By definition, the struggles of adolescence and BPD are very similar: Both the typical adolescent and the adolescent with BPD struggle for individual identity and separation from parents, seek bonds with friends and identification with groups, try to avoid being left alone, tend to go through dramatic mood changes, have anger outbursts, and are generally prone to impulsivity. The teenager’s easy distractibility and oblivious daydreaming are analogous to borderline dissociative experiences and difficulties with committing to a goal and following through.
