Do I have BPD?
Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood mental health conditions. Many people live with it for years without a name for what they're experiencing.
If you've been wondering whether your emotional experiences or relationship patterns might be connected to BPD, this quiz is a safe place to start. It's not a diagnosis, it's a starting point for understanding yourself a little better.
Why BPD Is Often Misunderstood
BPD carries more stigma than most mental health conditions, and much of what people know about it comes from inaccurate portrayals rather than lived experience. This means people with BPD often internalise a lot of shame — and may have been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told their experiences aren't valid before finding the right support. It also means the condition looks very different from the outside than it feels on the inside. Understanding what BPD actually involves can make a real difference in knowing whether to seek help.
Common Signs of BPD
An intense fear of being abandoned — real or imagined
This fear can drive responses like clinging, pushing people away, or reacting very strongly to perceived rejection — even when the threat isn't real. It can feel overwhelming and difficult to control in the moment.
Relationships that shift between extremes
Relationships can feel wonderful and then fall apart very quickly. Someone who felt like the most important person in the world can suddenly feel like the opposite. These shifts can be confusing and exhausting — for everyone involved.
A sense of self that feels unstable or unclear
Values, goals, opinions, and sense of identity can shift depending on who you're around or what's happening in your life. It can be hard to feel settled in who you really are.
Intense, fast-moving emotions that are difficult to manage
Emotions can feel much more intense than what others seem to experience, and they can shift quickly — particularly in response to relationship stress. Anxiety, sadness, anger, or shame can come on suddenly and be hard to regulate.
Impulsive behaviour that feels out of control
This might look like reckless spending, binge eating, substance use, or other behaviours that provide short-term relief but cause longer-term harm — often done to manage difficult emotions in the moment.
A persistent feeling of emptiness
A hard-to-describe inner emptiness that doesn't go away. It can make it difficult to feel satisfied or fulfilled, even when life looks fine on the outside.
Do I Have BPD? Our Quiz
Trudy Jacobsen
Trudy Jacobsen is a highly experienced counsellor with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and couples with her warm, grounded and outcome-driven approach. She is available for new clients for in-person appointments in Booval, Brisbane as well as online video appointments.
https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au/counsellors/trudy-jacobsen/
- Master of Social Work
- Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
- Member of the AASW
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Open 8am to 8pm weekdays and 9am to 5:30pm weekends
Not Sure What Your Results Mean?
Whatever came up in the quiz, if something resonated it's worth taking seriously. BPD responds well to support, and finding the right counsellor can make a real difference.
How Counselling Can Help with BPD
BPD is highly treatable, and with the right support most people see meaningful improvement. It may be worth speaking to a counsellor if:
- Your emotions feel difficult to manage or disproportionate to the situation
- Your relationships have a pattern of intensity followed by breakdown
- You've been hurting yourself or having thoughts of doing so
- You feel a persistent sense of emptiness or uncertainty about who you are
- You've struggled to feel understood or have been told you're "too much"
If you’re interested in learning more about counselling for burnout or would like to organise a session, call 1300 735 030 or leave us an email via our contact page.
FAQs
Yes. BPD is highly treatable, and most people see meaningful improvement with the right support. Approaches like Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Schema Therapy have a strong evidence base. Recovery is possible, and many people with BPD go on to build stable, fulfilling lives.
No — they're different conditions that are sometimes confused. Bipolar disorder involves distinct episodes of mania and depression that can last weeks or months. BPD involves rapid, often relationship-triggered emotional shifts that can occur within hours or days, alongside specific patterns around identity, relationships, and self-image.
Yes. With understanding and the right support, people with BPD can build and maintain healthy, fulfilling relationships. Counselling can help develop the skills to navigate emotions and relationships more effectively over time.
No, you don't need a referral to see a counsellor, you can book an appointment directly with our team.