bipolar or bpd?

hi all,
I get so confused as to what I have. in the hospital it stated bpd and severe depression. there was a question of bipolar or bpd. even with the follow up with my psychiatrist he asked about if I was dx with bipolar. so of course I am beginning to wonder. I realize we shouldn't be defined our diagnosis but I worry that my recovery plan will be effected. I am on lamictal 100 2x day, wellbutrin 300 every day and celex 20 every nite. along with my Xanax 1 mg at nite and 1/2 mg as needed. plus I psycho therapy every week and see my psychiatrist every month for medication evaluation. so is my recovery the same? my rapid mood swings from wanting my life over to feeling positive about my future within days if not hours. on my good days, I am louder, friendlier, and feel like everyone likes me and I feel fulfilled. on my bad days I am paranoid, feel inadequate, suicidal thoughts as a form of escaping so I never feel trapped.

Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder are quite different really and no, the treatments are not the same. With Bipolar, which is a mood disorder, they can treat with medications to help you find balance and the types of therapies used to aid people with dealing are also different. Cognitive Behavior Therapy is one that is used quite often.

With Borderline, which is a personality disorder, doesn't have meds specifically designed to treat it, while some meds are used to assist with states cause by the thinking process of those with Borderlins (like they may treat the depression aspect, or anxiety) The only treatment designed to help those with BPD recovery are some pretty intensive therapies (Like DBT, which has a very high success rate) and just general learning on how to manage and sway the through process.

Keep working with your doctors and do not worry about a label. They will figure out what the exact thing you need is and help you along the way. Treatment may vary depending on the diagnoses but you can still recover, and/or function with either diagnosis.

There are many people here who know more about this stuff than I do, but here goes.
From what I understand, BPD moods are impacted more from outside influences, and tend to change quicker than BP.

I've read that therapy is better for BPD, that there aren't really meds for BPD. But I read it online, so who knows if it's true.

Also, I've heard most people sort of "grow out" of BPD as they age. Meanwhile, BP is for life.

Take care.

Since the symptoms of each are very similar, i.e, cycling, depression, hypomania, they are treated with the same meds. Bipolar has genetic roots so it's primarily treated with meds followed by therapy where BPD is treated by therapy first and meds are used to control the symptoms.

Bpd cycles or mood changes are more or less "triggered" whereas bipolar runs on automatic. Also, ultra rapid mood cycles are more closely associated with bpd. There are exceptions though like me. The only thing that gets triggered in me is anger, but I'd have to be in a mixed mood to get triggered like that.

Since both presents about the same, misdiagnosis between the two are quite common. A person can be DX both though, a dual diagnosis is not uncommon for those with bipolar.

That tends to be more associated with Borderline than with Bipolar, but I've heard of people with Bipolar who cycle very, very rapidly. Most of the Bipolar people I know who rapid cycle that quickly also have a Borderline diagnosis.

As others have said, Borderline mood swings tend to be triggered by something and Bipolar mood swings tend to show up for no reason.

Sounds more borderline.
Bipolar people can wake up and then switch to depression for no reason.
Nothing has changed in our jobs,relationships, state of being.We are they same people we were before. Moods just switch.

And then it cycles down, down, down. Or up, up, up.

Less dramatically up when hypomanic (bipolar2), more dramatically when manic (bipolar1)

thanks for the helpful clarification everyone. I believe that I have a better idea of the differences between the two.