One minute everything seems fine, even happy, and then in an instant things turn. The joyful mood is quickly replaced by hurt, dramatic expression, and anger over what appears to be a small matter. After that, things escalate rapidly as accusations fly, feelings intensify, threats heighten, and absolutes accelerate.

For those experiencing this for the first time, it can be shocking. For others, this pattern regularly manifests when in a relationship with a person diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). While not every person spirals to the extreme mentioned above, some do. The cycle described below is an attempt to help clear up some of the misconceptions and misunderstandings.