[InsideBlackBox]

I've been diagnosed with bipolar 2 than to 1 in the last 6-8 yrs. This wasn't found until my later 40s into my 50s. I've been very compliant with treatment plan of medications, keeping appts, psychotherapy, and independent self-help for the past 2 1/2 years. I've been doing a lot more research and reading on my disorder. What I have found is that my symptoms fall under a Borderline Personality Disorder more so than Bipolar. I understand the significant differences between the two illnesses but, I am not disturbed by the misdiagnosis. The medication treatment I've received is the same as for Borderline Personality and it has been extremely effective. I have been taking my intensive cognitive behavioral therapy serious and compliant.
So, is there any inperative treatment plan differences that I need to inquire about?

[Tucson]

Talk to your pdoc. Bring up your questions/concerns with them. I would allow your pdoc do the diagnosis and treatment plan. FWIW I think that even though the two have some overlapping symptoms, they are treated differently. For instance, mood stabilizer would not be used for the mood swings of Borderline. That is my limited understanding of BPD.

[InsideBlackBox]

Thank you. After being treated by 3 pdoc's over 6 yrs, none of them ever considered BPD. Could be me just explaining away my disorder. I've been constanty researching my illness during this holiday season and may have gone a bit overboard. I did go through an extensive evaluation before reaching my diagnosis so, I probably am out of line by questioning the mental health experts.

Sounds like you are doing a great job with managing your symptoms! Yea to you! I've done a fair bit of reading on this (I've got BP, but BF's BPD and his behavior confused the hell out of me till I learned this and reading had helped me to understand) and the primary difference in treatment IS the medication issue. With BP, the primary treatment is medication. With BPD the primary treatment is therapy.

Therapy is also a very good thing for BP, but it is secondary to medication.

Therapy (especially DBT) can be very effective for BPD. Though medication is sometimes used for BPD, in most cases, it usually isn't very effective. So, though both treatment modes can be used in either, it's a matter of "what works best" that is the difference. Some people have both conditions.

As far as talking with your team, have you previously shared your thoughts on potential misdiagnosis with them? If not, then that is the place to start, so that you can work together to sort it out. It might well be that regardless of dx (BP, BPD or both), you all decide to leave your regimen as is simply because it is working so well. If they agree that it could be a mis-dx (to BDP only), it might be that a medication reduction/elimination would be tried(?) Regardless of anything like that, one thing you might want to ask about is trying DBT. CBT is good, but DBT might be a more tailored fit for you.

I don't think there are an imperative treatment plan differences for you to inquire about (it's working so well, after all) -- just tossing a couple of thoughts out there. Good luck!

[Tucson]

I think many doctors treat the label as secondary. They just medicate and treat for the symptoms. I would not get too caught up in labels. JMHO

PS: If current treatment working well, stick with it irrespective of labels. Save the labels for the health insurance forms. JMHO again.

[Sinking Feeling]

Originally Posted by InsideBlackBox

I've been diagnosed with bipolar 2 than to 1 in the last 6-8 yrs. This wasn't found until my later 40s into my 50s. I've been very compliant with treatment plan of medications, keeping appts, psychotherapy, and independent self-help for the past 2 1/2 years. I've been doing a lot more research and reading on my disorder. What I have found is that my symptoms fall under a Borderline Personality Disorder more so than Bipolar. I understand the significant differences between the two illnesses but, I am not disturbed by the misdiagnosis. The medication treatment I've received is the same as for Borderline Personality and it has been extremely effective. I have been taking my intensive cognitive behavioral therapy serious and compliant.
So, is there any inperative treatment plan differences that I need to inquire about?

My understanding as limited as it is, BPD can actually be cured! Many have reported full recovery and med free! Which is wonderful. BP unfortunately stays with us but can be kept under control. As for the diagnosis, IMHO they are all meaningless. What we need to focus on and treat are the symptoms. It sounds like you are doing just fine!

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi insidetheblackbox

I've responded to your question in the bpd forum

Take care.

[Imah]

Websearch EMDR-Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

This treatment is for anyone who has had any traumatic experiences that clarification of the emotion would aid in understanding and overcoming. Since borderlines typically have such situations, it is more for them then for bi-polar.

It is dynamic, forward thinking, and with a therapist trained in it - quite effective. I speak from personal experience. I believe Borderlines usually have issues that EMDR can help clarify.

I think of the difference this way, Borderline have triggers that cause the emotions to change, Bipolars can have the change just occur, because BPD is developed, and BiPolar is chemical. I think I am stating facts in a generalized way.

It is easy to be diagnosed as having one or the other as their symptoms are similar. It is not as common to have both. (I have been diagnosed with both although I disagree and believe I am only bipolar).

My talk therapist told me that she couldn't help bipolar, then later diagnosed me with borderline to go with the bipolar, and treated that part. Although typically borderlines have some type of traumatic upbringing, (which I didn't) and also borderlines often cut, or harm themselves in some physical way (which I don't). Psychiatrists that only work with meds and not talk therapy have told me they can't do much with borderline, except treat any extreme emotion like anxiety or depression (for example) that comes with it.

Lastly, IMO, borderline personality disorder can be overcome. Bipolar disorder can become manageable, but being a chemical imbalance, cannot be overcome. That is probably a controversial opinion.

Best of luck to us all.

PS: 1. We are never out of line questioning the people treating us. We have to work 100% with them to better ourselves, but we also must be in agreement with the diagnosis to do so. Letting them know you question the diagnosis, and learning more is our right and obligation. We may have mental illness, but we are not sheep. and 2. Your intense studying of this (you said you may have gone overboard on researching it) and that sounds like you kept at it and kept at it for hours thru possibly days. The way you suggest overboard sounds like you were obsessed - I get that way in the manic stage of bipolar.

[InsideBlackBox]

Originally Posted by Tucson

I think many doctors treat the label as secondary. They just medicate and treat for the symptoms. I would not get too caught up in labels. JMHO

PS: If current treatment working well, stick with it irrespective of labels. Save the labels for the health insurance forms. JMHO again.

Thank You. And I agree. I should just leave well enough alone. Treatment plan os working. That's all I should be concerned with. I'm so relieved to hear the same. Thank you.

[InsideBlackBox]

Originally Posted by Imah

Websearch EMDR-Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

This treatment is for anyone who has had any traumatic experiences that clarification of the emotion would aid in understanding and overcoming. Since borderlines typically have such situations, it is more for them then for bi-polar.

It is dynamic, forward thinking, and with a therapist trained in it - quite effective. I speak from personal experience. I believe Borderlines usually have issues that EMDR can help clarify.

I think of the difference this way, Borderline have triggers that cause the emotions to change, Bipolars can have the change just occur, because BPD is developed, and BiPolar is chemical. I think I am stating facts in a generalized way.

It is easy to be diagnosed as having one or the other as their symptoms are similar. It is not as common to have both. (I have been diagnosed with both although I disagree and believe I am only bipolar).

My talk therapist told me that she couldn't help bipolar, then later diagnosed me with borderline to go with the bipolar, and treated that part. Although typically borderlines have some type of traumatic upbringing, (which I didn't) and also borderlines often cut, or harm themselves in some physical way (which I don't). Psychiatrists that only work with meds and not talk therapy have told me they can't do much with borderline, except treat any extreme emotion like anxiety or depression (for example) that comes with it.

Lastly, IMO, borderline personality disorder can be overcome. Bipolar disorder can become manageable, but being a chemical imbalance, cannot be overcome. That is probably a controversial opinion.

Best of luck to us all.

PS: 1. We are never out of line questioning the people treating us. We have to work 100% with them to better ourselves, but we also must be in agreement with the diagnosis to do so. Letting them know you question the diagnosis, and learning more is our right and obligation. We may have mental illness, but we are not sheep. and 2. Your intense studying of this (you said you may have gone overboard on researching it) and that sounds like you kept at it and kept at it for hours thru possibly days. The way you suggest overboard sounds like you were obsessed - I get that way in the manic stage of bipolar.

Yes, I've definitely been obsessed. Thank you for your advice. I greatly appreciate the clarirty and confirmation that my research has been accurate. It's all been a bit foggy since, I also have had a troubled childhood and some of my behaviors may be caused by triggers. Sounding more developmental than chemical but I am absolutely certain that I have family members who are extremely undiagnosed bipolar. Now, that I'm somewhat balanced, I can see the flights of their own madness. So, maybe it's bipolar 1 with PTSD? I don't know but, I have exhausted myself in trying to figure it all out.
I better keep to my journaling, mood charting, meditation, and taking my dog for a walk.

[shortandcute]

I still get a little confused about the whole thing. Ive been dx'ed with both.

A person with bipolar has different situational triggers. They aren't trigger by a person or event. They usually have something that physiologically effect them.
Example- mania- can be seasonal or affected by lack of sleep, coffee, drugs or alcohol, stress.
Also, borderline is a personality disorder. Personality disorders respond as well to meds. Bipolar is a disease and does respond to meds.
That does not happen with a borderline. I have learned there is a big difference. They can co-exist.

I am bipolar 1.

[Imah]

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

A person with bipolar has different situational triggers. They aren't trigger by a person or event. They usually have something that physiologically effect them.
Example- mania- can be seasonal or affected by lack of sleep, coffee, drugs or alcohol, stress.
Also, borderline is a personality disorder. Personality disorders respond as well to meds. Bipolar is a disease and does respond to meds.
That does not happen with a borderline. I have learned there is a big difference. They can co-exist.

I am bipolar 1.

This was very clear, and helped me to better understand the two. Thank you.

[InsideBlackBox]

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

A person with bipolar has different situational triggers. They aren't trigger by a person or event. They usually have something that physiologically effect them.
Example- mania- can be seasonal or affected by lack of sleep, coffee, drugs or alcohol, stress.
Also, borderline is a personality disorder. Personality disorders respond as well to meds. Bipolar is a disease and does respond to meds.
That does not happen with a borderline. I have learned there is a big difference. They can co-exist.

I am bipolar 1.

I've been diagnosed as bipolar 1 as well. My triggers seem to fit more with bipolar than BPD. Thank you