[Psychotic_Phil]

Which is strange considering I renounced trying to find a diagnosis quite some time ago, especially considering that BPD occurs frequently in women, not men. I suppose I could review the diagnostic criteria.

1. Abandonment: I do have issues with abandonment, but with particular people, such as my mother, various lovers and the like.

2. Unstable Relationships: Certainly with the majority of people I have relationships with. What exactly does that prove?

3. Identity Crisis: I have had major identity shifts for quite some time. Again, this is rather irrelevant in psychiatric terms.

4. Impulsive Behaviors: I know I'm impulsive around alcohol, but not much else.

5. Recurrent Suicide Attempts/Threats: I threaten to kill myself when I feel especially horrible, which is always nowadays. I never say these things to my parents, as they would simply lock me up, but I have no problem with friends.

6. Affective Instability: Who doesn't have this? It would seem ludicrous to find someone who doesn't.

7. Chronic Emptiness: Once again, who does not? This age we live in beckons a certain chronic emptiness.

8. Inappropriate Anger: Definitely, moving on.

9. Stress related paranoia, quasi psychosis: Come to think of it, this one is true too.

In total that makes 8/9 or 88.88% occurring over 1 year. That doesn't convince me. Besides, I'm not 18 or a woman so the point is moot.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

[jbug]

Although not as often BPD can occur in men. I don't think it's a death sentence having BPD. It was explained to my by my old T that it is just a learned set of behaviors that just need to be unlearned. It may take months or it may take years.

I wouldn't stress about it.

Jbug

[Sannah]

Hi Phil, affective instability is not a common trait neither is emptiness. You can get better. You need to understand yourself and work on these issues........ Welcome!

[Lenny]

Hi Phil,

Though not a big fan of labels,,they do have some value in creating starting points for change...Without some indication from an objective professional source,,well then,,shooting from the hip tends to cause a lot of misses...

The important question here,,I would think,,is what now?

Are you going to seek another opinion,,look at solutions, or sit with it?

I can agree that we all exist upon a continuum of emotional health and express many of the above criteria from time to time in various degrees.

But if they are consistently and pervasively experienced then,,,the word traits may be indicative of a personality discord...not necessarily a disorder..

Certainly worth looking into more...IMHO. There are solutions.

Lenny