[sweepy62]

i have both bpd and bipolar i was diagnosed bpd before bipolar and i thought bpd was bad, 2 months ago i was manic but i just thought it was me being hyper my pdoc and t explained it to me but the depression sometimes after being manic is bad, it seems like someone extracts all the energy from your veins, so which one is worse for you

[Girl_Interrupted]

Neither is worse or better than the other. You shouldn't compare 2 different mental illnesses, that's just wrong.

[ChaoticSymphony]

Sweepy that's a fair question. Dual dx with two very similar, in some ways, mental illnesses must be so confusing at times. I can't say which is worse but for now it sounds like the depression aspect is the issue for you so that would probably be worse. Idk just wanted to respond and say I hear you.

[Trippin2.0]

I doubt they're comparable. I have bp2 and bpd and its 2 very different things. Bp is episodic, cyclic, a kind of brain malfunction if you will, while bpd is more a part of who I am, a personality flaw... So I really don't think you can compare the 2. Disclaimer: please don't anybody take offense to the adjectives I used, it was for descriptive purposes and I was referring to me. I don't mean everybody is malfunctioning or flawed. Take care

[sweepy62]

Originally Posted by Girl_Interrupted

Neither is worse or better than the other. You shouldn't compare 2 different mental illnesses, that's just wrong.

sorry i offended u it was just a question

[sweepy62]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

I doubt they're comparable. I have bp2 and bpd and its 2 very different things. Bp is episodic, cyclic, a kind of brain malfunction if you will, while bpd is more a part of who I am, a personality flaw... So I really don't think you can compare the 2. Disclaimer: please don't anybody take offense to the adjectives I used, it was for descriptive purposes and I was referring to me. I don't mean everybody is malfunctioning or flawed. Take care

thank you trippin i didnt know this was an offensive question but thanks for ur explanation thank you for not trying to make me feel bad

[sweepy62]

maybe its best i dont post here anymore

[sweepy62]

Originally Posted by Girl_Interrupted

Neither is worse or better than the other. You shouldn't compare 2 different mental illnesses, that's just wrong.

as i have learned from my t there is no right or wrong in a question it is what it is so i dont appreciate it if ur not going to support the question i appreciate it if u think about not answering

[FooZe]

Would it make sense to interpret the question as, "If you've experienced both, which one do you like the least or have the hardest time with?"

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

...bpd is more a part of who I am, a personality flaw...

It seems to me that looking at bpd (or anything else) that way, as a "flaw", would tend to lock it into place for you and make it harder to move on through it.

I don't have time right now to do justice to that idea but here's a super-quickie summary: Rocks are hard; water is wet. Of course you could say it's a flaw of rocks that they're hard and of water that it's wet, and find yourself wishing for soft rocks and dry water. While you're doing that, though, it's going to be harder to build yourself a house out of hard rocks or to wash your clothes with wet water.

As far as I know I haven't experienced BPD per se, but with everything else I've encountered, what's worked best for me has been to (1.) let go of the notion that I "shouldn't" have that going on with me, and (2.) start from where I am. One of the things that seem to make BPD special, is that people do tend to pile more "shouldn't" on top of it than on just about anything else.

[Trippin2.0]

Appreciate the sentiment Fooze it might not seem like it, especially when using 'flaw' as an adjective, but it's not self-defeatist talk (to me) I'm pretty happy with who and what I am despite or maybe even BCOZ of what I go thru. I'm a good person, loyal, honest, empathetic, kind. I'm a good mom, sibling, aunt and friend. Yes I struggle sometimes, some days it's down right torture, but I've accepted me, worts and all. I see absolutely no point on trying to work thru my 'stuff', life was simpler when they didn't have a name and I adapted accordingly by working around my 'stuff'. So the gameplan now is to develop a map to make the path around a bit more manageable with my newfound knowledge hope that makes sense

[athena2011]

Originally Posted by sweepy62

i have both bpd and bipolar i was diagnosed bpd before bipolar and i thought bpd was bad, 2 months ago i was manic but i just thought it was me being hyper my pdoc and t explained it to me but the depression sometimes after being manic is bad, it seems like someone extracts all the energy from your veins, so which one is worse for you

Personally, I think BPD is worse because I have read that it is not treatable by meds, it takes a long time to treat and I for one have experienced very, very few episodes that I would remotely consider 'manic', which sounds a heck of a lot better than being depressed and lifeless 24/7 for a lifetime. BPD is more like a software problem (ie: reprogramming is needed). Bipolar is more like a hardware problem (ie: change the way the chemicals in the brain function and you're good to go). With BPD, reprogramming is needed in order to wipe out beliefs, thoughts and dysfunctional coping mechanisms (that have developed over time due to parental neglect, abuse or other trauma in childhood) that don't work for you. It's awfully hard to reprogram yourself to be confident and talented when your parents made you feel substandard and flawed. I believe it can be done (or I wouldn't bother with therapy) but it is extremely frustrating that the time it takes to reprogram my beliefs seems to be so out of my control.

As for Bipolar, it is possible to treat with meds. Find the right combination to damp down the mania and nip the worst of the depression. I know it can be difficult to find the right combination, but I have seen quite a few people with bipolar who feel that their meds are a godsend and their life is turning around for the better.

Anyway, this is my personal opinion based on what I've read and also on my personal experience. I admit I probably have a very poor understanding of what it is like to be bipolar because I've not been dx'd with it and I fit the BPD criteria and underlying causes far more closely than bipolar.

[venusss]

As for Bipolar, it is possible to treat with meds. Find the right combination to damp down the mania and nip the worst of the depression. I know it can be difficult to find the right combination, but I have seen quite a few people with bipolar who feel that their meds are a godsend and their life is turning around for the better.

I think you are idolizing treatability of bipolar a bit. I think working on yourself as hard as it is.... is kinda better than "having to" take meds that shorten your life span and have awful side effects (plus...... even as bipolar you still have to work on coping skills and changing lifestyle and whatnot. Many bipolars do have problem getting used to normalcy). Plus... even the godsend meds to stop working. Things still go wrong.


Plus... can we really cathegorize being effed up? "You are this type of effed up, and the other person is this?". I mean, BPD and BP do overlap and both seem of the "i have problems with life and the life has problems with me" kind of thing. It's hard to determine what is "worse" as we value different things about ourselves and life and different things bother us... and if you suffer both of these at once... well, you have to deal with it somehow and it's hard to separate these issues from another.