[helley]

Hi
Can anyone tell me if you can have BP II and BPD at the same time? My psychotherapist and GP are sending me to a psychiatrist with a referral that says they suspect this is the case....what does this mean?
I'm a bit scared

[Sherryanne]

I have both bpd and bipolar, though the two overlap alot but its very possible. Hope you are getting the help you deserve

[helley]

Originally Posted by Sherryanne

I have both bpd and bipolar, though the two overlap alot but its very possible. Hope you are getting the help you deserve

thanks Sherryanne - appreciate your reply. I don't understand what it means though....how was it explained to you?

[Lenny]

It is my understanding that Bipolar is primarily chemically founded while BPD is personality/emotionally bonded. Certainly they can be co morbid and share many symptoms but will require different therapies..

IMHO.

Lenny

[helley]

Originally Posted by Lenny

It is my understanding that Bipolar is primarily chemically founded while BPD is personality/emotionally bonded. Certainly they can be co morbid and share many symptoms but will require different therapies..

IMHO.

Lenny

thanks Lenny - that makes sense ...guess I find out what's going on when I go to see the psychiatrist on Weds...wish me luck!

[Michah]

Originally Posted by helley

Hi
Can anyone tell me if you can have BP II and BPD at the same time? My psychotherapist and GP are sending me to a psychiatrist with a referral that says they suspect this is the case....what does this mean?
I'm a bit scared

Hi Helley, bipolar often gets misdiagnosed as bpd and vice versa. I was diagnosed bpd and schizoeffective 15 years ago. I had alot of hospital admissions, meds and therapy(cognitive behavioural therapy). Last year I was diagnosed Bipolar type 2 as you have. Having lived with bpd for so long I could kind of tell that the mood swings were more cyclic as opposed to bpd mood swings. The delusions, the drive and the fixations were definately unusual. I am being treated with lithium(mood stabiliser) and was on a anti psychotic in the beginning(Olanzipine) but took myself off it as it hindered my thinking. My psychiatrist was cool with that as long as I took it if I needed it. I also have a psychologist who is great. When I was diagnosed, I was working full time and doing a science degree. I also have a 13 year old son. I crashed and burned in the most spectacular way and was admitted into hospital. I may not have suffered so much had I been willing to admit that my mind was not doing so well. But I was fixated, obsessed and delusional so I guess I couldn't really rationalise. It took some delicate prodding from some important people in my life(family, work colleagues) to get me the help I needed. Don't despair. I sometimes wonder how it all went so wrong, so quickly but I am slowly but surely on the mend. If u got a good shrink thats half the battle. Be kind to yourself and one day at a time. Good luck

[helley]

Originally Posted by Michah

Hi Helley, bipolar often gets misdiagnosed as bpd and vice versa. I was diagnosed bpd and schizoeffective 15 years ago. I had alot of hospital admissions, meds and therapy(cognitive behavioural therapy). Last year I was diagnosed Bipolar type 2 as you have. Having lived with bpd for so long I could kind of tell that the mood swings were more cyclic as opposed to bpd mood swings. The delusions, the drive and the fixations were definately unusual. I am being treated with lithium(mood stabiliser) and was on a anti psychotic in the beginning(Olanzipine) but took myself off it as it hindered my thinking. My psychiatrist was cool with that as long as I took it if I needed it. I also have a psychologist who is great. When I was diagnosed, I was working full time and doing a science degree. I also have a 13 year old son. I crashed and burned in the most spectacular way and was admitted into hospital. I may not have suffered so much had I been willing to admit that my mind was not doing so well. But I was fixated, obsessed and delusional so I guess I couldn't really rationalise. It took some delicate prodding from some important people in my life(family, work colleagues) to get me the help I needed. Don't despair. I sometimes wonder how it all went so wrong, so quickly but I am slowly but surely on the mend. If u got a good shrink thats half the battle. Be kind to yourself and one day at a time. Good luck

Thanks Michah your post has given me some hope...also it's nice to hear from a fellow aussie!

[helley]

Just thought I'd let you know how I wentat my appt with the Psych. He was a nice man but very clinical (and I felt VERY time pressured) who explained that I was there for an "opinion" as to what medications I should be on and for an opinion about the diagnosis I have been given. He asked lots and lots of questions......I was very nervous and found it hard to concentrate and answer so he ended up the session by asking if it was ok with my hubby if he could write out what he thought I was like when I was high and/or low, how I acted and how long this lasted for.....so I went home and asked hubby and later that night we sat and talked (probably for the first time ever) about his perceptions about me....it certainly was confronting yet it was good know in a way. I have no doubt I've put him through hell and I'm really sad about that.
Prior to this I literally threatened to stop seeing anyone doctors anymore and stop my med's unless my hubby FINALLY went to see my psychologist who I know and feel alot more comfortable with. He is seeing him tonight primarly to discuss why he is against me dropping my working days. Should be interesting....I'll keep you all posted
PS - I'm completely exhausted and drained after all this...!

[helley]

Just thought I'd let you know how I wentat my appt with the Psych. He was a nice man but very clinical (and I felt VERY time pressured) who explained that I was there for an "opinion" as to what medications I should be on and for an opinion about the diagnosis I have been given. He asked lots and lots of questions......I was very nervous and found it hard to concentrate and answer so he ended up the session by asking if it was ok with my hubby if he could write out what he thought I was like when I was high and/or low, how I acted and how long this lasted for.....so I went home and asked hubby and later that night we sat and talked (probably for the first time ever) about his perceptions about me....it certainly was confronting yet it was good know in a way. I have no doubt I've put him through hell and I'm really sad about that.
Prior to this I literally threatened to stop seeing anyone doctors anymore and stop my med's unless my hubby FINALLY went to see my psychologist who I know and feel alot more comfortable with. He is seeing him tonight primarly to discuss why he is against me dropping my working days. Should be interesting....

PS - I'm completely exhausted,drained and feel like I'm up one minute and down the next...!

[niecy440]

Originally Posted by helley

Just thought I'd let you know how I wentat my appt with the Psych. He was a nice man but very clinical (and I felt VERY time pressured) who explained that I was there for an "opinion" as to what medications I should be on and for an opinion about the diagnosis I have been given. He asked lots and lots of questions......I was very nervous and found it hard to concentrate and answer so he ended up the session by asking if it was ok with my hubby if he could write out what he thought I was like when I was high and/or low, how I acted and how long this lasted for.....so I went home and asked hubby and later that night we sat and talked (probably for the first time ever) about his perceptions about me....it certainly was confronting yet it was good know in a way. I have no doubt I've put him through hell and I'm really sad about that.
Prior to this I literally threatened to stop seeing anyone doctors anymore and stop my med's unless my hubby FINALLY went to see my psychologist who I know and feel alot more comfortable with. He is seeing him tonight primarly to discuss why he is against me dropping my working days. Should be interesting....

PS - I'm completely exhausted,drained and feel like I'm up one minute and down the next...!

hang in there I to have both diagnosis and abilify seems to help. BPD is a very scary diagnosis

I have a dx of bipolar 1 disorder & am on a lot of meds for that (including Abilify & Lamictal &Klonopin & Trazodone, etc.). I have been doing a group therapy called dialectical behavioral therapy that was designed for people with borderline & all the women in the group have borderline except one other woman has bipolar--but I fit right in!! Basically,l I also see the therapist for indiv. therapy & she said that getting a dx of borderline is really more of a stigma even than bipolar so a lot of mental health professionals will shy away of giving it, but that it does overlap quite a bit with the symptoms of bipolar that are troublesome in functioning. Mainly the rapidly escalating emotions & then the impulsive actions that follow that are not thought out so are not the best actions to take as the consequences are usually negative (such as over-spending, taking off to bars & binge drinking, mouthing off to people, joining every group there is to join when mainc, basically all the impulsive behaviors we can do when manic or destructive behaviors when depressed).

Anyway, borderline & bipolar are very similar in symptoms & can be treated in therapy such as dialectical behavioral therapy. Bipolar usually requires the additonaly medication, but I have found with the coping skills learned in the therapy that I have been able to reduce my dosages as I am able to handle my anxiety & keep my emotions from skyrocketing in a fraction of a second. I can now learn to pause--refocus--breath--think rationally about how I want to communicate so that I reach my ultimate goals, etc.

Well worth looking into...

All my best to you...Suzy

[frizzyscissorhands]

I have both, too. Indeed, the two often get mixed up ... but me thinks BPD centres more around emotional regulation (like, it feels as though we have no emotion skin), impulse control, and ~ whew ~ the almost murderous rage (which, of course, we have trouble modulating). I sort of think that, with LOTS of self-monitoring and therapy, one can develop more appropriate thinking patterns, which will assist in emotional modulation. As for Bipolar ... its sort of like the mental equivalent of diabetes. Chemical. Meds required to stabilize.

Having BPD and Bipolar together sort of sucks ... it sometimes feels like an explosive combination.