[Call Me Chris]

To Whoever Replies,

Before you found out that you had BPD, did you spend a good amount of time looking up possible mental disorders you could have..?

I have jumped from thinking I had Asperger's, to Bipolar, Social Anxiety Disorder, OCD, etc.. I just read the symptoms thread and it describes me very well.

[ruby.lestrange]

Hi Chris! Welcome

To answer your question, no, I personally didn't, but I was diagnosed almost 13 years ago (I lived in a small town, not exactly a deep pool of mental health resources, so things were wrong and then more wrong and then I was diagnosed for the first time).

However, I think it's really understandable to search for an answer! If something is wrong and you don't know what, it makes sense to try and find out. Have you considered having an intake somewhere or seeing a T to possibly shed some light for you?

Hi, Chris. My answer to your question is yes and no. For years I ignored the possibility that my various mental issues could be tied to a particular, known disorder. An eruption of symptoms earlier this year led me to start researching, so while I haven't been looking into things very long, I've been doing so very intensively for about six months now. I started with delayed grief reactions, which led me to attachment disorders and then to BPD. I kept taking online BPD tests, expecting to be told only that I had some traits, and the results kept saying "Yeah, you've got it." However, those tests aren't officially diagnostic, so as Ruby says, you might want to consider seeking a formal answer.

Welcome to the forum!

[Scorpio Eyes]

When I was thirteen, I started trying to figure things out. Everyone thought I was Bipolar or a Sociopath, but I was only diagnosed with Depression and Generalized Anxiety. This year they told me PTSD and BPD would be added to the list. I was looking, trying to figure it out, but I didn't find out about this until a few months ago.

Originally Posted by Call Me Chris

Before you found out that you had BPD, did you spend a good amount of time looking up possible mental disorders you could have..?

Hey Chris,

Oh yes. Although many who suffer from BPD are also comorbid (often times it is coupled with anxiety and/or depresssion). I thought for the longest time I had RAD (Reactive-Attachment Disorder). I spent hours searching for possible disorders that I had. I know for certain I have anxiety, depression and alcoholism. Although, I have had specialists ask if I've ever considered ASD, which I relate to, as well as complex-PTSD.

Although many don't like to get hung up on labels, I find that putting a name to my disorder has helped take a lot of the power out of it for myself and has helped me find recovery options.

[Girl_Interrupted]

Yes I did, because I knew there was something wrong with me, seriously wrong, other than just 'depression' and I knew it just wasn't in my head. Well it is in a way (mental illness) but you know what I mean :P
GP would just never listen to me, and I had an appointment with a new doctor, and she finally referred me because she knew that I had a lot of issues. I was spot on though with the BPD.

[Call Me Chris]

Thank you for the all of the replies.. They helped quite a bit. It helps to know I'm not alone.. I'm wanting to get around to seeing a T, but I keep putting it off. I'm awful when it comes to any kind of social situation. If I have trouble posting on a forum..I don't know how I am going to accomplish anything. If I don't get myself any help soon...awsd;aowgv

Unfortunately, no. I honestly didn't realize for a long time there was anything wrong. For my entire life, I've been the outsider, the antisocial, the thinker, the bullied, the vengeance seeker, and I never realized it was a disorder. I just figured it was just me and I had to live with the way I was treated and treated others. Now that I know, it doesn't matter, because no one will validate me. I'm no better or worse off than I was before, save my own knowledge, but that needs to be enough. I want to beat this and stop letting it beat me.