[sherlock13]

I'm not sure if I've come to the right place for support.
I was originally diagnosed with BPD by my psychiatrist after I was first hospitalised 2 years ago. The decline in mental health to everyone but myself came out of no where, doctors, nurses and my friends and family couldn't understand because I wouldn't engage with anyone about what was going on. Following numerous hospital admissions with me refusing to engage I hit 'rock bottom'. I finally disclosed details of a traumatic experience I had. Since then I began to try to work with services towards my recovery. Now health professionals involved in my care are divided over my diagnosis - BPD or PTSD? It's difficult to explain how this effects me and why. But it leaves me in a place where I feel confused about how to move forward. I wondered if anyone else had experienced anything similar?

[Open Eyes]

It is not unusual to be diagnosed in confusion as you have discribed. It is more important you work through the "hurt" and how that has affected you then thinking so much about a diagnosis. Trauma, neglect, abandonment, etc. are all things that can cause deep hurts in an individual.

You are at a point where it is time to finally mourn whatever traumatized you in your past and slowly get validated and "heal". That is what is important.

[CopperStar]

It is also possible that you have both, frankly.

BPD develops due to mental and emotional abuse starting in early childhood. The child grows up being conditioned, it morphs into a pathology and becomes a personality disorder.

PTSD can develop after just one traumatic event, and will not form a pathology, just several symptoms of trauma.

But a person can easily develop both if you consider the sort of childhood environment that would lead to the development of BPD.

They are both trauma-based disorders, but BPD specifically manifests out of early childhood mental/emotional abuse that is persistent enough to form a pathology in the child. It starts developing as early as 18 months of age based on some research material I've read. It causes 'splitting' at a time when a child is trying to form whole, comprehensive perceptions of other people and the world the around them.

PTSD can develop at any point in a person's life, and again from just one experience.

You should do some searches on complex PTSD. You might identify with a lot of it if professionals are actually having a hard time distinguishing and are not just very incompetent.

[sherlock13]

Thanks for the replies. Its helpful to hear others views. I'm going through a confusing and difficult time at the moment. I'm in the process of pressing charges against a family member regarding my trauma. The trial is set to start in 3 weeks and I have no idea how I'm going to get through it. It feels impossible.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I have both dx by my pdoc but my psyd says he thinks instead of BPD its complex trauma.

Its all so blurry ya know?