BiPolar / BPD

[Soulless_Angel]

I know I can hit google, but I want personal thoughts on the difference between the two, My CMHT worker who has only seen me twice claims I may have BPD, but the pyc who diagnosed the C-PTSD said she wanted to look at BiPolar?
What is the difference between them?
Yes I have mood swings, but being a women hey, it goes with it. I don't have a level never have done, I am either really fucking hyper but easily agitated and angry, but my confidence hits the roof and beyond,
or I am just numb and flat, no emotions, not a care in the world, sleep doesn't exist any more, yet I wake up and can on with the day not even tired, its weird, Is this BPD?
My mood doesn't change often in the day, but my husband told my CHMT worker then I will just suddenly snap and lose my rag for no reason, this she claims is BPD?
I am just asking for experiences more then anything!

 

[passenger27]

I have bipolar 1 and my fiancee is borderline. The biggest difference I can tell is she's a cutter and I'm not, and I have manic spells occasionally and she doesn't. Other than those two things I really can't tell much of a difference between us. I'm not really sure how they diagnose bipolar anymore. I thought you had to have a manic spell to be diagnosed but I have a niece that got diagnosed bipolar and never had one. I'm not sure about borderline.

It's all up to the doctor really. My sister had 3 different psychiatrists and the 1st one diagnosed her with borderline, the 2nd with bipolar 2. and the 3rd with major depression.

Sometimes I wonder if they just draw these diagnosis's out of a hat.

 

[Final Escape]

The difference is in bipolar it's lasting dramatic mood shifts that last for a week or more at a time. Borderlines have rapidly changing moods and it doesn't last for more than hours or a few days at most. It probably gets misdiagnosed as rapid cycling bipolar which I don't think that exists. It's just another label to throw at people. I suppose someone could have both. Depression in borderline stems more from your life not working because u aren't coping well, u failed to develop emotionally in some cases because of early trauma or u were born very sensitive and were not parented appropriately for your temperament.

 

[Moonicide]

I'm Bipolar 2 and I have friends that have BPD, they always joke and say, "I'm you, but faster."
Self harm usually goes hand in hand with BPD. Keep in mind, it's also very possible to be Bipolar AND BPD. It's just hard to find proper treatment for BPD as it often gets misdiagnosed... Have you kept a mood tracker by any chance to see how often your moods shift? Do you tend to experience more mood swings near your cycle? The reason I ask is because while I am Bipolar I also deal with PMDD which can mimic other disorders, unfortunately. Definitely keep track of your moods, you can also bring that to your psychiatrist to show how your moods are shifting and discuss it... If you are on any medication then maybe it's time to look for other options if you haven't yet.

I wish you well! Keep us updated with your progress.
Sending you lots of love and support.

 

[c824767]

I was totally thrown under the bus by my ex husband and boyfriend whose descriptions of me created my diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Women used to be classified as hysterical, as "Ophelias" , males are homicidal Hamlets, no one seems to understand that here are natural responses to trauma. Why do we all have to be mentally ill because we respond less than "ideally" to catastrophes in our lives ? https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Madness-of-Hamlet-and-Ophelia-Mental-Illness-in-Shakespeare

 

[Sensei]

There are some overlaps between bipolar disorder and emotional personality disorder, such as emotional instability, impulsive behaviour, and suicidal tendencies. However, I'd say that there are several clear differences. (For practical reasons, I'll use the term "borderliners". I hope no one gets offended by this.)

Mood stabilisers such as lithium and lamotrigine have good effects on bipolars, but not on borderliners. This is probably the best litmus test of them all.

Although there seem to be some overlaps, brains scans show different abnormalities in bipolars' and borderliners' brains.

The so-called clock genes in bipolars work differently, and bipolars often have irregular circadian cycles. They may need as little as 3-5 hours of sleep during manic and hypomanic episodes. Such irregularities are not common among borderliners.

Bipolar depressive episodes usually don't have any discernible triggers, kick in within a matter of days or hours, and last four months on average. Normal depressions usually have obvious triggers, develop over a time period of two months on average, and usually last several months or years. Normal depressions can often be cured, but bipolar depressions can only be suppressed with medicines, not cured.

Typical symptoms of emotional personality disorder are a disturbed sense of identity, fear of separation, and dissociation. Not so for bipolar disorder.

Right or wrong, borderliners are often described as being manipulative. In contrast, bipolars tend to be impulsive and blunt.

Self-harm is much more common among boderliners than bipolars. Bipolars have a much higher suicide rate, though.

Personality traits are admittedly more abstract indicators, but bipolars often score high on creativity and open-mindedness. Bipolars are also overrepresented in artistic and scientific occupations. Borderliners aren't.

I'm sure there are many more differences. My point is that there's a reason why bipolar disorder and emotional personality disorder are two different diagnoses. The present different problems and require different treatment.

 

[Soulless_Angel]

There are some overlaps between bipolar disorder and emotional personality disorder, such as emotional instability, impulsive behaviour, and suicidal tendencies. However, I'd say that there are several clear differences. (For practical reasons, I'll use the term "borderliners". I hope no one gets offended by this.)

Mood stabilisers such as lithium and lamotrigine have good effects on bipolars, but not on borderliners. This is probably the best litmus test of them all.

Although there seem to be some overlaps, brains scans show different abnormalities in bipolars' and borderliners' brains.

The so-called clock genes in bipolars work differently, and bipolars often have irregular circadian cycles. They may need as little as 3-5 hours of sleep during manic and hypomanic episodes. Such irregularities are not common among borderliners.

Bipolar depressive episodes usually don't have any discernible triggers, kick in within a matter of days or hours, and last four months on average. Normal depressions usually have obvious triggers, develop over a time period of two months on average, and usually last several months or years. Normal depressions can often be cured, but bipolar depressions can only be suppressed with medicines, not cured.

Typical symptoms of emotional personality disorder are a disturbed sense of identity, fear of separation, and dissociation. Not so for bipolar disorder.

Right or wrong, borderliners are often described as being manipulative. In contrast, bipolars tend to be impulsive and blunt.

Self-harm is much more common among boderliners than bipolars. Bipolars have a much higher suicide rate, though.

Personality traits are admittedly more abstract indicators, but bipolars often score high on creativity and open-mindedness. Bipolars are also overrepresented in artistic and scientific occupations. Borderliners aren't.

I'm sure there are many more differences. My point is that there's a reason why bipolar disorder and emotional personality disorder are two different diagnoses. The present different problems and require different treatment.

thank you for this more detailed reply, it does make me more confused, I resonate with the mania side of thing's, (from what I have picked up on google, bare with me if I am being totally wrong here) last year Oct/Nov (going by my insta where I can see a *decline* in how thing's where. - End March (I had my first breakdown on 2nd April) I didn't know who I was, doing thing's I never normally would, ran an event way above my head, spending money like there was no tomorrow, some how didn't end up in major debt, enough to cause me a shit load of hassle but it was paid off eventually, Nothing set me off, it's almost like I naturally ended up in that place. I barely slept my mind was always racing, planning the next thing before I had even completed the first, it's hard to explain.
I do self harm though, not as often now, but it doesn't happen, esp when my anger hits an all time high/mood an all time low. I slipped for the first time in weeks the other night.

 

[LegaliseIt!]

There are some overlaps between bipolar disorder and emotional personality disorder, such as emotional instability, impulsive behaviour, and suicidal tendencies. However, I'd say that there are several clear differences. (For practical reasons, I'll use the term "borderliners". I hope no one gets offended by this.)

Mood stabilisers such as lithium and lamotrigine have good effects on bipolars, but not on borderliners. This is probably the best litmus test of them all.

Although there seem to be some overlaps, brains scans show different abnormalities in bipolars' and borderliners' brains.

The so-called clock genes in bipolars work differently, and bipolars often have irregular circadian cycles. They may need as little as 3-5 hours of sleep during manic and hypomanic episodes. Such irregularities are not common among borderliners.

Bipolar depressive episodes usually don't have any discernible triggers, kick in within a matter of days or hours, and last four months on average. Normal depressions usually have obvious triggers, develop over a time period of two months on average, and usually last several months or years. Normal depressions can often be cured, but bipolar depressions can only be suppressed with medicines, not cured.

Typical symptoms of emotional personality disorder are a disturbed sense of identity, fear of separation, and dissociation. Not so for bipolar disorder.

Right or wrong, borderliners are often described as being manipulative. In contrast, bipolars tend to be impulsive and blunt.

Self-harm is much more common among boderliners than bipolars. Bipolars have a much higher suicide rate, though.

Personality traits are admittedly more abstract indicators, but bipolars often score high on creativity and open-mindedness. Bipolars are also overrepresented in artistic and scientific occupations. Borderliners aren't.

I'm sure there are many more differences. My point is that there's a reason why bipolar disorder and emotional personality disorder are two different diagnoses. The present different problems and require different treatment.

Borderliner here. Very well put.

 

[c824767]

I really do think that these disorders are overdiagnosed. I believe persons with torturous thought patterns are not necessarily mentally ill. I think they are just responding in a reasonable fashion to the realities around them.

 

[Soulless_Angel]

I'm Bipolar 2 and I have friends that have BPD, they always joke and say, "I'm you, but faster."
Self harm usually goes hand in hand with BPD. Keep in mind, it's also very possible to be Bipolar AND BPD. It's just hard to find proper treatment for BPD as it often gets misdiagnosed... Have you kept a mood tracker by any chance to see how often your moods shift? Do you tend to experience more mood swings near your cycle? The reason I ask is because while I am Bipolar I also deal with PMDD which can mimic other disorders, unfortunately. Definitely keep track of your moods, you can also bring that to your psychiatrist to show how your moods are shifting and discuss it... If you are on any medication then maybe it's time to look for other options if you haven't yet.

I wish you well! Keep us updated with your progress.
Sending you lots of love and support.

thank you for this reply, I have not thought of a mood tracker, Ill look into it, there must be an app for it some where! when it comes close to my cycle, I never could have answered that as they used to come and go as and when they pleased, whether that was a 3 week gap or a 3 yr gap!! In the past 8 months though they have hit me bang on every 3-4 weeks and so god damned heavy and painful, thinking about it my mood can get worse around that time, but I am generally either very high or very low with no inbetween. When I am low, I am just low, but when high, my anger esp is almost uncontrollable, Friday night I ended up smashing a plate after throwing it at a wall, then self harming later on for the first time in weeks, BAM next morning the bitch arrived!!
I am not on meditation they prescribed me Quetiapine, but I over dosed on it in July (I just wanted to sleep nothing more) and never taken anything since, I won't as there is very little to nothing liquid :/

 

[Sensei]

I really do think that these disorders are overdiagnosed. I believe persons with torturous thought patterns are not necessarily mentally ill. I think they are just responding in a reasonable fashion to the realities around them.

I absolutely agree. If we're talking specifically about these two diagnoses, all too many individuals who are simply unstable and depressed are being misdiagnosed. If we're talking about mental illness in general, many tortured souls would benefit more from a change of environment and a shoulder to cry on than from medicines. Unfortunately, healthcare has become an industry which favours quick fixes.

 

[Brick In The Wall]

I absolutely agree. If we're talking specifically about these two diagnoses, all too many individuals who are simply unstable and depressed are being misdiagnosed. If we're talking about mental illness in general, many tortured souls would benefit more from a change of environment and a shoulder to cry on than from medicines. Unfortunately, healthcare has become an industry which favours quick fixes.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I'd expand upon it a bit further by adding that doctors are eager to diagnose people with anything nowadays. Once you're diagnosed with something they can rope you in and make you a customer for life.

 

[Soulless_Angel]

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I'd expand upon it a bit further by adding that doctors are eager to diagnose people with anything nowadays. Once you're diagnosed with something they can rope you in and make you a customer for life.

Slightly different in the UK, as they are not making money from us they are quick to fob you off at every turn.
BUT I also agree that people are quick to be diagnosed, also notice a lot people are quick to self diagnose, (Not what I am doing, tbh I am not interested in a diagnosis as I am not interested in medication, just interested in the differences to see if
a) I have any of the traits
B) or am I just a hormonal women with higher levels of shit
c) just a dick with some weird characteristics!

 

[netrezven]

in biploar the chemistry mix in the brain is much more different from bpd. They can both come together, but the main difference is the chemistry. And specially in mania. I don't think that some good mood in bpd can feel like extra batteries or torando in your brain. All other differences are simply statistical ones.

 

[Never Free]

I have bipolar 1 and my fiancee is borderline. The biggest difference I can tell is she's a cutter and I'm not, and I have manic spells occasionally and she doesn't. Other than those two things I really can't tell much of a difference between us. I'm not really sure how they diagnose bipolar anymore. I thought you had to have a manic spell to be diagnosed but I have a niece that got diagnosed bipolar and never had one. I'm not sure about borderline.

It's all up to the doctor really. My sister had 3 different psychiatrists and the 1st one diagnosed her with borderline, the 2nd with bipolar 2. and the 3rd with major depression.

Sometimes I wonder if they just draw these diagnosis's out of a hat.

How it seems for me

 

[Finis Autem Spero]

It's all up to the doctor really. My sister had 3 different psychiatrists and the 1st one diagnosed her with borderline, the 2nd with bipolar 2. and the 3rd with major depression.

Sometimes I wonder if they just draw these diagnosis's out of a hat.

Same here, in the reverse order though. No treatment has helped in 15-odd years, so I figure I'm just irrepairable.

Actually, psilocybin helped for a few months but I couldn't really keep that up.