Abstract
Borderline personality disorder or BPD is an emotional disorder that causes emotional instability, leading to stress and other hazardous problems. With borderline personality disorder people imagine themselves as distorted, making them feel worthless and deeply flawed. Their anger, impulsive behavior and frequent mood swings may push others away, even though they desire a loving relationship. Many people with borderline personality disorder get better with treatment and can live happy, peaceful lives. Treatment may involve psychotherapy, medication, or even hospitalization. It all depends on how serve the disorder is and on the individual themselves. Through this paper we will follow an individual, Brandon Marshall and see how he dealt with these tough times. Borderline personality disorder is a curable disorder and those who have it are able to live a long happy life as long as they seek help.

The Lasting Effects of Living with Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder is a serious condition just like any other disorder. It needs to be treated with care and compassion. It is a disorder closely associated with depression. However, it affects relationships more severely which causes an individual to feel more insecure. With lots of support and treatment anyone with this disorder is capable of recovering.
Description of Disorder A person with a borderline personality disorder often experiences a repetitive pattern of disorganization and instability in self-image, mood, behavior and close personal relationships. This can cause significant distress or impairment in friendships or in a work environment. A person with this disorder can often be bright and intelligent, and appear warm, friendly and accomplished. They sometimes can maintain this appearance for a number of years until their defense structure crumbles, usually around a stressful situation like the breakup of a romantic relationship, a falling out of a friendship or the death of a parent. Relationships with others are intense. They are stormy and unstable, marked with shifts of feelings and difficulties in maintaining a close intimate connection. The person may manipulate others and often has difficulty trusting others especially in a close relationship. There is also emotional insecurity and frequent shifts to an empty lonely depression or to irritability and anxiety. There may be unpredictable and impulsive behavior which might include excessive spending, promiscuity, gambling, drug or alcohol abuse, shoplifting, overeating or physically self-damaging actions such as suicide gestures (Gorhol, 2007). The person may show inappropriate and intense anger or rage with temper tantrums, constant brooding and resentment, feelings of deprivation, and a fear of loss of control over angry feelings. There are also identity disturbances with confusion and uncertainty about self-identity, sexuality, life goals and values, career choices and friendships. There is a deep-seated feeling that one is flawed, defective, damaged or unwanted in some way. This leads to tendencies to go to extremes in thinking, feeling or behavior. Under extreme stress or in severe cases there can be brief psychotic episodes with loss of contact with reality or bizarre behavior or symptoms. Even in less severe instances, there is often significant disruption of relationships and work performance. The depression which accompanies this disorder can cause much suffering and can lead to serious suicide attempts. It is a common disorder with estimates running as high as 10-14% of the general population (Fleener). The frequency in women is two to three times greater than men. This may be related to genetic or hormonal influences (Gorhol, 2007). An association between this disorder and severe cases of premenstrual tension has been postulated. Women commonly suffer from depression more often than men.