Anybody have borderline personality disorder? Or bipolar

[missyw23]

Hey I've just been diagnosed with Borderline personality disorder but I feel more I have bipolar can people tell me how they felt with their diagnosis and what its like for you to be living with this condition I don't know if I'm just struggling to except it x

[Fi68]

Hello missyw23, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, or emotionally unstable personality disorder. I did not agree with this diagnosis, neither did my GP. What I had was a period of depression that was resistant to treatment because I had an undiagnosed thyroid condition. I am a qualified social worker and I found that the care coordinator's allocated to me were intimidated by my depth of knowledge about mental health issues, prescibing and therapy. I believe that as I was seen as a difficult patient, someone who would challenge the system and the psychiatrists, I was given the label borderline personality disorder. I am 48, you don't suddenly develop borderline personality disorder at 48!!!!

Eventually the GP and I gave up on the local community mental health team and I went private. I had an assessment, psychiatrist diagnosed bipolar disorder type II with complex ptsd. I am now on the right medication for the disorder I have, I have a psychiatrist who liaises with my GP, a psychiatrist who actually phones me to check that I am ok, and when I need to see him I get an appointment within two days!!

I challenged the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, asking them to produce their evidence that I had this disorder. This is because it would be really difficult for me to return to social work or carry on as a priest if I was labelled. I know this should not be, but there is a lot of stigma around borderline patients as being untrustworthy, drama queens and manipulative. There is less stigma associated with bipolar.

I don't know if this is helpful, it is just my experience. Take care.

Fi.

[missyw23 in reply to Fi68]

Thank you for your reply it has been really helpful I will ask my doctor to check my thyroid as It has been enlarged for a while to be honest, always wondered if there could be a thyroid problem, also this is why I don't feel I can accept bpi because of the stigma I feel my moods are more bipolar, bpd and bipolar are so similar I don't understand why they said borderline personality disorder I will ask next time thank you for your story nice not to be alone x

[Shanpa69 in reply to missyw23]

Hi Missyw23

I totally agree with fi68 that there is a stigma attached to the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder l was given this label 8 years ago and ever since my life has been more difficult then it was before, l loss my job which l had for 25 years they tried to take my daughter away from me . This is all due to the stigma attached to this diagnosis. They constantly treat you like you lying about everything and it's been extremely difficult to get effective treatment and help.

Life is often despairing because of this l have just been given a diagnosis of post truamatic stress disorder however the report has so much things in it that implies lm lying about certain behaviours in my life... what l would like to say to you if you feel your diagnosis is not right fight for it to be changed as it's important that you receive the right treatment and care

Take care

Shanpa69