[SilverSprings]

I am having trouble understanding Dx: My pdoc says i am Borderline and BP2 (& PTSD). I dont know about Bi polar.... still.....Lately I seem to fit better under Borderline profile. It is important for me to know...
I asked again: she just says i have BOTH. How is she coming to that? I have been tracking my moods. I am way up: for a day or two: Way down for a day . Back up feeling GREAT terrific, then something stupid sets me off spiraling down. then until things are mended, i am feeling totally ******, and then, they get better again. What is that!!??
I asked her: Is this rapid cycling? ultra rapid? Her answer: You wouldnt be able to function if you had rapid cycling.

Is that true?

Regardless: I know i need to focus more now on therapy, DBT (i am starting it soon w/ new T).

Pdoc said : I feel like no one understands me. Lately I was shaken up by learning I need to TRUST myself (i dont i guess...) and that I need to STOP blaming others around me, and stop controlling them. To be accountable for my SELF. I am also a control freak, I tend to not trust others motives at times, I feel like no one listens to me at times. At home and at work. I know that soemtimes I am over reacting, passive/ aggressive too. What is the deal?

I have a long way to go..... Therefor: Understanding my Dx would help me.

[~Christina]

It's very common to have Bipolar and Borderline.

Based on what you wrote ^ .. I think that certainly is borderline rearing its ugly head.

Heres the deal.. It's damn near impossible to see Borderline while your standing in the middle of it. Are you in DBT classes? DBT is where you can start to learn how to tell the difference. I have some "traits" of borderline.

Example, This happened a few weeks ago: I wasn't in the greatest place Bipolar wise and my pain was really bad. ... I said to my Husband when he walked in the door after work "I really love you and so happy your home" .... and his response is "Luv ya too " and he is going about dragging all his stuff inside.... he has his hands full and probably needs to drop it all and go pee or just wanted to sit down . I went from feeling safe secure in my marriage and that he will love me forever to the following in about 2.8 seconds ... OMG he doesn't love me, Is he mad at me? Did I do something wrong, Did I forget to do something? I burst into tears running outside , I'm so mad and hurt I want to hurt myself because I suck and I don't deserve love......Meanwhile my husband was wondering what the hell just happened

So Bipolar and Borderline are at times problematic just because they both are extreme reactions to situations and Bipolar mood flucuations.

My advice is get into classes for DBT , you can also find lots of DBT info online and many workbooks you can order online that can help you.

** FYI I think everyone can benefit from DBT .....Borderline, Bipolar or neural typicals, Its just a great skill to have*

As for Mixed? I can function a lil bit for a while when I have gone mixed. I'm capable of feeding myself and self care, But it only last at most a week and then everything implodes and I literally am a ranting raving long tailed cat in a room full of rockers. Its pure hell on earth.

I know you want a diagnosis that makes sense to you "right now" But It really impossible to wrap your head around a Diagnosis/Label when your on the " Tilt O World"

"Try" to set aside trying to finding all the right answers so you fit in this box or that one. Just focus on feeling better, Finding some stability.. so when you are on stable ground and its not quick sand or a mud pit you can "then" work on accepting whatever "diagnosis(s)" you may have.

[SilverSprings]

Thank you SO much for sharing this. I will write more soon but my new therapist uses DBT combined with other styles on a personal basis. She also can refer me to classes. It's just beginning it seems - but it was a long process to get here and will not be an easy fix. I was told I will have to work for this- but the little improvements already seem to be helping!

[neverending]

I deal with both BPD and bipolar. My BPD is finally getting much better but not the bipolar. At least not yet. I have been dealing with both rapid cycling and mixed moods. I was taking seroquel prn to stop the hypomania from spiraling higher but that has changed to taking it all the time on a higher dose, though it is still a very low dose as I am now very sensitive to these medications.

[Nammu]

I had BP and PTSD. As I worked on the PTSD symptoms and learned to identify what was PTSD and what was BP things got much easier. I'm not sure if the PTSD ever completely goes away of ifs its more like a remission ( had Drs tell me both) but now it's so much easier to manage. It took a long time working with acts but it's so much better.

[Trippin2.0]

I also have both and it can be very confusing in the beginning, so don't beat yourself up for not knowing everything right now.


To grossly over simplify, for the sake of keeping it concise, my Bp is random, I can wake up fine and fall asleep suicidal or vice versa without any external contributing factors. Also, external factors cannot alter a current mood state.


My bpd is triggered by my environment, people, situations, and how they make me feel and think. So something can make me euphoric, and later something else can make me want to self harm.


In time as you familiarize yourself with your battles, you'll learn to detangle the two.