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*Beth* · 01:53 PM

This winter I've been reading current articles written by psychiatric researchers. The articles (my pdoc referred me to them) state that the DSM5 definition of BP is lacking for the reason that BP moods can shift with a 24 hour period. Now, that doesn't mean every mood change that happens within a day is symptomatic of BP. But when the moods are outside the realm of "normal", and are clearly manic, depressed, or mixed state they can be attributed to BP. Sometimes the moods are triggered by an event, sometimes not. For me, it feels like a switch being flipped, hard and sure.

According to what I've read the bottom line is that there are more and more psych researchers who believe that the definition of BP should be extended. I wonder if, some day, there will be more specific types of BP than there are now?

With regard to BPD - there are times when PTSD can mimic BPD. The most important core symptom of BPD, as I understand it, is the "I hate you/Don't leave me" behavior...and all the manipulations that occur with that behavior.

My mom was a textbook Borderline. She had every symptom of the disorder, right down the list. And her symptoms were to the extreme. To witness her frantic attempts to avoid what she perceived as being abandoned were hell for me to go through (she became entirely self-centered and demanding, as a tantruming toddler would be), cruel, desperately needy...it was very difficult to know whether to avoid her entirely while she went through a powerful episode of I HATE YOU! DON'T LEAVE ME! -or to cry for her because the self-torture she went through was heart-wrenching. That said, her vicious hate manifested in severe emotional and physical abuse and acting out that was violent and dangerous for her and for anyone in her presence.

To me, when I experience someone with BPD there is no doubt that the person has a personality disorder, as opposed to a mood disorder. Of course, anyone can have some overlapping symptoms, but I'm referring to a full-on dx of BPD as opposed to a dx of BP.

I've located 1 of the articles online that my psychiatrist gave to me on paper. I find this one especially informative. It was written by a woman who is a GP.

Please note that the article can be upsetting and triggering for some of us. This is the thesis of the article, however:

My mood may swing from one part of the day to another. I may wake up low at 10 am, but be high and excitable by 3 pm. I may not sleep for more than 2 hours one night, being full of creative energy, but by midday be so fatigued it is an effort to breathe.

>TRIGGER LINK<
On madness: a personal account of rapid cycling bipolar disorder

Someone (Cashart, I think?) posted the link to a TV show that profiled a woman with BP...I enjoyed it because it was validating without being too heavy. If I can find that link, I'll repost it, or maybe Cashart will see this.
Here's the info (thank you Cashart):

Modern Love, This is a show on Amazon Prime and the episode listed above stars Anne Hathaway as a woman struggling from bipolar disorder. It is so well written and performed. I highly recommend it! __________________