Hello samj40: I'll say, right off the top, I don't know the answer to your question. Personally, I just consider all of the various diagnoses mental health professionals give us to be pigeonholes which are mostly of use to them. Every mental health professional I've ever seen has had a little different take with regard to what was going on with me. I'm not on med's anymore. I do still technically have a pdoc. But I see him once a year now just to keep my foot in the door, so to speak. One thing I do like about him, though, is he never tries to push anything on me. He'll make suggestions. But it's always up to me whether or not I want to take him up on them. He's also never given me a diagnosis. I presume there's something written down in my file, for insurance purposes. But he's never shared it with me. And I haven't asked.

In reading your post, I wondered if you have shared, with your current doctor, in as much detail as possible what you are experiencing in school. From my perspective, this would be important. However, if she just wants to act like she knows everything & what you know is simply fodder for a good chuckle (i.e. "lol it's your BPD"), then my perspective would be that you need a different doctor. You, or your insurance company, or whomever are paying this person to help you. And if you're failing in school as a result of old habits flaring up, & all she can come up with is "lol it's your BPD" that's not much help. When your life is on fire, you need someone to help you extinguish the flames! Anyway... these are my thoughts. I wish you well.