes, but i’m staying strong and still watching your videos if i feel hopeless or doubt in recovering!

Again i can’t thank you enough Dr. Fox

[whereslaska]

I am 62. In retrospect, I feel I've morphed into at least 3 of these types throughout my life.