New with questions

I was wondering if anyone can let me know what being borderline is to you. What makes u borderline? How did the diagnosis come about? How long were u in therapy before the diagnosis came about? Im new here and scared. Any advice would help.

Welcome, Christine. Stick around, and you'll be feeling more comfortable here soon.

I have never been officially diagnosed borderline, although I've been in therapy for years and I'm convinced that I am. The overall patterns of self-destructiveness and und unhealthy relationships (which I tend to destroy by asking for and then refusing or rejecting so much help) are the big things about what it is to be borderline. I also tend to dissociate a lot, and that is part of it too. But it isn't all bad. Most people who are borderline are also very intelligent and creative, and adaptable too. Don't forget to look at what your strengths are, because they are the key to getting through the rest.

When you're ready, tell us a little about yourself. What does it mean to you? Don't forget the part about your strengths!

Rap

Welcome! I have not been officially diagnosed either and I too am convinced.

I think there are some overlap symptoms with my bipolar.

following are symptoms I experience

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation

Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)

Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior

Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)

Chronic feelings of emptiness

I think that is seven of the nine symtoms that are typically associated with borderline...

i've always suspected that i'm Bordeline and reading Direction's post only makes me more sure.

Yesterdays therapy session...my T did say that he though I was probably both BP and BPD. I think this was the first time it was sort of kind of said out loud - after changing Pdocs and T - took about 2 months...been in therapy for about 2 1/2 years....

Christine ... Are you talking to anyone professionally about this? That would be the biggest advice...and try not to focus to much on a label...focus on the syptoms and path to help them...

I've never had a diagnosis beyond depression/anxiety. When I asked about personality disorder my T said she feels that most disorders are about personality; that is, the way we respond, think, perceive, are about our personality. That made me feel better to hear her say that.

Getting treatment to make your life better is good and exciting and you can look forward to new ways of looking at things.

I have been borderline for a lonnnnnnnnng time.

I got the diagnosis after meeting with a T at my clinic for about a month then I was given the book I hate you don't leave me. I don't like that book. To me it didn't give me hope that I could get better. I am functioning at a higher level now than I was when I began therapy though.

Being borderline to me means I jump into new relationships way to quickly then get way to involved and end up shoving the person away. Kind of like I'll dump you before you dump me thing.

I have been borderline since childhood and don't really know what caused mine but oh well.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Jbug

Janniebug - The auther of that book has written another published I think last year that I have read...not the best...gives a better outlook in my opinion...then the original...which I think he wrote in 1984 - 1986...

Well, for me it means a bunch of things.

On the positive side, it means that I now have a reason for why I acted much in the ways I did my whole life. It gives me a base to work from so that I can aknowledge and work on issues and behaviors.

On the negative side, I can't say I much like the diagnosis. I mean, I really don't want to be borderline. But I am, and even in reading books its like looking at a mirror of myself. I guess I don't have to like it in order to work on it and understand it.

Don't let the diagnosis get you down! It is just a label for you to use to try and help understand the things that go on with us.

And, take things one step at a time