[isntlifewonderful]

So uhm... I've been sure I'm a borderline for a couple of years now. I have intense moodswings, dissociation, huge trust issues, paranoia, sometimes I even get psychotic. I haven't been diagnosed though, because I'm only 17. Some have suggested I might be bipolar and not a borderline for some reason. My ex used it as an insult. When I'd alternate between loving and hating him (he was a douche) he'd just make fun of me and say "are you ****ing bipolar or something?"
One thing worth to mention is that I had a traumatic childhood and have been diagnosed with PTSD. I had something DID-like once but as I got older my alters and imaginary friends distanced themselves from me and now they're only here at times. Is bipolar mainly biological or could environmental issues have to do with it?
Also, my moods rarely last more than a couple of hours. SOMETIMES, I get manic and really happy for a couple of days. I'm not manic as in really confident, nor mean to anyone, but all of sudden there's all this energy. I'm usually an introvert, but during those days I'll talk to everyone I meet, I stay busy constantly to ease my anxiety, I'm always smiling and I never cry... though I do feel extremely disconnected. When those episodes are over my mood's usually worse than ever and I'll be anternating between intense anger, sadness, shame and loneliness.
Can anyone relate? I've always felt like I'm more of a borderline but some of the people who work at the institution I currently live at claim I'm not acting out as much as usual borderlines do, I'm not seeking attention or drama but just taking it out on myself. A couple of them said it might be bipolar instead... as much as I can't agree, I wanted to talk to you. I know borderlines relate a LOT to what I'm going through and I wanted to know if you do too. So what do you think? If this is a dumb post, I'm sorry for taking up your time haha

[Travelinglady]

It could be that you are also bipolar. The two diagnoses can go hand in hand. I suggest you talk to your doctor about it.

[Trippin2.0]

There are also different "types" of borderlines that should be taken into context...

I'm not familiar with the terms now (you can search the BPD forum) but I know I personally fall under the "take things out on myself" umbrella. I very rarely create or thrive on drama, my actual outbursts are few and far inbetween (but admittedly visceral), yet my natural BPD response is to instinctively punish myself.

So while all the internal issues are classic BPD symptoms, my reactions aren't neccessarily "classic"...

And as Travelling Lady said, yes you can have both, quite a few of us do. But I sincerely suggest you research the subtypes of BPD as we're not all cookie cutter carbon copies of eachother. Also, you can read up on the BP symptoms as per the DSM before you decide if there's some weight in what you're hearing regarding your diagnosis.

Best of luck and good for you for reaching out instead of just accepting this news / suggestion blindly.