[Guiness187055]

Can you have both?

[tecomsin]

yes but I can imagine it can make diagnosis difficult

[Nammu]

Yes. There's 4 axis to a psych diagnose. Axis one is the mayor label axis 2 is personality and mental retardation axis 3 is ummmm I don't remember and axis 4 is social and environmental contributing factors. So yes you can have bipolar on axis one and BPD on axis 2. Oh right axis 3 is physical and medical concerns.

[Aurelius710]

Sure. I mean, they're two different sets of triggers. Bipolar is seasonal and cyclical mania and depression while Borderline revolves around people and how you relate to them (on an unhealthy level). Differentiating between the two might be a bit of a challenge though, considering they both deal with mood swings.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I’m am formally diagnosed with both. My psychologist prefers to call my issues complex trauma reactions because that is what they are. After two years of group and adapting DBT skills into my daily life I don’t show symptoms as much.


You can gets past it. I still have what I call borderline days. I can’t help what happened to cause my behavior to life but I can control how I react now.

[Victoria'smom]

I think they're getting ready to diagnose me with both. New T says I have a ton of trauma and even though I don't act on it my ED and SI they're on my mind all the time. Along with the fact I think my family hates me. We'll see.

[Travelinglady]

I was diagnosed with both as well--but after lots of therapy and DBT, I no longer show signs of BPD.

[tecomsin]

I read in one of my pdoc's reports that he thought I had 'traits' of histrionic personality disorder. It made me feel like I was being blamed for acting out while manic in front of him. I did some pretty weird things though. I find myself often thinking that if I did such and such, which this other person I know is doing, people would call the police to come to my house and take me away.

I don't have the personal freedom we imagine ourselves to have in western democracies. If i step outside of my car in my neighborhood, my neighbor M will be banging on my door the next mornign to check if I am ok. If I want to take a walk, I have to drive somewhere else and walk.

[Wild Coyote]

Yes, many people are diagnosed with both.

WC

[~Christina]

A IP Pdoc once tagged me BPD , he had a “ god complex” and kept ordering me meds without discussing it with me to begin with. I made it clear I thought he was a lousy Pdoc and would be thrilled to go home at hour 72. Loathe that asssshat ! I have never gone back to that facility and never will.

My Pdoc and T both laughed when I showed them my discharge papers.

I do have some traits of BPD , but not enough to get that label. Most everyone with BP have traits to one degree or another, it’s very common

BPD responds well to DBT.

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Most everyone with BP have traits to one degree or another, it’s very common

Heh-heh, maybe unusual, but I had a provider actually laugh out loud when the subject came up. Umm, no, definitely not she said. It was kind of funny.

Is it something that's come up in your appointments, Guiness? Are you concerned or just curious? As some have mentioned with their very own experience, it's possible to overcome with dedicated work. Which is always good news.

[tecomsin]

What I objected to was that my pdoc was taking manic symptoms as traits of histrionic personality disorder.

[Guiness187055]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Heh-heh, maybe unusual, but I had a provider actually laugh out loud when the subject came up. Umm, no, definitely not she said. It was kind of funny.

Is it something that's come up in your appointments, Guiness? Are you concerned or just curious? As some have mentioned with their very own experience, it's possible to overcome with dedicated work. Which is always good news.

Just curious.

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

A IP Pdoc once tagged me BPD , he had a “ god complex” and kept ordering me meds without discussing it with me to begin with. I made it clear I thought he was a lousy Pdoc and would be thrilled to go home at hour 72. Loathe that asssshat ! I have never gone back to that facility and never will.

My Pdoc and T both laughed when I showed them my discharge papers.

I do have some traits of BPD , but not enough to get that label. Most everyone with BP have traits to one degree or another, it’s very common

BPD responds well to DBT.

I had this happen too when I was ip for a BP mixed state episode. My pdoc then explained that personality disorders are long term and can't be a snap decision. Way back when the first psych hospitalizations happened I was given multiple tests including personally tests they showed 0% disorder. That was when she showed me the axis that they used and explained that mix states can come off looking like a personality trait but is temporary and due to the mood episode.

[MickeyCheeky]

Yes, I believe it is possible to have both, Guiness187055. If you have doubts about it, or believe you have both, I'd suggest to talk to your Pdoc about this and see how it goes from there. Sending many hugs to you

[wildflowerchild25]

I’m not sure if I’ve ever been diagnosed with BPD but when I was 18-20 I related more with the BPD dx than the bipolar dx. In fact I believe I laughed in the pdoc’s face when he said I had bipolar. Looking back I can see how I maybe had both. I had a lot of therapy to help me with my childhood trauma and as I processed that the BPD traits went away.

Interestingly my new pdoc thinks I may have BPD but I think he’s sexist. He sees me as female and with suicidal and self harm tendencies so therefore it must be BPD and not BP. My moods don’t relate to environmental triggers anymore (except seasons) so I don’t think I have BPD at all.

[Unrigged64072835]

Yes, I have both. I didn't know I had bipolar, though, until I ran through all the meds given for other comorbid conditions with BPD (such as anxiety and depression). I also have to know whether my mood state was triggered, by what trigger, and for how long. That determines whether I need a med change or use different coping skills.

[AspiringAuthor]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

What I objected to was that my pdoc was taking manic symptoms as traits of histrionic personality disorder.

That IS horrible.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

That IS horrible.

Yeah it felt like medically stigmatizing terms were being used to blame the patient (me) for not getting better. I asked him about it later and his excuse was to say that if you have traits of a disorder that doesn't mean you have an illness. He was saying that my mania acted out in different ways and it was in the way it happened that made me histrionic. I still feel very stigmatized by this. Unfortunately I have to give up my psychiatrist before I can get another one where i live in Canada and I am not ready to do that.

But I think the whole diagnoses of personality disorders is inherently flawed on top of the usual defect in psychiatry that there are no objective tests, like a blood test or a brain scan. You can only ask the patient questions.

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

Can you have both?

I was diagnosed with bipolar2 and GAD back in 2015?
Anyways I was admitted to a psych ward after stabbing myself in the abdomen multiple times. They then added BPD. Which made me mad, went on a bender and too long of a story but I hate that diagnosis...hate it hate it hate it.

Why all the hate. Jpg

[beauflow]

I've been diagnosed with both (bipolar and bpd) plus PTSD by more than one professional ... I don't understand it all the time. .. other times... well, I try to understand and get it to a point.

And it's funny to me, in a way, that if I'm with one psychotherapist professional that specializes in on one (or the other)- they have claimed at times that they don't "see" the other or are unsure, or at times agree what a pdoc wrote... but pdocs... they keep the same three labels,..... humans make errors though, as do I...
The bipolar therapist was big on dbt as was the bpd therapist... all pdocs want me to take their cocktails... stop my self medicating, that's gotten me by so far....
Sorry, I'm rambling ... any ways

I keep this bookmarked
Differentiating Borderline Personality Disorder from Bipolar Disorder

Originally Posted by beauflow

I've been diagnosed with both (bipolar and bpd) plus PTSD by more than one professional ... I don't understand it all the time. .. other times... well, I try to understand and get it to a point.


And it's funny to me, in a way, that if I'm with one psychotherapist professional that specializes in on one (or the other)- they have claimed at times that they don't "see" the other or are unsure, or at times agree what a pdoc wrote... but pdocs... they keep the same three labels,..... humans make errors though, as do I...

The bipolar therapist was big on dbt as was the bpd therapist... all pdocs want me to take their cocktails... stop my self medicating, that's gotten me by so far....

Sorry, I'm rambling ... any ways


I keep this bookmarked

Differentiating Borderline Personality Disorder from Bipolar Disorder

My GP (the only person that I trust in the world other than my mother) said on numerous occasions that she doesn't see all the traits in me. I agree with here. She also unofficially said I might have APD..something I need to mention in my review with a new psych doc.

I'm glad you posted that, thanks for the link

[beauflow]

Originally Posted by megabytesteve

My GP (the only person that I trust in the world other than my mother) said on numerous occasions that she doesn't see all the traits in me. I agree with here. She also unofficially said I might have APD..something I need to mention in my review with a new psych doc.

I'm glad you posted that, thanks for the link

megabytesteve;
I wish you the best! and any one else that struggles with more than one struggle.

if it is ok- can I share some thing with it all. I just have this topic on my mind, because I had a time, I either could not conceive the idea I had BPD or I was just too stubborn to accept it ((ha or be offended it was even mentioned)) (but I realize now, that probably also some aspects was some pain that I thought was over, was really just covered with a bandaid that my brain used to cope in away).

For me, I tried best to understand the differences and each disorder- I had to be in a willing mood to do this.

And sure, I always agreed- to "sure have traits of BPD, at times"- but full blown, no way- After all, I have time frames I would disagree I ever have anything as a "struggle"- plus - anyone that has known me- knows I would not fit the classic traits that are the stigmatized with BPD- but no I am a "quiet one"... Also, from my understanding a lot of personality disorders are just so "ingrained", so attached... with time and the above, realizing some key points of what assisted with my "fit's" into the criteria of diagnosis, a light bulb did go off// I am sorry if for some this is not helpful; I could see how not too. Just it inclined me to understand, and accept it more and get help with coping and easing some battles.

Guiness187055, -
I am sorry. not trying to hijack the thread, but just input on the topic.
I hope you are well. I have heard of a lot of coexisting diagnosis in people, - There is a lot of literature of all sorts on the internet, like even people's personal stories, books, articles...

I am sorry, right now I am feeling like life is short, I had this struggle and if any one can take any thing away from it - to help themselves to do whatever they need to-- I hope... ((or is that just my ego talking? )) sorry-

[251turnaround]

I have both and it stinks. BPD is messing me up more than ever now and I can't get into a group until Feb. I think once I do things will get a lot better

[yellow_fleurs]

I was worried for awhile I had BPD. I still question if I have it or some traits, but decided the most important thing (for me, personally) is to work on whatever it is that I need to work on in therapy, and not focus on the label. My bipolar, what I am now learning is probably OCD, and personality all interact and it's complicated to break them apart, so I just need to attack it from all angles. I am doing mindfulness/DBT type exercises in therapy at the moment mixed with some ACT.