Not bipolar?!??

Just got back from my evaluation. I was the first one there! It lasted like an hour and a half, more intense than my prior evaluation. They said I was misdiagnosed, and I actually have borderline personality disorder. I have heard of this, but am not sure what it really is. Guess it's time to do some research!
Thank you friends, I think I'm going to get rid of my account here since I'm not really bipolar and the borderline personality disorder forum isn't very active. I actually feel really embarrassed.
I'm sorry.
Much love,
Pineperson

Don’t get rid of your account!!! There’s so much support in other areas.

No need to be embarrassed, this diagnosis stuff is confusing.

Good luck. Don't kick yourself, it was the doc that misdiagnosed you, not you.

Keep in mind that diagnosing is an art and not a science. Some providers are better than others at it. It is also based on what you share and what they gravitate towards. My diagnosis has been up in the air for years...

Whoa...wait a minute. I was diagnosed with BPD when I was in my 20's by a psychologist who, I believe, had major countertransference issues with me. I didn't think his diagnosis was correct at the time, but I was too shy to contest it.

His diagnosis caused me years of problems with...well, being misdiagnosed.

When I was dx'ed with bipolar disorder by a competent psychiatrist, and prescribed the correct medications, I became stable. I don't have BPD and I never did.

Okay, so that's about me. But in certain ways BPD and BD can look similar to someone who has not observed you over a period of time, especially to someone who isn't adept at diagnosing, for whatever reason.

Who initially diagnosed you, and who has just given you the new diagnosis?

It's not uncommon for people to be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder instead of Bipolar Disorder, or vice versa. One of the main differences is that with Borderline Personality Disorder mood changes are often triggered by interpersonal stressors (i.e. conflict or loss) and there is a strong fear of abandonment. Moods in Borderline Personality Disorder can also fluctuate multiple times per day, and there are not always sustained mood states like there are in Bipolar Disorder. It would be important to take stock of some of your history and see what makes more sense. It is possible to have both. It can sometimes be helpful to do a mood log to track your moods and stressors, but it can also be helpful to look at the criteria for each disorder and make a list of any symptoms ore experiences that fall into those categories.

Whatever happens, a diagnosis is only helpful if it informs treatment or gives you a sense of direction in how you want to move forward. One of the main treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder - Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - can be very effective for a variety of issues. Medications are typically not as effective for the personality disorder piece, but they can still be helpful for some symptoms.

Bottom line, if you have questions, make sure you talk to the provider and ask more about why they believe in this diagnosis. It's also good to continue to educate yourself and make sure to push back if things don't make sense. Good luck!

I've been reading about BPD and it makes sense. I was diagnosed with ultradian cycling bipolar 2 disorder by a psychiatrist in Vermont after two 15 minute sessions, and just given borderline personality disorder by a psychiatrist that specifically does intake evaluations and diagnoses that last about an hour and a half in New Hampshire. I feel this current evaluation was more thorough than the one that led to my first bipolar diagnosis, but I'm confused now. How am I supposed to know who is right? I've tried a few bipolar medications and they just made things worse for the most part.
I looked at the list of BPD symptoms and they kinda seem the same as bipolar to me. Impulsivity? Mood swings? Suicide? Unstable relationships? Anger outbursts? I feel like those would be common in both.

quietlylost makes excellent points. It's not unusual for someone to have both BPD and BD. Also, and this is so important, someone who has been through childhood abuse or other trauma can have symptoms that might look like BPD initially, but as therapeutic work is progressing, those "borderline" traits are exposed as post traumatic stress disorder.

Something else to think about is that the old BPD diagnosis is slowly, but surely, being replaced by the diagnosis of Emotional Dysregulation Disorder.

Whatever the case, though, as Sarah pointed out there's plenty of support and friendship here on PC, regardless of diagnosis. I enjoy your presence on PC. I hope you'll stick around

I have both bipolar and BPD, if it helps. It does happen!

I think sometimes all we can do is trust our best instincts and then give things time to play out. What treatment did this new person say would be a good fit?

If you feel this diagnosis was much better planed and considered by the doctor then accept it ( not accepting the diagnosis is common for someone with bpd) and forget about the old diagnosis. Bpd is much better as it can be cured and often gets better with time and doesn’t need strong life altering meds. Those who brought up DBT are right it is the gold standard. There are many people who will try to talk you out of bad because they have a bias against itt. They will urge you to fight the diagnosis and take meds. Don’t. Trust the pdoc who specializes in diagnosis not us who are not doctors

Good post.

I hope that you keep posting, I enjoy your presence here!

Once when in-patient, I was brought into a room with two doctors. They wanted to tell me I have BPD instead of bipolar. I politely said, "No, I have bipolar disorder". I don't know if that was taken as BPD symptoms that I "argued" with them or what. What I AM is bipolar and I have a dad who is an alcoholic, so I wonder if that plays into it, too.

My Dx took years. SzA. I've been labled everything including IED. I've only been given antipsychotics for the last 5-6 years. Which with new dx and higher level of AP things have gotten better for me. I'm still stabled on the depressed side but it's slow moving because I only "see" my pdoc every 3 months. Go with the Dx(s) that sounds right to you. no need for embarrassment. I've been here as Mood disorder NOS, Bipolar 1, Bipolar 2 and now as SzA.

Thank you for all your replies!

fern46-They suggested this special Dialectical Behavioral Therapy program that costs more money than I have right now. They said they're not sure how they're doing it next year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but even if they're not doing this particular program I'll have a therapist trained in DBT to talk to weekly. Since I'm not having any symptoms right now that medication can help with, they won't assign me to a psychiatrist. They did say that at some point they will just to have someone who went to school for psychiatry to talk to on an as needed basis, but all the psychiatrists are overloaded with cases right now so it might be a while.

Much love,
pineperson

I think there have been some excellent comments here.

Something that makes, to me, your previous psychiatrist suspect is the diagnosis of ultraridian (sp?) cycling. This is a controversial diagnosis, there are a lot of pdocs who disagree with its validity.

As someone pointed out, if you're jumping from one emotion to another during a given day, and especially if these emotions are triggered by relational interactions, this is indicative of BPD. Bipolar episodes are persistent 'moods' over a period of time, whereas BPD revolves around 'emotional' instability.

Yes, you can be impulsive if you have BP and if you have BPD, but I think the difference is what triggers this.

You have mentioned before issues with rage. My brother has BPD and has extensive issues with controlling anger. He's explosive. This can happen in the context of Bipolar Disorder, but again, it depends on the context (again, relational and emotional instability in the case of BPD). I also find it telling that Bipolar meds have been of little help, in controlling rages, or otherwise.

As Nammu said, the great thing about BPD is that it is curable. DBT has had excellent results (wow, I wish my brother would do it, but he denies the diagnosis, to his and his loved ones' detriment). And you don't need Bipolar meds with all of their side effects and in some cases, still unknown long term effects. So there really is an upside to the change in diagnosis, though I understand why you may not feel that way right now. It's a bit of a whiplash to suddenly find yourself with a different diagnosis. But if it fits, you can really do something about it, and that's gold.

Please stay on PC, there is so much support here!

I think borderline personality disorder can mimic rapid cycling. I was originally diagnosed in the opposite order. Borderline personality then discovered that that was a misdiagnosis and they changed it to BP. It's just a label. What you need to focus on is managing the symptoms. If you identify with the symptoms of BP more then hang around on this forum. We're certainly not asking you to leave

I think that we all from time to time, have patterns of cognitive distortion. There are definite areas in my life when things happen and it's an "all or nothing" type of thinking that I have to seriously work through.

I think it changes according to our circumstances. I'm currently working on personalisation and blame with my psychologist. Have a read of this article that explains patterns of distortion:

http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/curriculu...gAbtThnkng.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch I think borderline personality disorder can mimic rapid cycling. I was originally diagnosed in the opposite order. Borderline personality then discovered that that was a misdiagnosis and they changed it to BP. It's just a label. What you need to focus on is managing the symptoms. If you identify with the symptoms of BP more then hang around on this forum. We're certainly not asking you to leave I think that we all from time to time, have patterns of cognitive distortion. There are definite areas in my life when things happen and it's an "all or nothing" type of thinking that I have to seriously work through. I think it changes according to our circumstances. I'm currently working on personalisation and blame with my psychologist. Have a read of this article that explains patterns of distortion: http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/curriculu...gAbtThnkng.pdf

Good article.

I wouldn’t just get rid of your account because you don’t think you’re bipolar. If you can relate to people here then I would continue posting. I’ve been told there’s a possibility of my being borderline as well or having PTSD or some other things that I can’t remember right now. They asked me if I thought my meds were working when I was locked in a mental hospital last summer. I was like ummmm no. Changed those. Now I feel better. Now I really don’t care what I have! I would focus more on the treatment then on the diagnosis and get help where you can.