[Blaire]

I still do sometimes. I wonder if it's really bipolar disorder or just poor coping skills. Sometimes I wonder if I have borderline personality disorder instead. But the bipolar meds really do help, and Zoloft made me crazy, so maybe that's proof. I still wonder sometimes. Anyone else?

Obviously I don't know you personally, but it *is* possible that you could have both borderline personality disorder *and* BP, so that's something to consider too. While I only have BP, I've noticed a handful of people in this forum who have both.

Do you have a therapist who you can talk to? If you do, maybe mention the idea of borderline personality disorder to see what he or she says.

I tend to prefer the idea of treating the symptoms, not the diagnosis. You know what I mean? That may be another way of looking at things.

[Victoria'smom]

I think I have SzA instead of straight BP or even just episodic psychosis.

[Sunflower123]

I question whether I have MDD or bipolar II. I don't get hypomania.

[Teddy Bear]

I used to question mine but know I know I'm schizoaffective.

[CF17]

Originally Posted by Blaire

I still do sometimes. I wonder if it's really bipolar disorder or just poor coping skills. Sometimes I wonder if I have borderline personality disorder instead. But the bipolar meds really do help, and Zoloft made me crazy, so maybe that's proof. I still wonder sometimes. Anyone else?

Yes! In doubt, keep asking or move forward to a different doctor.
I've already been diagnosed wrongfully twice. First as bipolar, then as borderline. I was prescribed the wrong - and awful- medication then, like clonazepam, abilify and etc. It damaged my body.
Only after a few years, I sat down with a fantastic specialist and after many sessions he was able to tell that I had severe depression. I'm traumatized by meds and its side effects, so I don't take them at all; but knowing what my diagnosis is has made a big difference as I look for proper techniques on how to deal with it.

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by Blaire

I still do sometimes.

not if I list my dx as a sleeping disorder ... expressing it's self as depression resistant bp ...

[samantha...]

Yeh cuz i aint like hyper or nothin and like if asd and ashd are both chemical imbalances how can i get both

Originally Posted by Blaire

I still do sometimes. I wonder if it's really bipolar disorder or just poor coping skills. Sometimes I wonder if I have borderline personality disorder instead. But the bipolar meds really do help, and Zoloft made me crazy, so maybe that's proof. I still wonder sometimes. Anyone else?

It might be worth looking into BPD, especially with your abandonment fears on a different thread. As others have said, it's possible to have both, or be misdiagnosed. Basically I ignore diagnoses now, because if you ask 100 different pdocs, you'll get 100 different opinions. What matters is finding a way to cope with whatever symptoms/experiences you are having, not what box they want to put you in.

*Willow*

[Blaire]

Maybe I'll ask my psychiatrist to evaluate me for borderline. I've wondered about it for a long time actually.

[Alisher]

I have never questioned my diagnosis of BP. Fortunately it is light form. After almost 20 years since my major episode with psychosis I have never had it again. And almost 20 years not visited any psychiatric. Find my treatment in Internet. So far it works well.

Yes. Sometimes I feel like my manias/depression are nothing too abnormal and aren't significant enough to count for being actually bipolar, until I recall my worst moments.

[Wild Coyote]

I go back and forth between accepting my diagnosis of BPII and thinking it's more MDD.

My hypomania is so rare now.
Yet, in truth, I have had some hypomanic episodes, so that qualifies me for BPII. The stubborn depression helps to confirm it.

Every pdoc I have seen over 40 years has ruled out any personality disorder.

If you have not been formally evaluated, do ask your pdoc to rule on any condition you suspect may play a role in the entire picture.


WC

[franz kafka]

I almost think that questioning your diagnosis should be a bipolar symptom. In other words, yes of course.

[Sunflower123]

I talked to my tdoc today about whether I was just highly sensitive or had a BPD because I can't shake this depression. We went through the criteria and I didn't fit the criteria for BPD and my pdoc has said in the past that I wasn't but I'm going to ask again Thursday. I'm just trying to get some true understanding about why I can't shake this and move on. Maybe I'm in denial about my bipolar diagnosis. Best wishes.

[Unrigged64072835]

After being misdiagnosed with MDD for so long it makes me wonder at times. Then I think of my manic episodes and realize that this is the correct diagnosis. Never mentioned the shopping sprees and hypersexuality to my providers, or thought of it as something else.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

I talked to my tdoc today about whether I was just highly sensitive or had a BPD because I can't shake this depression. We went through the criteria and I didn't fit the criteria for BPD and my pdoc has said in the past that I wasn't but I'm going to ask again Thursday. I'm just trying to get some true understanding about why I can't shake this and move on. Maybe I'm in denial about my bipolar diagnosis. Best wishes.

My pdoc has told me Bipolar Depression is the hardest type of depression to treat. He says it's often intractable to treatment. He adds that BPII depression is often worse than BPI depression; typically people with BPII spend much more time in severe depression.

This may be why we cannot just shake the depression?
Unfortunately.

I try to figure each additional day of depression is a day closer to finally cycling out of the depression. It's a game I play in an attempt to stay sane.


WC

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

My pdoc has told me Bipolar Depression is the hardest type of depression to treat. He says it's often intractable to treatment. He adds that BPII depression is often worse than BPI depression; typically people with BPII spend much more time in severe depression.

This may be why we cannot just shake the depression?
Unfortunately.

I try to figure each additional day of depression is a day closer to finally cycling out of the depression. It's a game I play in an attempt to stay sane.


WC

Thank you for your response. I think I'll play that game to. Some days I accept it and some days, like today, I feel like I'm giving up days, months and years to this illness. It can be very discouraging.

[BipolaRNurse]

I still occasionally have doubts about my bipolar 1 diagnosis. I don't dispute having BP, but sometimes I wonder if my manic episodes rise to the level of BP 1. On the other hand, four mental health professionals including two psychiatrists have diagnosed me with the same thing, and then I remember some of my manic phases and how out of control I've been during them. I had one that severely impacted my performance at work---I was singing and dancing in the hallways, laughing hysterically during staff meetings, and of course couldn't focus on work (or anything else) at all. I also dropped a thousand bucks in Walmart and bought my husband a car.

So I guess I should believe the diagnosis, but what matters most is that I'm being treated adequately so I don't have those severe manias anymore.

[Alisher]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I try to figure each additional day of depression is a day closer to finally cycling out of the depression. It's a game I play in an attempt to stay sane.

Same to me. When my antidepressants are not helping the only thing which supports me is the knowledge that my depression will over some day

[liveforsummer]

Originally Posted by franz kafka

I almost think that questioning your diagnosis should be a bipolar symptom. In other words, yes of course.

Phew thanks for that! Diagnosed this year and I question it all the time though logically in my head I know I meet the criteria for BP 2.

[raspberrytorte]

No. After the horrors of last spring/summer I don't doubt it.

[Wander]

Not at all. I've experienced full blown mania with psychosis and depression so BP1 is accurate. When manic though it is a completely different story. I think I'm healed and as perfect as can be.

[scatterbrained04]

I don't question my BP or GAD diagnoses and never have.

My pdoc has mentioned schizoid personality, but I think I actually have avoidant personality that makes me appear to have some schizoid traits. So I question him here. I'm thinking now might be a good time to discuss this further with him.

[x_blessed]

Nope. I felt I was bipolar even before going to get help and being diagnosed. I also believe that others in my family are also bipolar (they may not think so) but Ik they will never go get the help. They mostly self medicate with alcohol, etc. but I refused for that to be my outcome, as soon as hypo mania hit I was setting appts to be seen