I hesitated whether to post more about the last session with the fourth T here as we touched on some SO personal things. But this was supposed to be a thread about shopping for shrinks. So in for a penny, in for a pound!

Ok. So, shrink #4 diagnosed me with bpd (borderline personality disorder). After discussion we dialled it back down to "a little bit bpd," as in the traits. I feel like I've heard other people here say they've heard this before in therapy, but it was news to me.

Confrontational... is the word for how it went. "If you think of yourself as a victim, given what you've described of your relationships and work history, than you have personality issues," is what he literally said. I was rather upset hearing this, to be perfectly honest. I asked if bpd was a derogatory diagnosis for T. The T responded that it was insulting to have his diagnosis put in question. We discussed whether he was angry or not. (This was ten minutes into the interview). He said that he was not angry but he felt my attitude was consistent with someone who has bpd.

The good thing is I felt that I did not have to hold anything back. Honestly, the question when shopping for a shrink is "can you help me?" I feel like this person can.

On the other hand... this is NOT a diagnosis to be taken lightly. If I go back (which I am thinking about doing) we will keep discussing it. I am extremely aware how rigged this entire conversation was and still very shaken. If a man in a doctor's chair wants to make a younger woman with mental health problems act "borderline," they probably know how to do it...