Original post by ScaryScienceAm not meant to be posting but I feel the need to reply to you. Try not to take all these personality disorder symptoms things too seriously. Not saying you definitely don't have one or trying to invalidate anything BUT a few points it's essential to consider. The personality disorder symptoms/diagnostic criteria are the biggest load of **** I have read in a long time. When BPD was first mentioned to me I thought people were losing it because tbh I couldn't relate much to the symptoms at all - they do not, in any way, give an accurate portrayal of what people with a PD actually experience, in my opinion. Secondly, I've looked through all the symptoms of most personality disorders and fit all of the diagnostic criteria for 2 other personality disorders - however I am positive I do not suffer with them because I am aware of just how consuming and fairly devastating BPD is, and how parochial and vague the criteria are. I seem to remember you posting about you thinking you might have another PD in the past, so I hope you can see how easy it is to make these things 'fit'. Thirdly, understandably, PD symptoms are made up fairly normal personality traits, and represent many different, normal and healthy personality types. You may be able to relate to certain traits, but I would say that 95% + of the population will too, this does not mean you have a disorder. I say these things not to try and invalidate suffering or anything, but just to bring your attention to quite how off the mark the information on the internet is, and how anyone can make it fit. It's fine to think about these things/take it into consideration but try not to convince yourself you have certain things as it becomes a somewhat self fulfilling prophecy: you will start to read into things too much and become hyperaware of things which are perfectly normal. I am in no way medically trained so take this with a massive, massive pinch of salt, but personally you have never come across to me as someone who is suffering with BPD. To me you come across as someone who sadly has very low self esteem and seem to have a lot of anxiety about how other people perceive you. (which is different to fearing abandonment, imo, and certainly in my case, anyway). I hope that didn't come across preachy or annoying, but am only trying to reassure you a bit. Nevertheless, if you are concerned, do bring it up, this is just my opinion.
Now, to go back and hide under my rock.