Whats the difference between bipolar(manic depression) or borderline personality disorder?
hello! i was diagnosed as bipolar when i was 12 and about a year ago i was hospitalized after a traumatic event. a doctor i only met with for five minutes told me i wasn’t really bipolar, that i was actually bipolar but you can’t diagnose anyone under 18. so i was just wondering the difference and how you can tell which is appropriate. i mean the most common physch misdiagnosis is mistaking schitzophrenia for manic depression so its possible, at the same time i respond to medication and dont respond to group therapy, instead i get along better with “authority”.
Tagged with: between • bipolar/manic • Borderline • depression • difference • Disorder • Personality • whats
Filed under: Bipolar Manic Depression
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Bipolar is a series of emotions going from one to another.
Borderline personality is when you have difficulty controlling your emotions and are often in a state of upheaval.
Bipolar is not an illness, it’s an activity.
Good question!! There are a crap load of similarities between Bipolar and BPD.
I assume you know what Bipolar involves if you’ve been diagnosed. BPD doesn’t involve so many ‘Ups and Downs’ and they aren’t so severe if some are involved.
BPD invovles:-
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
Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms
It’s hard to distunguish between the two. But either one isn’t very nice as you can see. (of course you’ll know about Bipolar)
Self diagnosing isn’t a reccomended practice as your mind can play HORRIBLE tricks on you and if, like me, your a bit hypochondriac you may actually end up mirroring these behaviours and therefore makes it harder to understand yourself until you’re just not sure. If some of these look right to you then (when you can) get yourself checked out. Remember it IS possible to have both. Unlikely .. but possible.
Good Luck. Which ever one you have, I hope it all works out!