[Justagirl2602]

I haven't been officially diagnosed with BPD but the chances that I have BPD are pretty big.
1. I'm in DBT therapy (Which is basically specific treatment for BPD)
2. I think I have it
3. My family thinks I have it.
I know I shouldn't diagnose myself and I won't. Don't worry.

So, I'm in therapy for a few weeks now and upcoming week I will get diagnosed with at least something. I'm somewhat overthinking this.

''What if they diagnose me with something completely different? Or what if my suspicions were right and they diagnose me with BPD, will it suddenly get ''real'' and will I freak out?''

I don't know but I'm freaking out right now. I have to wait till thursday afternoon. I'm so curious and anxious.

Did any of you had suspicions before getting diagnosed and after being diagnosed did you suddenly think/feel different about it/yourself?
Any tips on how to calm down? Thanks.

[doglover1979]

Insurance companies typically won't pay for DBT unless you have BPD. There are exceptions, as and example sometimes it will be approved for really bad PTSD, but usualy after a number of hospitalizations and episodes of self harm.

Sometimes they don't tell you about a personality disorder diagnosis. Or in my experience they tell you once, gently and quickly, and then never talk about it again. I had a therapist years ago talk about trauma and learned behavior. For all I know I may have even been diagnosed way back then and not known about it.

The thing is, BPD responds to treatment. If you are in DBT, you are in the right place. So please don't let what I'm saying flip you out.

I could also be completely wrong, so keep that in mind too. I'm only going on what my T told me when I was diagnosed and approved for DBT.

[Frankbtl]

Hi Justagirl, I don't think you should worry so much about whether you get a diagnosis or which one it will be. A diagnosis can sometimes be useful in making sure you're getting the right support or in helping you find some coping strategies for things that might be difficult for you but it doesn't define YOU.
YOU are going to be a lot more than a label, a lot more than just a diagnosis. So while it might be true that you have x,y or z that is something to work with but it doesn't take away who you are inside.
If you're diagnosed with something you might start to see things/yourself a little differently e.g. notice symptoms of that diagnosis in yourself that you hadn't really recognised before. But being diagnosed hasn't caused these, if they're there they were there anyway. And the diagnosis will just have brought them to your attention and help you deal with them (with other people if needed) and help you move more towards where you really want to be. So maybe a good thing, right?
And you know, there may be a list of symptoms attached to a diagnosis but that really doesn't mean that each and every one of them need be seen as "a problem". The same as if you're/anyone is a naturally quieter/less social person if that is just who they are and they still have meaningful connections in their life, so what?? And they should be valued by others as themselves.
So it can still be OK to have BPD or whatever you're diagnosed with, it isn't the whole of you, you're still an individual, you're still YOU. While there will be/may be similarities in some feelings/experiences of people with x, y or z they are still individuals/themselves as well.
And you know there's support out there for you anyway, whatever you're diagnosed with, including very likely on here!!
You're not on your own and there will be people who have faced some of what you're going through having BPD or whatever and people who can share ways they've personally found to help them cope when/if things are difficult, understand and give you support.
So a diagnosis doesn't have to be "the end" of you being you, it can just be a start to getting the (more) help you need to allow you to be you that bit more.
Alison

[trying2survive]

Originally Posted by Justagirl2602

I haven't been officially diagnosed with BPD but the chances that I have BPD are pretty big.
1. I'm in DBT therapy (Which is basically specific treatment for BPD)
2. I think I have it
3. My family thinks I have it.
I know I shouldn't diagnose myself and I won't. Don't worry.

So, I'm in therapy for a few weeks now and upcoming week I will get diagnosed with at least something. I'm somewhat overthinking this.

''What if they diagnose me with something completely different? Or what if my suspicions were right and they diagnose me with BPD, will it suddenly get ''real'' and will I freak out?''

I don't know but I'm freaking out right now. I have to wait till thursday afternoon. I'm so curious and anxious.

Did any of you had suspicions before getting diagnosed and after being diagnosed did you suddenly think/feel different about it/yourself?
Any tips on how to calm down? Thanks.

i think you'll be just fine, for me i was relieved. i really didn't know what was wrong with me or why i act the way i act. now that i know, i can take steps to modify my behavior and learn coping skills. i feel a lot better about myself because i understand what is wrong with me and what i need to do for me.
you should let us know how it goes on thursday, hang in there, you'll be fine

[Justagirl2602]

Update!

I got diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety Disorder (not otherwise specified), Eating Disorder (not otherwise specified) and major depressive disorder. And I'm not even 18 years old yet. What a life..

It won't be easy to get through this and work on this but I will be okay

Thank you for all your support.

[LaborIntensive]

Characteristics of DBT

• Support-oriented: It helps a person identify their strengths and builds on them so that the person can feel better about him/herself and their life.
• Cognitive-based: DBT helps identify thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions that make life harder: “I have to be perfect at everything.” “If I get angry, I’m a terrible person” & helps people to learn different ways of thinking that will make life more bearable: “I don’t need to be perfect at things for people to care about me”, “Everyone gets angry, it’s a normal emotion.
• Collaborative: It requires constant attention to relationships between clients and staff. In DBT people are encouraged to work out problems in their relationships with their therapist and the therapists to do the same with them. DBT asks people to complete homework assignments, to role-play new ways of interacting with others, and to practice skills such as soothing yourself when upset. These skills, a crucial part of DBT, are taught in weekly lectures, reviewed in weekly homework groups, and referred to in nearly every group. The individual therapist helps the person to learn, apply and master the DBT skills.