[lost&wandering]

How does one know? Does it really matter? I think so... I need and want to know. Or can I be both?

I was diagnosed as BPD in 2010 and medicated accordingly... with Effexor. Just last year I went back to see a psychiatrist because I wasn't sure if my med's were even working anymore. He re-diagnosed me as Bipolar II and changed my meds. I did ask him what made me one and not the other and he did not have an answer for me... in fact he said it did not really matter.

I'm not sure how I walked away with an answer like that, I know the two disorders share some of the same symptoms and challenges. From what I have read Bipolar is a brain chemical disorder versus a personality issue due to childhood and the environment at the time. I also know that different medications are prescribed for each... so it has to MATTER.

I'm posting in hopes that someone has some information to share on the topic.

It feels like I could maybe deal better knowing what my disorder really is... who I am . I already suffer from a disjointed sense of self and this does not help.
Is it silly to feel this way?

Thanks for reading

[technigal]

I don't really know a lot about bipolar but with BPD there are no medications. There are medications you can take for specific symptoms that can arise from BPD (ie depression, anxiety) but no medication designed for BPD. Personally, and I am not a doctor, I would imagine if the medications are treating your symptoms then it does not really matter the label. Where the label might change things is with different kinds of psychotherapy.

[Maranara]

Yes, it can be both, but I'll attempt to give you the breakdown here. Keep in mind that neither condition can be measured in exact terms.

Bipolar is a mood condition that, in general, takes time to move from mood to mood, usually over the course of several days, and the mood can last for weeks, months. Even in fast cycling bipolar, people generally don't change mood more than once a day and the onset of the new mood is frequently after sleep with a break in between. For slower cycling bipolar, people can feel the mood coming on...of course, you have to know what to look for and some people can't. This is the big catch with bipolar, however...there is no real cause. The mood comes and goes and changes but not necessarily for a concreate reason. Yes, bipolar can be affected, sometimes greatly by what's going on, circumstances, and drugs and alcohol, but they don't cause it.

BPD, on the other hand, always has a reason. People don't always know what the reason is, but there is always one present. And it has the ability to cycle very, very fast from one extreme emotion to another. This doesn't happen very often, thank God, but it does happen....example. Your SO comes in looking all disgruntled and upset. You AUTOMATICALLY feel they are mad at you and get angry and defensive. They notice your anger and look confused and you are AUTOMATICALLY sad and remorseful that you felt that way. The radio is playing in the background and you hear a song you like. You are AUTOMATICALLY happy and want to dance, but the person doesn't want to....you are AUTOMATICALLY upset and feel rejected. Then your eyes stray to a picture of your daughter who's moved away from home. You are AUTOMATICALLY missing her and want to call... Yes, all of those emotions, extreme emotions, in a matter of five minutes or so.

The biggest difference between bipolar and BPD is that bipolar can often be treated successfully with meds. It is a chemical imbalance or something of that nature, and even though it is sometimes trial and error to find out what will work, many people find close to full relief on the right meds. BPD, on the other hand, cannot be successfully treated with meds. Yes, some people take them, but it is to relieve the symptoms, usually the depression or anxiety that accompanies the BPD. It doesn't affect the BPD itself.

I am BPD. I know what I know of bipolar from reading and from a few friends who have it so my knowledge isn't as good by far, but I hope this helps a bit.

[hawaii04]

I don't have much more to contribute to the knowledge and insight already shared here. But I do want to say . . . . it is not at all silly to feel that way. Many of us have the strong need to want to know ~ it's perfectly natural. I've always felt that we have the right to know; but when it all comes down to it, what the Doc knows and the relevant treatment for such is most important.

[Koojriu]

Its not silly, that psyc was silly <_< perhaps find someone to asses you and tell them about your concerns? As for medicating BPD it IS tricky because so littler is still known about it. And there are many types of BPD from what I've read. I mean mood stabalizers COULD help? (dunno not a clinician) I guess this because of our fluctuating moods. Other then that if you have BPD the most effective treatment I keep hearing about is DBT. And reading about it can help (provided you pick the right book, "Stop walking on eggshells" pissed me off from the first paragraph *rolls eyes* but thats for you to decide). Also please remember having a solid diagnosis for your disorder doesn't make you, its just a part of yourself you need to work on and with. I wish I could outline "how to know who you are" but............I don't know who I am really either lol.

[UnderTheRose]

Yeah. I really would like to know because now that i got the label of BP2 attached, the medications offered to me are all of the antipsychotics and those have made me feel wretched.
I wanted to try Pristiq for the horrible depression that has been pretty much squishing me but was told 'no' not unless I go back on a mood stabilizer like seroquel or divalproex---
Family doctor said originally ADD with Generalized Anxiety and Depression.. Pysch 1 said BPD, Psych 2 said BPD AND BP2 sooo....
I like Maranara's description.
I think sometimes that maybe im mildly BP2-- and when in a low or dysphoric state, my moods tend to escalate between irritation, anxiety and depression and when in a higher state (tho I dont recally being truly manic, cept for a bad trip with Prozac) my moods are more irritation and.. happiness?
Throughout all of it, music can change my mood almost instantly, and i have a non stop chatter of thoughts in my head like a hamster in a wheel...
So, not knowing a particular diagnosis DOES affect our treatment.
DBT for example, isnt going to be a big suggested treatment for someone with BP, but can be great for someone with BPD. (sorry for rambling)

[Maranara]

I tried DBT on my own and it is very, very hard to stick with under those circumstances. My life saver has been mindfulness and meditation, which is where a lot if the DBT concepts originally came from. One good place to explore for that, and DBT as well is DBT Self Help. On that site is the entire DBT curriculum, but, like I said, you need feedback and such and I've been unable to stick with it on my own. Also on that site, however, is a section labeled "instant Mindfulness". There are a handful of short, guided meditations that I've found very helpful. One warning: do not expect to find instant relief no matter what you do. It just doesn't work that way, but I firmly believe that mindfulness and meditation has saved my life several times over. I'm willing to give additional resources to anyone who is interested.