Autism & Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

It is characterized as:

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, as well as marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

  1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-injuring behavior covered in Criterion 5

  2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.

  3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.

  4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., promiscuous sex, eating disorders, binge eating, substance abuse, reckless driving). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-injuring behavior covered in Criterion 5

  5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats or self-injuring behavior such as cutting, interfering with the healing of scars (excoriation) or picking at oneself.

  6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).

  7. Chronic feelings of emptiness

  8. Inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).

  9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation, delusions or severe dissociative symptoms

This was extracted form Wikidpedia with the DSM-IV TR Diagnostic Features Copyright World Health Organization

Can Autism and Borderline Personality Disorder Co-Exist?

The answer to your question is yes it can. I had the features of self-harming behaviors which involved cutting, suicidal thoughts, over eating which included binge eating and under-eating, Feelings of emptiness, paranoid delusions, anger issues which made me snappy, problems with self image and the sense of who I was and my identity to the world, high levels of uncontrolled anxiety. This was due to problems with bullies in the workplace and not being able to fight back. However I will say this a strong controlled loving household (my parents) got me through this with positivity and self belief and convincing me that I wasn't a victim!