BEST!

Content Note: This story references intense emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, and interpersonal trauma.

Instructions for properly filling out the Borderline Evaluation of Severity over Time (BEST!) score

Please print your name in the top right corner. Please use your legal given name, not what you or others have been calling you recently.

Please print your ID # and the date legibly. The date is the present, not the past or future. Your ID # is the number assigned to your case. It is five digits long because many have come before you.

Please leave your total score blank until the very end. Calculators are available to add up your total points. Please inform the nearest therapist if you would like assistance with this portion of the worksheet. If assistance is not available, count your blessings.

Part 1: Thoughts and feelings (Items A-H)

Circle the number that indicates how much the item has caused panic, distress, relationship problems, or difficulty with getting things done on a scale from 1-5.

Circle 1 if this is rarely true.

Circle 5 if this is always true.

Circle 3 if you are unsure, which you often are.

(Are you distressed right now?)

A. Worrying that someone important in your life is tired of you and planning to leave you

(Are you the problem in your relationship?)

B. Major shifts in your opinions about others, such as switching from believing someone is a loyal friend or partner to believing that person is untrustworthy and hurtful

(Did he tell you it’s your fault for looking for trouble?)

C. Extreme changes in how you see yourself. Shifting from feeling confident about who you are to feeling like you are evil, or that you don't even exist.

(*)

D. Severe mood swings several times a day. Minor events cause major shifts in mood

(When you showered, did you use any soap, or did the water just run down your back?)

E. Feeling paranoid or like you are losing touch with reality

(Are there dishes in the sink?)

F. Feeling angry

(Are you back with him?)

G. Feelings of emptiness

(Were you told you were special as a child?)

H. Feeling suicidal

(Do you miss the applause)

PART 2: BEHAVIORS (NEGATIVE) (ITEMS I-ME)

I. Going to extremes to try to keep someone/something from leaving you

ME. Problems with impulsive behavior (Examples are: overeating, undereating, overspending (this does not include medical bills), leaving, staying, raising your voice, lowering it.)

Rate each negative behavior on a scale from slight (1) to extreme (2).

PART 3: BEHAVIORS (positive)

Rate the following positive behaviors based on how often you employed them.

Scale:

1: dreamt about doing this 2) did this 3) will do this 4) did not do this 5) what is this

A) Choosing to use a positive activity in circumstances where you felt tempted to do something destructive or self-defeating. Positive activities are limited to those that do not require internet connectivity.

B) Noticing ahead of time that something could cause you emotional difficulties and taking reasonable steps to avoid/prevent the problem (Leave this item blank if you did not leave your house. Please refer to item A regarding connectivity tenet)

C) Following through with therapy plans to which you agreed.

(You did not agree to this.)

(You cannot afford this.)

(Insurance will not cover this.)

PART 4: ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW (FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY)

This form is subject to yearly review by the public.

Please do not attempt to remember who has access to your information.

Please assume access has already been granted.

If any part of this form causes duress, please leave blank.

Blank items will be interpreted.

Revisions are not permitted once meaning has been assigned.

PART 5: SCORING

Add up parts 1 and 2. Take this number and multiply it by too much. Subtract the time spent in therapy. Disregard part 3. You are the sum of Parts 1 and 2.

This score is your new BEST! score.

Please remember your score does not define you. Scores are meant to give a brief understanding of symptom holders.

Scores will be printed in the weekly newsletter with the corresponding ID # symbol.

Please do not turn into a symbol.

Please idolize responsibly.

AUTHORS NOTE:

This work is not intended to stigmatize or disparage individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. It reflects and critiques clinical and bureaucratic evaluation frameworks, drawing from my own experiences as a patient. This is a work of fiction and should not be interpreted as an actual clinical evaluation tool.