Narrative Analysis of Emotional Instability in Women with Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to analyze the lived narratives of emotional instability in women diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Ten participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using William Labov’s narrative framework. Results revealed three dominant narrative structures: “emotional eruption,” “psychological boundary loss,” and “trauma-based self-reconstruction.” These narratives indicated that emotional instability is not merely a symptom but a core element of identity formation. The findings may inform narrative-based psychotherapeutic approaches for individuals with BPD.