Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMood Swings in BPDMood Swing TriggersOther ConditionsTreating Mood SwingsCoping With Mood SwingsA Word From Verywell

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Table of Contents

Mood Swings in BPD

Mood Swing Triggers

Other Conditions

Treating Mood Swings

Coping With Mood Swings

A Word From Verywell

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People withborderline personality disorder(BPD) often experience very intense mood swings. But how can these mood swings be distinguished from normal variations in mood, or from the types of mood swings associated with other disorders?

Let’s explore the typical pattern of mood swings in BPD, and how they are different from mood swings that we all experience from time to time. In addition, there are many co-occurring symptoms that a person with BPD will typically experience, which can help differentiate it from other conditions.

Everyone experiences emotional ups and downs. However, there are some factors that help distinguish between regular fluctuations in mood and mood swings in BPD.

People with BPD tend to experience mood swings that are more intense and frequent than the typical person and last between a few hours and a few days.

Intensity

While it’s normal to have your mood shift from feeling good to feeling down, someone with BPD may experience very extreme mood shifts for minor reasons—going from feeling okay to feeling devastated, desperate, or utterly hopeless within a matter of moments.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Frequency

These mood swings may also happen frequently. Someone with BPD can have many mood swings in the course of a day, whereas most people will only experience one or two major emotional shifts in the course of a week.

Duration

In addition, while most people have times in their lives when they are more emotionally vulnerable than other times, people with BPD experience emotional ups and downs consistently for years. This can result in unstable interpersonal relationships with loved ones, friends, and colleagues.

Presence of Other Symptoms

Some other symptoms of this disorder may include:

Other external triggers can include:

Though researchers are still trying to understand the borderline personality brain, they know that itsfight-or-flight responseis easily triggered, causing the brain’s rational part to turn off and the survival instinct to turn on. This makes the person act in inappropriate or out-of-proportion ways to the situation.

Do Mood Swings Equal BPD?

Keep in mind that even if you have mood swings that fit the description above, this is just one of a number ofsymptoms of BPD. Having mood swings alone is not enough to warrant a diagnosis of BPD.

Other factors or conditions that can cause moods swings include:

If you find that your emotional ups and downs are interfering with your work, school, relationships, or enjoyment of life, it makes sense to seekprofessional help. Remember it’s essential totake good care of your emotional health, just as you would your physical health.

Treatments for BPD Mood Swings

While BPD was characterized as challenging to treat in the past, more recent researchers have found that treatment can be effective.Therapy often focuses on aspects of emotional regulation and may include:

Medications are sometimes prescribed to help people manage specific symptoms, including mood swings. Some medications that might be prescribed include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics.

Emotion Regulation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Coping With BPD Mood Swings

BPD mood swings can be distressing and disruptive, but there are things that you can do to cope. Some steps that can help you manage the emotional ups and downs you might experience include:

Mood swings in BPD can create distress and disruptions in your life. They can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships and can create a tremendous amount of emotional turmoil. Fortunately, you can significantly reduce mood swings and other symptoms of BPD with the proper treatment and coping strategies.

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Brüne M.Borderline personality disorder: Why ‘fast and furious’?.Evol Med Public Health. 2016;2016(1):52-66. doi:10.1093/emph/eow002National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK).Borderline Personality Disorder: Treatment and Management.Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society; 2009.Berenson KR, Downey G, Rafaeli E, Coifman KG, Paquin NL.The rejection-rage contingency in borderline personality disorder.J Abnorm Psychol. 2011;120(3):681-690. doi:10.1037/a0023335Bourvis N, Aouidad A, Cabelguen C, Cohen D, Xavier J.How Do Stress Exposure and Stress Regulation Relate to Borderline Personality Disorder?Front Psychol. 2017;8:2054. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02054Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21–30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zDixon-Gordon KL, Peters JR, Fertuck EA, Yen S.Emotional processes in borderline personality disorder: An update for clinical practice.J Psychother Integr. 2017;27(4):425-438. doi:10.1037/int0000044Clarkin JF, Caligor E, Sowislo J.TFP extended: development and recent advances.Psychodyn Psychiatry. 2021 Summer;49(2):188-214. doi:10.1521/pdps.2021.49.2.188Tan YM, Lee CW, Averbeck LE, et al.Schema therapy for borderline personality disorder: A qualitative study of patients' perceptions.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0206039. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206039Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213-224. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/lripoll

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Brüne M.Borderline personality disorder: Why ‘fast and furious’?.Evol Med Public Health. 2016;2016(1):52-66. doi:10.1093/emph/eow002National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK).Borderline Personality Disorder: Treatment and Management.Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society; 2009.Berenson KR, Downey G, Rafaeli E, Coifman KG, Paquin NL.The rejection-rage contingency in borderline personality disorder.J Abnorm Psychol. 2011;120(3):681-690. doi:10.1037/a0023335Bourvis N, Aouidad A, Cabelguen C, Cohen D, Xavier J.How Do Stress Exposure and Stress Regulation Relate to Borderline Personality Disorder?Front Psychol. 2017;8:2054. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02054Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21–30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zDixon-Gordon KL, Peters JR, Fertuck EA, Yen S.Emotional processes in borderline personality disorder: An update for clinical practice.J Psychother Integr. 2017;27(4):425-438. doi:10.1037/int0000044Clarkin JF, Caligor E, Sowislo J.TFP extended: development and recent advances.Psychodyn Psychiatry. 2021 Summer;49(2):188-214. doi:10.1521/pdps.2021.49.2.188Tan YM, Lee CW, Averbeck LE, et al.Schema therapy for borderline personality disorder: A qualitative study of patients' perceptions.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0206039. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206039Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213-224. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/lripoll

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Brüne M.Borderline personality disorder: Why ‘fast and furious’?.Evol Med Public Health. 2016;2016(1):52-66. doi:10.1093/emph/eow002National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK).Borderline Personality Disorder: Treatment and Management.Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society; 2009.Berenson KR, Downey G, Rafaeli E, Coifman KG, Paquin NL.The rejection-rage contingency in borderline personality disorder.J Abnorm Psychol. 2011;120(3):681-690. doi:10.1037/a0023335Bourvis N, Aouidad A, Cabelguen C, Cohen D, Xavier J.How Do Stress Exposure and Stress Regulation Relate to Borderline Personality Disorder?Front Psychol. 2017;8:2054. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02054Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21–30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zDixon-Gordon KL, Peters JR, Fertuck EA, Yen S.Emotional processes in borderline personality disorder: An update for clinical practice.J Psychother Integr. 2017;27(4):425-438. doi:10.1037/int0000044Clarkin JF, Caligor E, Sowislo J.TFP extended: development and recent advances.Psychodyn Psychiatry. 2021 Summer;49(2):188-214. doi:10.1521/pdps.2021.49.2.188Tan YM, Lee CW, Averbeck LE, et al.Schema therapy for borderline personality disorder: A qualitative study of patients' perceptions.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0206039. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206039Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213-224. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/lripoll

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.

Brüne M.Borderline personality disorder: Why ‘fast and furious’?.Evol Med Public Health. 2016;2016(1):52-66. doi:10.1093/emph/eow002

National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK).Borderline Personality Disorder: Treatment and Management.Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society; 2009.

Berenson KR, Downey G, Rafaeli E, Coifman KG, Paquin NL.The rejection-rage contingency in borderline personality disorder.J Abnorm Psychol. 2011;120(3):681-690. doi:10.1037/a0023335

Bourvis N, Aouidad A, Cabelguen C, Cohen D, Xavier J.How Do Stress Exposure and Stress Regulation Relate to Borderline Personality Disorder?Front Psychol. 2017;8:2054. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02054

Choi-Kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What works in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21–30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-z

Dixon-Gordon KL, Peters JR, Fertuck EA, Yen S.Emotional processes in borderline personality disorder: An update for clinical practice.J Psychother Integr. 2017;27(4):425-438. doi:10.1037/int0000044

Clarkin JF, Caligor E, Sowislo J.TFP extended: development and recent advances.Psychodyn Psychiatry. 2021 Summer;49(2):188-214. doi:10.1521/pdps.2021.49.2.188

Tan YM, Lee CW, Averbeck LE, et al.Schema therapy for borderline personality disorder: A qualitative study of patients' perceptions.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0206039. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206039

Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213-224. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/lripoll

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