Hey ItGoesOn,

To answer your question from my perspective:

As tempting as it is, (and we all know how tempting it is); try not to delve so much into the Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis. You are clearly familiar with the things on the list - and they WILL NOT change. (Unless the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual gets a BIG revision)

What WILL change - is your attitude towards the diagnosis; if and when it fits. As a side note, it is important to remember that at this stage in your therapy, (from what you said) your therapist has concerns that there might be a bigger underlying problem (Borderline Personality Disorder) aside from your initial depression.

At this point you're going to a psychiatrist in order to be screened and diagnosed. Just remember that mistakes are made where diagnosis is concerned. It happens, it's part of the business. Keep an open mind and get a second opinion if you must. It is worth it.

The important thing to do is only lightly familiarize yourself with the list of diagnostic criteria - and truly question yourself as to whether you relate to it. But even more-so - whether or not you relate to the feelings and thoughts and emotions that pertain to the diagnosis. In the DSM it is just a list, but this forum here is a good place to listen about how people with the illness think, feel and behave. It is definitely in-line with the diagnostic criteria, but unlike the forums, the criteria list doesn't give justice or a clear understanding to the actual illness. So please, ask away - read a lot on here - but try not to obsess over the diagnostic criteria - as it can actually be more harmful than helpful.

For example:
(This being from personal experience: There are ALOT of people who are told they have such and such illness, they will then read and research all there is to know about the illness - and when it comes time to see a psychiatrist and be given a diagnosis - they actually become more like the diagnosis than they were before, therefore, they often do not get the correct diagnosis and they contradict the very reason for seeking treatment...)

In my opinion: *(PRIOR to being diagnosed)* you want to know the least amount about Borderline Personality Disorder criteria as you can, that way you will not act out in favor of one illness over another, whether consciously or unconsciously. It happens to everyone, it is quite literally unavoidable. In getting the proper diagnosis - it will lead to the correct method of treatment and therapy in your pursuit of happiness, hence:

"The point of therapy: Is to get out of therapy."

Anyways, you're on the right track. I'm only sharing with you what I wished I would have heard early on in my years of therapy.

Thanks,
HD7970ghz