...between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder?

First off, I'm seeing a HUGE spike in the number of people being dx'ed as BD. Many of those people, it seems to me, have behavior that seems more like BPD than BD...or, especially if they're young, seem pretty much human...just *normally neurotic* to me.

I'm almost 56. So when I was initially dx'ed with "manic-depression" I was quite surprised. Most people (not all, but most) dx'ed with BD were very obviously mentally ill. As in...I knew a guy with manic-depression who used to go into a local bookstore, jump up on the counter, and start dancing. He'd get kicked out, would disappear for a while, then return a month or 2 later. I believe that my father had BD, but even he had extreme ups and severe downs. As in, at either pole his life would fall apart. Repeatedly. (He was not, however, a substance user.)


Nowadays Facebook has about 150 groups for people with BD. I have suggested to my therapist that I might have BPD more than BD. She looked at me like I had a green face and said, "Oh...no...I've never even thought that, at all..." But I'm not sure I agree. My mood is constantly edgy, irritable, frustrated with people, feeling that people reject me - or will. I'm not crazy-worried about them leaving me, but it doesn't exactly feel good to be dropped, either. My feelings are extremely intense...I feel every little thing VERY strongly. Music is AMAZING! Leaves fluttering are INCREDIBLE! I am fearful of going to bookstores or art museums because so many words and images and colors and feelings make me cry.

And I am extremely self-protective. To the point at which I will fight like a tiger and reject people to avoid being misunderstood and hurt yet AGAIN.


I'd love to hear some direct experience with regard to my question. I know what the DSMIV says. I'd like to hear what people here have to share.