Borderline?: Have any of you been... - Anxiety and Depre...

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Borderline?

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Have any of you been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder? My therapist/psychiatrist from years ago thought I had it. It was a toss between bipolar or borderline, and she informed me that it was possible for mental illnesses to overlap.

I'm not sure what would classify as being borderline.

12 Replies
Rarejog profile image
Rarejog

Yes, I have this diagnosis and didn't know about it. Found out by accident during a conversation with the new MH team in referred to🙄

Lizzo30 profile image
Lizzo30

I dont think borderline personality disorder is a real mental illness I dont think it exists

Whereas Bipolar disorder is a real unmistakable illness

charlie1969 profile image
charlie1969 in reply to Lizzo30

My psychiatrist said that most diagnoses like PTSD were all classed as BPD. I found that really upsetting. I honestly think the mental health support is very weak. You are lucky if you can find a therapist in the NHS. I feel like I have just been left to rot away :(

Lizzo30 profile image
Lizzo30 in reply to charlie1969

I agree , do you not have any drop in centres near you - run by volunteers who may also have mental health issues ?

Hi there I have BPD along with other diagnoses. When I first was told I had this I freaked out yet it is not as scary as what I thought it was. Its typically caused by trauma in your past. Me I was abandoned by my mother at age 3 and left with my Dad who severly abused me and my sister for a decade. Yet that feeling of loss has caused alot of relationship trouble because the core issues with me have not been dealt with. Splitting black and white thinking, risky behaviors or impulsive (shopping, drugs, alcohol, etc..), self-harm, hating someone one minute but then not wanting them to leave. Excessive extremes to save toxic relationships. I told my cheating ex that I was going to kill myself if we broke up. Emotional outbursts or for me I take it inwards. There are more and it's nothing to ever feel ashamed about. This is a personality disorder and it can be cured and many times when it does get cured the other behaviors stop i.e. if you shop excessively and drink in excess. I find that by looking up videos on BPD is very helpful or atleast it was for me. If you need an ear I'm happy to be there for you.

By the way BPD and bipolar are two completely different diagnoses. Some traits can make it look like bipolar but it truly is an mental illness and not unreal.

in reply to Believeinyourself123

Thank you for your reply! I relate to a lot of what you're saying, and I'm sorry you've had to go through so much trauma. If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here for you. ❤ Thank you for being so honest about these things, that means the world to me.

I can definitely see a lot of my own traits in the criteria of borderline, however, I feel like I'm more of a "quiet BPD" (if I even really have it, my therapist was caught between borderline and bipolar) because I take everything out on myself, as you mentioned! I do have a fear of abandonment but it isn't extreme. I won't stop someone from leaving my life, but I used to really freak out to the point of panic attacks and immense guilt if someone ended a friendship or relationship with me. Sometimes if something ended really badly, I would have su*cidal ideation, even though I know that I didn't want to feel so bad & I know they're human and can do what's best for them. I used to get nauseated when I wanted to break up with someone and have the dreaded discussion because it meant that I wouldn't have them in my life anymore, even if our relationship wasn't the healthiest.

I have self harmed throughout my life in various different ways because that was the only way I felt I could truly cope with things. As far as the excessive extremes, I don't feel like I do that as much but I DO have issues in my relationships with others. I don't like to defend myself or have boundaries with certain things, so my own actions of not being assertive can lead to having feelings of resentment toward the person and myself, even though I don't desire to feel bitter toward anyone.

I know I need to change a lot of things in my life to better myself and to better my relationships with friends and family and I don't know where to start, but I'm still trying. ❤❤

Believeinyourself123 profile image
Believeinyourself123 in reply to

Aww sweetie, you are definitely not alone. I'm a quite borderline aswell. Many many times people throughout my life said what if your bipolar yet I don't get mania or the high elevated moods. I feel like I can relate to much of what you stated. Here is a video I found for you. I hope it helps. m.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ0Io...

in reply to Believeinyourself123

I'm watching it now! Thank you! ❤

I think you have all the qualifications to be a member of Parliament as most politicians have to have this qualification to do their job serving a country and in a today's world what do you actually class as being normal today, take a rain check and do not let yourself stress or worry over this supposed condition. You are fine, trust me?

Yes, please look up statistical results for someone in your situation. I hate to say it, we follow these predictions. having multiple diagnoses, and farther patterns

propjock profile image
propjock

First, I’m sad and angry about what happened to you, and left you with all this to deal with. But you’re self aware and taking responsibility, and that’s how new stories start.

Here’s an amateur opinion, BPD is not something you “have” like COVID or a torn ACL. It’s a pattern of thinking, feeling, and behavior. If someone ticks enough boxes on the screener, you get a diagnosis. One too few, and you don’t, but you still might have a lot of the pattern. Either way, you are still you, a precious body, soul, and spirit, not a set of diagnoses.

BPD has gotten a lot less scary. 20 years ago (USA) people weren’t always diagnosed, or told, because the stigma was so bad. “Incurable.” “Unstable.” “Dangerous.”

Now, we know that DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and meds help a lot of people manage symptoms and behaviors, and there’s a lot more compassion. It’s still a hard road, but people do walk up and out. Neuroplasticity for the win.

You will find a lot of good people to learn from and lean on here.

in reply to propjock

That makes me so emotional. Thank you so much. I've never had anybody be angry on my behalf so that means a lot. Sometimes I feel like I make it all up in my head or that I'm crazy. Thank you.

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