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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cheryl on February 6, 2000, at 17:51:20
Does anyone know what borderline personality disorder is? Can you have it as well as bipolar disorder;or do you have instead of bipolar disorder?
Posted by judy1 on February 6, 2000, at 18:41:16
In reply to borderline personality disorder / bipolar, posted by Cheryl on February 6, 2000, at 17:51:20
I'm sure someone will post a DSM description of borderline disorder; yes you can have both (I was dxed with both). Sometimes in people who ultrarapid cycle with bipolar- daily or several times a day- pdocs will confuse the dx. Some of the borderline traits like self injury and suicide attempts get less severe as you age- those symptoms were more prominant in my teens and 20's than 30's. So there is an overlap with mood lability, however my last pdoc dxed me as rapid cycling bipolar and not borderline. Hope this isn't too confusing.
Posted by KATHRINE on February 6, 2000, at 19:18:36
In reply to Re: borderline personality disorder / bipolar, posted by judy1 on February 6, 2000, at 18:41:16
No you are not confusing me. It is everyone else,(the therapist,and psychyatrist), That are confusing me. I was just hospitalized. I have had all these names thrown at me. I do not know if they know what to think of me a month later. they say obcessive compulsive disorder. I know that one is true. They say tricotylomania. I know that one is correct.Now They add Bipolar disorder, low self esteem,and possible borderline personality disorder. Then they sprinkle in self mutlation.How dare them ask why I have problems taking it one day at a time promising them that I wont be suicidal. can anyone please help me. My husband and 3 kids would greatly appreciate it.
Posted by Noa on February 6, 2000, at 22:30:22
In reply to Re: borderline personality disorder / bipolar, posted by KATHRINE on February 6, 2000, at 19:18:36
In my opinion, Borderline Personality Disorder is not a valid or useful diagnosis.
But more importantly, please understand that the art of diagnosis is in large part just a way to organize how to think about whatever symptoms a patient presents with.
Borderline tends to be used when the symptoms seem resistant to treatment attempts, so the thinking is that they are long term ingrained patterns, ie part of a personality pattern caused by difficult early experiences.
But there are now researchers (Akiskal, for one) who challenge that way of thinking.
I think what is most helpful is when target symptoms are addressed. What is or are the symptoms that are most distressing to you? That is a place to start.
There are therapists who focus on developing coping skills in order to stabilize your life. You probably also would benefit from seeing a psychopharmacologist who will help you find the right combo of meds to address the symptoms.
Posted by judy1 on February 7, 2000, at 18:54:43
In reply to Re: borderline personality disorder / bipolar, posted by KATHRINE on February 6, 2000, at 19:18:36
Are you having difficulty with the psychiatrist and therapist disputing the diagnosis? That has been common in my experience; while I agree with Noa that labels aren't all that useful- psychs sure like them and sometimes they have these turf wars. And they say we're nuts. Anyway, just to simplify things, can you find a psychiatrist who does meds and therapy? You sound very stressed and maybe just simplifying that one part of your life would help. No suicide pacts are really common with therps who deal with "borderlines", it must make them feel better. If you can bring your husband with you to a therapy session and ask the psych to speak to him about ways to help you cope (like taking care of the kids for a while) can sometimes help. I was just hospitalized too, it is an incredibly traumatic experience and if you weren't feeling anxious and confused, that would be abnormal. I know you feel overwhelmed, but it really does get better- just realize you cannot do the things you could do before the hospital right now, but it will get better as you heal. Take care.
This is the end of the thread.
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