Brandon Marshall, the Miami Dolphins receiver, today announced that he suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The mental illness affects 2 percent of the adult population and is less well known than other disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is characterized by mood swings, unstable self image, troubled relationships and fears of abandonment.BPD diagnoses are overwhelmingly more common among women. Nearly 75 percent all BPD diagnoses are made in women. There is speculation that both Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana suffered from BPD.
The mental illness -- which may arise from childhood issues of abandonment, trauma and sexual abuse -- is also characterized by a high incidence of self harm and suicide. Nearly 80 percent of those diagnosed with BPD report having suicidal tendencies. Other typical symptoms include disproportionate anger, impulsive sex, periods of alcoholism and binge eating. BPD often occurs in conjunction with other mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.Perhaps the biggest issues for those suffering from BPD are low self image and constantly shifting relationships. People with BPD quickly swing from idealizing a loved one to hating them over a perceived slight.
BPD is usually treatable although it often goes diagnosis or gets mistaken for another mental illness, most typically bipolar disorder. Treatment includes talk therapy, dialectical behavior therapy Article
Simply put he doesn't fit the profile we typically hear about (or see in my office) with Borderline Personality Disorder. He is a 28 year old African American male, standing 6' 4" and weighing 230lbs. The most common image we have from media about BPD is Girl Interrupted, where a waify white female who chain smokes is in a mental hospital for 18 months for her Borderline symptoms. Recent articles are now saying the split for diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder is 50/50, where in the DSM IVr it was stated at 75/25 with an overwhelming amount of diagnosis as female. I personally have had a handful of men in the DBT groups I have ran (the groups were not diagnosis specific, but the agency was 50/50 male/female.) I never had a male complete the program, and they were more likely to listen, be quiet, pay attention then drop a few weeks in under the radar so I never had the opportunity to ask why. Being I have yet to work with a male diagnosed with BPD and couldn't find much research,besides this brief article that lists traits men with BPD have:
1. Initially comes on very strong and romantic. Borderline men tend to be very sensitive and romantic. In a sense they are addicted to the notions of romance and love. Initially this can be one of the more alluring qualites of these men.
2. Quick to declare his love. A borderline man will sometimes profess his love on a first or second date. In truth borderline men either have a very distorted sense of love, or simply don't know what genuine love is.
3. Substance abuse issues, including alcohol, and perhaps drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and pills. Chemical addiction among borderlne men is very common. This male is essentially self-medicating himself in order to soothe his deep emotional pain and feelings of being unlovable.
4. Overly jealous. Bordeline men are very insecure despite their apparent confidence. In relationships they will react with hostility and jealousy around other males.
5. Grandiose. Borderline men tend to be very boastful. They are grandiose in the way they think and talk about themselves. They will brag, exaggerate, and lie about their accomplishments and their abilities. In reality this narcissism is an attempt to compensate for a very fragile sense of self.
6. Great lover. Borderline men tend to be hypersexual or even sexually addicted. Women describe them as fantastic and very giving in the bedroom. Borderline men will use sex as a replacement for true intimacy or love. In addition a borderline man will use sex as a way of winning or securing a woman.
7. The suggestion of a breakup sends him off the "deep end". At the heart of borderline personality disorder is the issue of “abandonment”. Any indication of a breakup, whether real or perceived, will activate fear, anger, and incredible sadness in him. This male will even preemptively end a relationship if he feels that a breakup is coming.
8. Impulsive and reckless. Impulsivity is a hallmark feature of this disorder. This can include gambling, promiscuous and unprotected sex, reckless driving and speeding, driving while intoxicated, excessive spending, etc.
9. Bad temper. This male being very insecure is highly sensitive to perceived slights or criticism. His anger can be explosive and well out of proportion for the situation.
10. Frequent mood swings. Rapidly changing moods are very common with borderline disorder. This male can go from feeling confident and arrogant to insecure and depressed within hours.Being I have zero experience any males with Borderline Personality Disorder want to speak about how their symtpoms manifest oppose to females with BPD?
