Avatar Posted by berniebear 120 days ago (Question)
I have been diagnosed as bipolar. I agree with the diagnosis and have done well with medication. Now, I am entering a DBT group and the psychiatrist says there's indication of borderline personality. Is it possible to be both? My mother was bipolar, but I don't know about borderline personality - back then, that term was not used. Comments?!?


Answers

Written by Fpsy 120 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Hi Berniebear,

It is possible to have both. Lots of people diagnosed with a mental health problem often have a second diagnosis, dual diagnosis as it's called in the health field is having more than one diagnosable mental health condition.

I always think it is a good idea to learn all that you can about the conditions that you have been diagnosed with. DBT group therapy is a very effective form of skills based therapy for Borderline personality disorder. Because it provides you with a number of skills which can be transferred to your everyday living like managing emotions, problems solving skills, relaxation etc, they are very useful skills to have even without a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.

I don't know how old your mom was but the treatment of mental health problems is considered in health terms to be relatively new. Having said that, your mother does not have to have sufferred from it for you have the diagnosis.

I recommend that you find out about the disorder as much as you can and see if it fits with what you know about your behavior, and emotions since your adolescence. Go along to the DBT group and give it go for while. Treatment in groups is very successful, you have to give it a chance and not dismiss it straight away.

If you really feel that borderline personality is way off the mark you can always get a second opinion.

I wish you well.

Written by Edahn 119 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

There has been lots of research dealing with the relationship between these two disorders: http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.bordbipol.html.

This study suggests that the chances of having a comorbid (occurring together) borderline diagnosis increase when bipolar is diagnosed early on: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mksg/bdi/2009/00000011/00000002/art00010.

The disorders have overlap. Both involve mood swings, but the quality of mood swings is different. You can and should talk to your psychiatrist about why he/she diagnosed you with both disorders. It's important that you understanding and see what he sees, and if you need to clarify some things for him/her, you should. By understanding your patterns of behavior, you can become familiar with them and open up a space for you to CHOOSE whether to react to your thoughts and worries, or just let them go.

Best of luck,

Edahn

Written by Clyde 116 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Yes, there is a possibility.

Just because the doc said there is a chance doesnt make it so. Let them try and find out for you and see where to go then.

Best,

Clyde


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