Both personality disorders are listed as Cluster B[i] diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-5][ii], and are commonly known as erratic personalities. Narcissistic Personality Disorder [NPD] and Borderline Personality Disorder [BPD] share a few distinct characteristics along with several symptoms that distinguish one from the other.
One feature common to both mental health personality diagnoses is that they tend to facilitate severe relationship problems between those who are suffering from the personality structures, and the people they are in close contact with on a daily basis. Additionally, some other shared features of both personality structures include poor self-esteem and displays of manipulative behaviors toward others, whether they are consciously aware of them or not.
Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms
Borderline personality disorder entails the display of unpredictability, experiences of intense dysregulated emotions, or engagement in impulsive behaviors. These individuals may also experience poor self-esteem that may lead to anger that is turned inward: exhibiting engagement in impulsive behaviors or harming oneself. They also experience episodes of anxiety, depression, and anger that are often triggered by unstable self-image and their fear of abandonment.
The underlying symptoms may also cloud the individual’s judgment and may frequently change their interests and opinions of others or themselves. This drastic change in views is more likely to cause severe ups and downs in their relationships. For example, individuals with BPD may end a romantic relationship because they believe their partner is cheating on them since their partner is spending time with their friends. The individual with BPD may also engage in behaviors for their partner to decide to leave them. When their partner tries to leave, the individual with BPD may engage in any effort such as threats of harm or evoke guilt in their partner with hopes for their partner to stay in the relationship. It is not only difficult for the person who has BPD traits to manage the symptoms but also for the people who are interpersonally involved with them.
Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder include but not limited to:
- Experiencing frequent episodes of mood changes.
- Habitually idealizing someone and then devaluing them, feels like a love-hate interaction.
- Difficulty managing one’s own feelings: can be highly reactive toward others.
- Suicidal thoughts, attempts, or statements.
- Engagement in self-harming behaviors.
- Displays of impulsive behaviors such as unnecessarily spending money, reckless driving, or binge eating.
- Experiencing extreme fear of abandonment, whether real or imagined.
- Feelings of emptiness.
- Instability in their sense of self can be observed through frequent shifts in attitudes about self and others: drastic changes in their interests, values, or career trajectory.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder Symptoms
Individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder will display an inflated sense of self-importance and lack of empathy for others. Since people with NPD often exhibit egotistical and self-absorbed characteristics, their symptoms can severely interfere with their personal relationships, work, or other essential life domains. The anger seen in individuals with NPD is more likely turned outward to deal with the underlying poor self-esteem. For example, they may engage in name-calling and blame everyone else for everything that goes awry in their life.
Individuals who have an NPD personality structure also fear being worthless and inferior to others, which increases their tendencies to manipulate others without regard for the other person’s feelings. For example, a person with NPD traits may insult, criticize, and gaslight others. Gaslighting is a form of manipulation that can be noticed when a person is denying, distorting, or altering truths so you begin to doubt yourself.
The following are some of the symptoms of NPD, and if anyone is exhibiting five or more symptoms, they would be considered to have NPD:
- Holding a strong belief that they are special.
- Frequently takes advantage of others without regard for them.
- Individuals with NPD tend to require excessive admiration from others and are highly sensitive to criticism.
- Demonstrates preoccupation with fantasies of ideal love, beauty, brilliance, power, and success.
- Believe others are envious of them or show envy toward others.
- Show signs of superiority, egotistical tendencies, and arrogant behaviors.
- They also possess a sense of entitlement.
It is important to note that both NPD and BPD can co-occur, and, according to one research, 40% of BPD clients also have Narcissistic Personality Disorder symptoms[iii]. Both of them, on their own, can have damaging impacts on relationships and the consequences are even worse if they co-occur in any person.
Seeking Psychotherapy Help
The fear of abandonment and chaotic emotional life associated with BPD might cause severe turbulence in their relationships with others. On the other hand, people with NPD may take advantage of others while showing no empathy, which can be highly destructive to relationships. Such symptoms and behaviors can be detrimental to both self and others in any relationship.
Modified psychoanalytic techniques are known to offer empirical results in Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Additionally, while many clinical mental health practitioners believe there is no evidence-based treatment for NPD, a treatment method designed for BPD, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, has shown some effective results for some of the NPD symptoms when modified. It is important to note, that the psychotherapist must prudently assess whether the DBT approach would be useful for the client or not. If not, typically, a psychoanalytic or psychodynamic approach has been the conventional go-to therapy for clients suffering from NPD symptoms. Some of the proposed therapy approaches includeiv:
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Transference-based psychotherapy
- Schema-focused therapy
- Mentalized-based therapy
Both disorders are complex and can have negative impacts on the person with the personality structure as well as those they love and care about. If you suspect yourself or someone who you regularly engage with having symptoms of Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder, it’s time to seek professional help. With the help of a professional psychotherapist, you can learn more about the personality disorder, their symptoms as they show up in your life, how to work through them, and perhaps find a more helpful way to manage the issues that arise from either or both NPD and BPD.
Disclaimer: This article is written from the writer’s reflection from the gathered resources above and does not by any means indicate completeness of the facts. This article is not to be used as a complete guide or be understood as an exact representation from the resources for any reason. The writer’s words written within this article is also not to be used as the complete facts related to the topic discussed, as it is selective in nature and a person’s formulated opinion. We strongly encourage you to do your own research on the topic to be more informed and seek professional help if you’re having difficulty with mental health. The discussion and recommendations within this article are merely suggestions and not a prescription. Please consult with mental health professionals prior to using any tips suggested here.