Complementary Disorders
Complementary Disorders to Borderline Personality Disorder
Section titled “Complementary Disorders to Borderline Personality Disorder”The term complementary initially means a “supplement, or a supplementary counterpart.”
All five disorders (see links) contain, on the one hand, structures very similar to those of Borderline Personality Disorder, but on the other hand, also extremely opposing ones. It must be noted, however, that there is what is called pathological narcissism within Borderline Personality Disorder. Not every case of Borderline Personality Disorder includes pathological narcissism, but when it does, this person with Borderline is extremely dangerous in a relationship and to those with whom an emotional bond exists.
Why Does the Person with Borderline Seek Someone with a Complementary Disorder?
Section titled “Why Does the Person with Borderline Seek Someone with a Complementary Disorder?”The answer is quite simple: the name says it all — this disorder replaces a missing, supplementary component (pathological = diseased) within Borderline Personality Disorder. In a pathological sense, a supplementation occurs, and thus a reinforcement of the individual disorder parameters.
Conversely, this is not the case.
Relationships of this kind are usually very intense, passionate, and chaotic. While every borderline relationship is chaotic — here it intensifies many times over.
Classification of the Disorders
Section titled “Classification of the Disorders”As I have already mentioned, both the ICD-10 and the DSM-IV-TR classify Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Histrionic (formerly Hysterical) Personality Disorder within the same category of “specific personality disorders.”
Example: The Narcissistic-Borderline Relationship
Section titled “Example: The Narcissistic-Borderline Relationship”Both can fully satisfy each other’s needs. We know that a borderline relationship is always a sadomasochistic relationship. In this case, the roles can switch perfectly. Sometimes the person with Borderline is the sadist and the narcissist the masochist, and sometimes the reverse.
Dynamics of the Relationship
Section titled “Dynamics of the Relationship”-
The narcissist as protector: The narcissist can live out their role as “great protector,” since the person with Borderline is the “victim” of the last relationship or of their entire life. Do not forget that the person with Borderline always emerges from a relationship as the victim and thus also enters the new relationship as a victim, needing protection from the “evil pursuers.”
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The person with Borderline as mirror: Since the person with Borderline, as we know, possesses only ego fragments and thus has no personality of their own, seamlessly docking onto the other, they become the mirror that the narcissist in turn needs for their self-esteem.
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Need for punishment: The Borderline Personality Disorder’s need for punishment is perfectly fulfilled by the narcissist.