New Research Highlights Self-Dissatisfaction in Adolescents as A Possible Precursor To BPD
Recently, I had a conversation with a former student who is now in her second year of medical school. She shared her career goals, which seemed promising, but then her mood shifted. She expressed ongoing dissatisfaction with her life and self, saying things like, “I don’t like how I am or how my life is going… It’s not what I expect… nobody understands me… I messed up my life… in fact, I have no life.” I listened patiently and tried to calm her as she opened up. This encounter left me reflecting on why self-dissatisfaction develops and how it affects lives.
As a teacher, I understand how challenging adolescence can be. Teens face social and educational changes along with hormonal mood swings. They sometimes act impulsively, with emotions influencing their behaviour strongly. While moodiness is common, it is crucial to distinguish typical teenage changes from potential mental health issues like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition marked by struggles with self-image, mood instability, impulsivity, intense fear of abandonment, and low self-worth. People with BPD often find it hard to control their emotional responses. It frequently coexists with other mental health issues such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder.
Self-Disgust and BPD
New research published in Personality and Individual Differences identifies ‘self-disgust’ in adolescents as an early indicator of developing BPD in adulthood. Researchers Diogo Carreiras, Marina Cunha, and Paula Castilho emphasize that although personality disorders are typically diagnosed in adults, early signs can be detected in adolescence.
Most common BPD symptoms include:
- Feelings of abandonment and extreme sensitivity to rejection
- Impulsivity
- Emptiness
- Harsh self-criticism and negative self-view
- Risky behaviors such as self-harm
Precursors in adolescence often are:
- High impulsivity
- Suicidal behaviors
- Emotional instability
- Uncontrolled anger
- Paranoid ideation (suspecting others’ intentions)
The Four Sources of Self-Dissatisfaction (Self-Disgust)
Psychologist Carl E. Pickhardt, PhD, highlights four core causes of adolescent self-disgust in his article:
- Peer Pressure: Constant comparisons and judgments among peers can lead teens to feel they are not knowledgeable, competitive, or popular enough.
- Demanding Parents: High parental expectations and disappointment can leave teens feeling they have lost parental approval and self-worth.
- Social Pressure: Adolescents often tie identity to trends and possessions, and failure to keep up can cause feelings of exclusion and inadequacy.
A 2014 study suggested borderline personality rates are slightly higher in teens, possibly because of stressful events. Externalising disorders like oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may increase BPD risk. Depression in adolescence is also a predictor of adult BPD.
Am I Showing BPD Symptoms?
Distinguishing between normal teenage turmoil and emerging BPD is difficult for both healthcare providers and parents. Teens with possible BPD might feel overwhelmed by emotions and struggle longer to return to emotional balance than their peers. Signs include intense reactions to minor problems, viewing issues as catastrophic, and resorting to self-harm, substance use, or suicidal thoughts as coping mechanisms. Those who resonate with these signs should seek professional help.