BPD Severity - What is It and How Does it Affect You?

BPD Severity - What is It and How Does it Affect You? How severe is my BPD?

Complex Borderline Personality Disorder: How Coexisting Conditions Affect Your BPD and How You Can Gain Emotional Balance. Available at:

Order The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook by Dr. Fox:

In this video, I'm going to help you gain insight into the severity, or possible presence, of BPD. We're going to review symptoms to help you so you can gauge your own severity. Remember, insight inspires knowledge, and knowledge is empowerment.

Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Texas, international speaker, and a multi-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:

Complex Borderline Personality Disorder: How Coexisting Conditions Affect Your BPD and How You Can Gain Emotional Balance. Available at:

Animation by sirak @sirakoart (IG)
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.

[catwoman]

I feel better single than trying to date with BPD. It's almost like the relationship itself triggers bpd, jealousy, insecurity and all these other bad things to where I don't even like myself anymore, let alone them. So I sorta push people away and then complain that I'm alone. Vicious cycle. 😔

[jdwvtjj]

I used to have servere but thanks to DBT and an amazing therapist I no longer fit the criterias for BPD. I believe in every each one of you - you can do it. Lots of love!

[Shannon_Robbie]

I realized by watching this that "unstable self-image" is a problem for me. I never realized it before but when I'm ignored, which seems to happen a lot at work, I start to feel like I'm not worthy or good enough and automatically think people dislike me.

[Julyst]

Is it just me or has anyone else become essentially a master diplomat because of the way your BPD can affect relationships and friendships? Ive noticed it in myself, i could go off at someone but once i calm myself down i find im easily able to maneuver my way back to good standing or back to how it was before rather quickly to preserve the relationship/friendship.

[rainbow]

Mine is off the scale
Sick of it
Its not a life. Its a horrible existence.

[RyeClarke]

I saw a comment saying it's either absent or severe for them... I can relate. It's either nonexistent or really bad for me too. Everything fluctuates daily, if not hourly. I'm now aware of it. And 100% of the time, it's triggered by the person I value the most and the fear of being abandoned by them and losing them. And that fear is always triggered by jealousy. But the difference is I'm not the type to engage them head on and act out, I take it out all on myself. (I did have a history of lashing out violently on an ex-partner though, but after that I really felt sick, until now I am still remorseful and it's been several years already. I won't let myself do that ever again to anyone.)

[cynigirlutube]

62 and just realized I have bpd. Explains my whole life. Have no life. Can't keep a job. I'm so tired. I just want it to end. I pray every day for God to take my life.

[kimberlym]

As a commenter on another video put it, an exhausting shitstorm of a life. I'm in my 60s and lived with this nonsense all my life not knowing what was going on until 2016. At this point in my life trying to treat BPD with little success just doesn't seem worth the effort anymore. I don't think I have enough years left on this earth to actually successfully treat this nightmare of a disorder and come out a success story. Thanks for all your info Dr. Fox.

[Enjoytheshow]

Best channel that doesn’t demonize people with borderline personality disorder and explain it better than the shallow explanation (reducing it to changing hair colors!). There is invisibility in it! It’s not attention seeking!

[jabaerga]

I was on the severe side for decades but now it is absent or mild all around. Mindfulness meditation and running help me remain stable.

[bbyjirl]

This video made me realize that my BPD is pretty severe, but I do a better job of keeping it together than I give myself credit for considering everything going on internally. I meet all of the criteria on some level, and that realization is making me feel a bit more empathy towards myself in this moment.

[Blinkybottom]

I had 8 out of 9 traits of bpd, nearly lost my life to this illness but today bpd is simply not a thought in my mind, I don't have any traits of bpd anymore. Started doing a podcast years ago explaining my journey.


It's definitely can be done in that a healthy life can be lead.

[Leahv]

Mine is either absent or severe 😭 And I mean really severe. Ugh it’s exhausting

[Seven]

bpd has great prognosis, the best I think among all the personality disorders. There is hope. You already want it, now just work for it. I love you sm. You can do it

[fionaedwards]

I have suffered from depression since I was 8 years old, was diagnosed with BPD at 13, developed severe psychotic symptoms when I was 30 and at 47 am back where I started being diagnosed with BPD. I have been to psychiatric hospitals, Psychiatrists, psychologists, taken numerous medications, done groups, am case managed by local mental health teams, did DBT in 2008 and have had no relief for the last 40 years. The scars on my arms reflect the pain I have been through. I have only discovered your videos on YouTube in the last week and have found them very educational. I am hoping that somewhere down the road there is a brighter world for me.

[heymanhaha]

Can you guys also relate to when you're in a relationship with someone, you take them for granted, and may even have voices that tell you s/he isn't good enough for you and that you can do better, but once s/he breaks up with you, BPD goes through the roof and you become madly "in love" with them all of a sudden and get absolutely shattered?

[MrFirstonraceday]

I’m 58 yo male. Loved a woman with 8 symptoms. Could never get her to recognize that she even had an issue. As my mental health started to unravel, I just had to walk away. Absolutely the hardest break up I’ve ever been through

[Crocodonkey]

Main issue for me is emptiness, abandonment and loneliness. A bit of inward anger too but that is manageable. Other big one is suicidal thoughts. Thanks ♥️

[theblackenedphoenix]

This was one of the most helpful BPD videos I have ever seen on here. It helped me figure out what symptoms are the worst for me. I wish more people, including professionals, understood that not every person with BPD has every symptom and if they do they don’t have them as intensely as others. BPD looks different for everyone. Thank you for actually seeing us for who we are individually and not just treating us like we’re all the same.

[chrisrios]

I remember when I was dealing with a lot of things in life and in my relationships, I thought I was going crazy. Over time I thought I had BPD and began watching your videos. I then went to my physiatrist and was diagnosed. I’m not 8 months in Dbt therapy and I have began feeling better! I also have so much more knowledge on how to mediate my own emotions, recognize when I need to react, and just general skills that help me be a good friend and person in general.