Complex PTSD vs Borderline Personality Disorder: Similarities & Differences | Dr. Rami Nader

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder can appear to be very similar conditions due to a number of shared symptoms. Both Complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder are associated with high levels of emotional distress and reactivity to emotional triggers. Both conditions tend to be accompanied by an individual experiencing a strong negative self concept. Finally, Complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder are associated with high levels of emotional dysregulation.

However, there are a number of key differences between Complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder. One key difference is that Borderline Personality Disorder does not require the person to have experienced a traumatic stressor in the past, whereas Complex PTSD does. Other differences between Complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder include: higher levels of self harming behaviours and suicidality in Borderline Personality Disorder; higher levels of fear of abandonment in Borderline Personality Disorder; relationship difficulties in Complex PTSD tend to be associated with avoidance and detachment based on fear of closeness; Borderline Personality Disorder often involves intense, volatile relationships, associated with high levels of hostility; Complex PTSD is often associated with a more stable sense of self, characterized by perceptions of being unlovable or broken; complex PTSD has greater sense of chronic emotional numbing, compared to episodes of extreme uncontrolled anger and severe mood swings in Borderline Personality Disorder. The differences are particularly important when it comes to the different approaches in treating Complex PTSD versus Borderline Personality Disorder.

#PTSD #ComplexPTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder

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[ivanaveltmeyer]

I have been in the long term relationship with someone who has ASPD ( officially diagnosed by psychiatrist) and during the relationship I had a serious suicidal attempts and I got diagnosed with bpd myself, where the person presented himself to outside world as kind and supportive, at times I felt that only suicide will free me out from him as he was very cruel behind closed doors and when I wanted to terminate the relationship he wouldn’t let me go and I spent all times in complete confusion and I also been isolated from everyone. I did not have any knowledge about cause of his behaviour. However I now been diagnosed with cPTSD and I don’t any longer trying to kill my self but I’m still recovering, I been put on disability pension and still struggle with depression. But the abuse is finally over as I terminate the relationship but I have several trust issues with other people. Thank you for your video ❤ Ivana

[krystle]

Of course people with "borderline personality disorder" have experienced traumatic stressors. People do not develop these kinds of issues for no reason. No one is born with a "disordered personality", whatever that term even means. So called personality disorders are caused by trauma, they are behavioral patterns developed as responses to trauma. It is a tragedy that people get labelled as having disturbed personalities when the problems have nothing to do with personality or someones identity, it's patterns of behavior developed as responses to childhood environment. Behavior is not personality.

[harmoniewinters]

What if your trauma is rooted in abandonment? That's kind of my dilemma here, and why this is so confusing for me. I was recently diagnosed with BPD, but I am not entirely sure. I am not going to give my life story here, but I will give a very brief statement: both of my parents have left (my dad when I was little, and my mom when I was 12), and when I was younger, my mom would leave frequently for various periods of time (she went on benders, essentially). So, I am afraid of abandonment and it's a serious trigger for me. I am uncertain if I have the identity disturbance associated with BPD, though I do have a heavy sense of skepticism, philosophically, and sometimes question if anything is even real, or if I am real. But that's just pyrrhonism, maybe. Basically, I don't know, and the uncertainty is stressing me out.

[friesen]

Great explanation of the differences between these two disorders. It is much needed to clear up the confusion.

[shahilagh]

What if someone loves to be left alone so They have no fear of abandonment. Because being alone is safer to them. This is not bpd?

[rabianaqvi]

Very well elaborate on the differences and similarities between CPTSD and BPD as this might be difficult to establish a diagmosis due to the overlaping symptomatology.

[kristinefrink]

Thank you kindly, sir for your thoughtful explanation. Your gentle and subdued demeanor convey the information enabling the listener to comfortably take in the information as in a dream, without
interference of abrasive tones; etc.

[shreyaindia]

I loved your video. I identify with C-ptsd. All my points match with it. Except one. That is fear of abandonment. I have faced traumatic events in my childhood where i was abandoned for someone else. And it has continued over the years and the impact of it can be seen in relationships. Where i feel very unsafe and i fear that person will leave me. So i fear abandonment and not being good enough in relationships. Can a person suffering from c-ptsd also fear abandonment ? .... my councilor has been trying to tell me i am BPD, after I had an argument with her over some issue of appointment. But I feel its not the case with me. BPD is too extreme for me.
Can you tell me if a person suffering from Cptsd also fear abandonment ?

[wcked]

Doctor, can you do a video on epcace and it’s simulators with Cptsd?

[drkknath]

Sir, can we consider cptsd as more simpler and benign variety/subtypes or prerequisite of bpd?

[obolochka]

thanks for these examples case treatment for both psychological condition

[rabianaqvi]

What treatment modality would you suggest for a client having both BPD and CPTSD? This is when a client has a x number of sessions to address both rather than going separately for DBT and TF-CBT?

[BojanPeric-kqet]

DBT was never proven to really work for BPD, even for females. Males and DBT? Good luck...

[dicekar]

My soon to be ex wife claimed to have cptsd and i realize now its just a made up diagnosis to make the bpd person feel better. Trauma is relative so any person with bpd can come up with some experience to make it seem like they are not at fault