I have a dx of bipolar 1 disorder & am on a lot of meds for that (including Abilify & Lamictal &Klonopin & Trazodone, etc.). I have been doing a group therapy called dialectical behavioral therapy that was designed for people with borderline & all the women in the group have borderline except one other woman has bipolar--but I fit right in!! Basically,l I also see the therapist for indiv. therapy & she said that getting a dx of borderline is really more of a stigma even than bipolar so a lot of mental health professionals will shy away of giving it, but that it does overlap quite a bit with the symptoms of bipolar that are troublesome in functioning. Mainly the rapidly escalating emotions & then the impulsive actions that follow that are not thought out so are not the best actions to take as the consequences are usually negative (such as over-spending, taking off to bars & binge drinking, mouthing off to people, joining every group there is to join when mainc, basically all the impulsive behaviors we can do when manic or destructive behaviors when depressed).

Anyway, borderline & bipolar are very similar in symptoms & can be treated in therapy such as dialectical behavioral therapy. Bipolar usually requires the additonaly medication, but I have found with the coping skills learned in the therapy that I have been able to reduce my dosages as I am able to handle my anxiety & keep my emotions from skyrocketing in a fraction of a second. I can now learn to pause--refocus--breath--think rationally about how I want to communicate so that I reach my ultimate goals, etc.

Well worth looking into...

All my best to you...Suzy