Borderline Personality & Catcher in the Rye

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Borderline No one likes to feel alone. Everyone has their good and bad days, but when the feeling of being alienated, empty and angry last for a long period of time, it becomes more serious. This disorder is called borderline personality disorder. Feeling those feelings is very common, especially for a teenager. However, those emotions have been tormenting Holden Caulfield for years. Holden is definitely not just a rebellious, moody teenager; his actions throughout The Catcher in the Rye show that he has several symptoms of borderline personality disorder. “The causes of borderline personality disorder aren't fully understood” (Mayo Clinic staff). So how would one diagnose this disorder? Some contributing factors include being neglected by loved ones, child abuse, or just simply genetics. Holden’s past is sketchy, but he doesn’t seem close with his family, especially after his brother died. He could have begun developing this disorder after he died. According to John Grohol from psychcentral.com, a symptom of borderline personality disorder is feeling suicidal. Holden Caulfield has random thoughts about suicide several times. He thinks about just killing himself and doesn’t think about how others would feel if he died. He just assumes that no one would care. “I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would've, too, if I'd been sure somebody'd cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn't want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory” (Salinger 104). Holden doesn’t only feel suicidal; he seems to be very angry with the world. Having random moments where one feels extremely angry is another symptom of borderline personality disorder. “Their moods shift rapidly and intensely” (Borum, Strentz). He will go from complaining about how people are “phonies” to feeling depressed. Another symptom of borderline personality disorder

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