BPD or Rapid Cycling...

..or both? So in all my self-actualized cognitive abilities I took stupid internet quiz's. I scored realitivly higher on the BPD than bipolar. I've been diagnosed Bipolar since before it a set of 3 distinct types, yet after the manic-depression days. After some problems with psychosis a couple years back I quit blaming my alcoholic physiology like that liquor worshipping cult taught me, and went in search of treatment. Don't know how but I didn't get hospitalized during that first 5 months of medication adjustments. But the good doctor's consistently put the number 1 behind my diagnostic and gave me that spiffy agoraphobia tag. Because I'd been so belligerent in the throws of psychosis I thought everyone had an axe to grind with me.

I'm terrified of having a personality disorder, sure I'm obsessive and compulsive they're comorbid behaviors with bipolar. My mother has Disassociative Identity Disorder and I can't talk to her because 2 of are mean as rattle snakes. I'm now worried I may have some of whatever is in her line, just my traumas went a different direction. Can BP1 and BPD exist comorbidly? Is BPD just BP1 further out of control? I'm not "Welcome to Me" symptomatic but I do live kinda close to Palm Desert.

I have seen several people say they had bipolar disorder and BPD together. They seemed to indicate both were official dxs. So yes, I am assuming they can definitely be comorbid.


I think like any online tests, they are not meant to be reliable sources for diagnoses, but just tools that people can take with them to discuss the results with their psychiatrists. You may want to print out your results and discuss them with yours.

I know that a lot of people wonder about BPD vs. rapid cycling. There does seem to be a lot of overlap in terms of symptoms, but I believe that BPD has some pretty necessary criteria for diagnosis that people with only bipolar disorder rapid cycling would not necessarily have.


A lot of us experience issues with relationships because of bipolar symptoms. Irritability and over the top behavior (and even depression) have affected many of mine, in the past. But one example of how I would NOT fit a Borderline PD diagnosis is that I have never had abandonment fears. I also have a pretty consistent positive view of my self-image, opinions, values, and goals. That pretty much disqualifies me from a Borderline Personality Disorder dx, I assume. However, though some people with bipolar disorder do not generally rapid cycle, some do. Though many people with bipolar disorder don't self harm, some do. Some people with bipolar disorder don't have major issues with the irritability or anger symptom. Some do. Some people with bipolar disorder have/do experience significant dissociative symptoms (I have, but not usually), some do. Many of these "some do" folks with bipolar disorder, do not meet the full criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder.

Please discuss your test results with your doctor. If by chance he/she does believe you exhibit Borderline Personality Disorder, please don't let that get you down. People with Borderline Personality Disorder are not bad people with bad personalities. They have a mental health condition no different than people with bipolar disorder. It is a shame that there may be extra stigma about BPD than BP/BPAD, but stigma is not fair in any cases.

I have read that with the right therapy, people with Borderline Personality Disorder can make great progress. I read that medications are not always needed for proper treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. That's not usually the case for bipolar disorder.

A while back, I did some research on the differences between rapid cycling and mixed features of bipolar disorder. Borderline personality disorder is indeed sometimes referenced. Perhaps you may be interested in some of what I learned from the website of Dr. Jim Phelps. Dr. Phelps referred me to the following link. After reading what's on that page, you will see a link to a discussion on Borderline Personality Disorder, as well. It's at https://psycheducation.org/diagnosis...ates-as-waves/

I'm afraid I can't asnwer your question, @dotcat. My advice would be to contact your Pdoc right away and aks ALL of these questions since you have so many doubts. Internet tests can be useful as a guide but try not to place too much importance onto them. Professionals are there to help you and guide you throughout ALL of the doubts you may have and you DO have every right to know what you're being treated for. So yes, definitely ask to them if you haven't already! I am sorry if this wasn't too helpful, but I don't want to misguide you. Hopefully other Users with a situation similar to yours will be able to reply like the WISE and WONDERFUL @BirdDancer has already WISELY and WONDERFULLY done! Please DO listen to what @BirdDancer has to say as she's REALLY smart! Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @dotcat, Your Family, Your Friends, Your Relatives, Your Parents, Your Pdocs, Your Therapists, Your Doctors, Your Nurses AND ALL OF YOUR LOVED ONES IN GENERAL AS WELL! Keep fighting and keep rocking no matter what happens, ok?

I shouldn't be so quick to discriminate. My mother only assaulted both physicians who asked her to see a psych, and has never seen treatment.

I have rapid cycling bp and bpd. They’re very different. The bpd is reactive to events that Happen in my life while bp comes from
Nowhere

Yes, they can be co-morbid. However...

I have learned never, never to reply upon internet quizzes as diagnostic tools. They are entertaining, but almost always miss the fine points that a skilled psychiatrist can observe.