Bipolar Type 2 VS Borderline Personality Disorder?

3 Comments

1. gardensallday says:

   May 17, 2010 at 9:33 am

   In bipolar you would tend to see wildly fluctuating periods of sleep according to depression/mania (mixed moods, not so much). Usually the moods last a few months. Energy levels vary the same way as the sleep cycles. Usually between episodes, a person has normal temperament (but many people with bipolar do not get fully well between episodes).

   In borderline, you would have feelings of emptiness, and constantly look for emotional support from others. You would likely have a lack of self identity – what you believe and care about would be significantly influenced by others. Bipolar wouldn’t produce these symptoms.

   That’s what I got out of it, anyhow. I have bipolar disorder & was diagnosed borderline because I was constantly suicidal and emotionally volatile, but a bad drug (ativan) plus constant mixed moods was doing it. I quit ativan, and it’s a LOT better now.
2. risskia says:

   May 17, 2010 at 9:43 am

   Bipolar disorder is a mood regulation disorder.
   Borderline Personality disorder is a personality disorder.
   While people with Bipolar disorder may exhibit some of the signs of depression, self-destruction, and mood swings that people with BPD have, BPD tends to be pretty unresponsive to treatment, is typified by unstable relationships (and this includes family and friends as well as lovers) and anger, where Bipolar disorder includes periods of mania or hypomania (which may present as extreme irritability, racing thoughts, and sleeplessness – not just “feeling really happy” ) and is generally pretty responsive to medication.
   Of course, this is way over simplified, but I hope it explains how yo might have different diagnoses but share some symptoms.
3. Juliet says:

   May 17, 2010 at 10:24 am

   Alrighty, let’s get this answer started….

   Borderline personality disorder is exactly that: a personality disorder. “A personality disorder is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture, is pervasive and inflexible… is stable over time, and leads to distress or impairment.” The symptoms you suffer from that lead to your borderline personality disorder (bpd) diagnosis, as I’m sure you’re aware, are constant and do not fluctuate with mood. The BPD runs deep and is a disorder of your whole personality, causing such problems as instability in relationships and self image as well as impulsivity and significant trouble regulating every day emotions (for example, when you get upset, you get VERY upset, and it takes a long time for you to feel better even when the circumstances of the situation are such that you can begin to calm down).

   Bipolar Disorder, types 1 and 2, are mood disorders. The distressing symptoms present themselves when the person is in a mood episode, either depression or mania (or in the case of Bipolar Type 2, hypomania). Things like irritability and impulsivity, suicidal ideation, self harm, etc occur in response to being either very depressed or hypomanic, and are not engrained in the person’s base personality. When the person is medicated or treated for their Bipolar Disorder, these symptoms decrease.

   Similarities:
   In both disorders, at one time or another, persons may…
   - Be very impulsive
   - Be very irritable
   - May engage in self harm
   - May have suicidal ideation and/or make threats of suicide or actually attempt it
   - Experience some degree of dissociation
   - Experience feelings of emptiness or lose their “sense of self”

   Differences:
   - Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by an instability in interpersonal relationships and self image. This is KEY. This symptom is not pervasive in those with Bipolar Disorder.
   - Those with Bipolar Disorder encounter both major depressive episodes and manic episodes. In short, a depressive episode is exactly what it sounds like. A manic episode is usually characterized by a lasting feeling of invincibility or euphoria, impuslive behavior, and what looks like a wild increase in energy (decreased need for sleep, suddenly very productive, talking a mile a minute). These episodes can last from roughly two weeks to months. These mood episodes are NOT a part of borderline personality disorder.
   - With medication, the mood episodes and consequential behavior typically decrease in bipolar disorder. While several medications may be prescribed to someone with borderline personality disorder to manage safety concerns such as suicidal ideation and the urge to self harm, the medication alone is not even near enough to fully treat borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder is most commonly treated using a form of cognitive behavioral therapy known as DBT, focusing on regulating emotions and impulsive behaviors to start.
   - Those with borderline personality disorder often have mood swings, appearing moody, going from happy to sad to angry, etc. These changes in mood are fairly rapid and the moods are short lived. In bipolar disorder, the depression and mania last for an extended period of time.

   There’s a lot more to this, it’s very complicated, but that’s a general overview for you.