BPD Ptsd & borderline personality disorder

[Srain]

I took the question of whether I have BPD to my therapist along with DID (dissociative identity disorder/multiple personality disorder) and PTSD with Dissociative Disorder and Bipolar with Schizoaffective Disorder and yada yada yada. I mean really, so much happening I just want to jump out of my skin! One dr said one thing another Dx'd another, still another added another label and all threw pills at me like I was a target. Sometimes I felt like they just wanted me to shut up and go away. A few times I could feel heard and my meds were trimmed down to a reasonable size and all was somewhat manageable off and on.

I feel that it takes a qualified specialist in trauma and time, lots of time to be able to suss out everything that has happened and what is exactly is happening to get to the bottom of it. Most of all, in my opinion and after years and years of therapy, it takes someone to not be afraid of whatever the diagnosis might be. But I, too, must be willing to put all my cards on the table. It turns out PTSD and the Dissociative Disorder are taking today's priority so that is my focus, the other, who knows. I'll deal with it all when the time comes but she is keeping a watchful eye and making notes for later evaluation.

I won't work with someone that is not qualified and doesn't have the experience with all of the above. I just won't waste my time and money any more, it's down to the wire for me. You are right to check everything out. There is nothing about being Borderline that should in anyway be an issue for a qualified tdoc to deal with. Diagnosis will over lap and mimic one another but unless the therapist works with the client long enough it can be difficult to determine. I keep asking my tdoc will she be able to handle my rage when it pops out because it can be uncontrollable. That has nothing to do with my questions about being BPD, it is all PTSD, I want to lash out and protect myself from everyone. I want to know and understand, after all it's about me, it is my life and my treatment. I want to make sure whoever is working with me knows what they are doing, not winging it. But that's just me.

I know it's difficult working this stuff out but you will. Hang in there you are on the right track and Lord knows if I've heard it once I've heard it a million times just when am I going to get it together??? My answer:

This is me...as together as it gets, wait 10mins and I will be even more of something else if you don't like this!!

Take good care,
Rain

 

[strongwoman]

i am recently diagnosed as haveing PTSD and Haveing BPD traits. i was molested at the age of 12 by my non blood related unlce. cops were notifed and no charges were filed. My family just swept it under the rug :(. when i was 24, i lost my 4th son when he was 2weeks old, then i was sexually assulted by 3 men at a night club at the age of 25. i have been up and down ever since i was 12! i have all the signs and do all the signs as a BPD. i got married Sept. 2010 and left my husband twice already since i have been married. Thats my MO is to run. run from everything, i dont mean to but its so hard to make myself cope with the hurt and all the crap ive been through.
my husband was actually the one who mentioned to me about this. the signs he saw and us being both Psychiatric Technicians, it helps a little but dosent. im finally getting therapy for all this trauma in my life. what im asking for from this forum and feels good to find out that im not alone. i have family support but they only know what i tell them. my husband has my back 100% and understands completely. sometimes i need someone to talk to between the 1 on 1 sessions... anybody up for it. let me know.

 

[Greg Clark]

Well, I can verify that TV is not reality. The story writers look for the most complicated mental health disorders to explain why the most evil people in society do what they do, but they couldn't be further from the truth. It's prejudicial and just puts another label on people who've had a rough time ... usually at the hands of others who couldn't care less.

 

[Lucycat]

I have CPTSD, but after lots of reading over the past year wonder if I too have BPD. I have tentatively discussed this with my T. but for all the aforementioned reasons I don't want to get the diagnosis. I just want to acknowledge and deal with the symptoms. The label makes no difference to me.

 

[ElDiabloReebotico]

Complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder are actually the same thing. You develop it for you are subjected to extremely stressful living conditions for a long period of time, like if you go grow up being abused. I've never heard of serial killers suffering from BPD. Unlike people with BPD, serial killers are sociopathic, meaning they experience no empathy.

 

[anthony]

Complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder are actually the same thing.

There actually nothing alike. Complex PTSD is not a diagnosis for starters, it is merely a term used to describe PTSD + heightened dissociate symptoms / disorder with the added probability an Axis II disorder is present, ie. BPD, Psychotic, OCPD, etc.

They are absolutely not the same thing though.

 

[ElDiabloReebotico]

Really? I was told by a psychiatrist they are the same thing and he told me I was suffering from CPTSD. Do borderlines not experience dissociation? Is that the difference?

 

[anthony]

They actually all overlap with some symptoms, but they are not actually the same, and each does have unique symptoms for that diagnosis to be given in the first place.

As there is no such thing as CPTSD diagnosis, you are given:

• [DLMURL]http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/ptsd.htm[/DLMURL]
• [DLMURL]http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/disamnesia.htm[/DLMURL] (possibility with complex trauma) or
• [DLMURL]http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/nos.htm[/DLMURL] (DDNOS) and/or
• [DLMURL]http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/borderlinepd.htm[/DLMURL] or other Axis II disorder

There are dissociative symptoms in PTSD, BPD and DDNOS and obviously any dissociative disorder.

 

[Heather]

What does DDNOS and OCPD stand for?

 

[catjudo]

JustEB--I don't know you so none of my comments are directed towards you specifically. Not everyone with BPD is the same. I don't think people avoid people with BPD because they think they are homicidal maniacs. In general, people with BPD are often described as difficult, treatment resistant, manipulative, demanding and attention seeking. I'm not saying these are or are not accurate descriptors, just probably a more accurate reason for why people may attempt to avoid those known to have BPD...not because they've been portrayed in tv/movies as homicidal.

I find it interesting that you say there were so many therapists who wanted you as a client. Consider yourself very lucky as this is often not the case. Having BPD as a diagnosis attaches a certain stigma that follows a patient and is difficult to shake. (Thus, ScaredOfLonely's example of not sharing that one-time mis-diagnosis with current doctors.) Many therapists will avoid (or strictly limit) the number of BPD patients they will treat because they have a reputation for being difficult, causing a lot of worry and taking more time than the average patient.

Again, not saying these generalizations apply to you. But these are things that are often assumed about a person if they say they have BPD.

What does DDNOS and OCPD stand for?

DDNOS = Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
OCPD = Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

 

[anthony]

Consider yourself very lucky as this is often not the case. Having BPD as a diagnosis attaches a certain stigma that follows a patient and is difficult to shake. (Thus, ScaredOfLonely's example of not sharing that one-time mis-diagnosis with current doctors.) Many therapists will avoid (or strictly limit) the number of BPD patients they will treat because they have a reputation for being difficult, causing a lot of worry and taking more time than the average patient.

Yep... I would say the majority of people I have worked with over the years had personality disorders with complex trauma, and it is hard work. Saying that, there isn't one that hasn't improved tremendously though, so unsure why therapists give-up so easily / or the patient / combination. I actually find it more rewarding to help those at the more severe spectrum vs. the everyday spectrum of symptoms, because these are the people being rejected, yet they are also the abundance of PTSD cases with severely impaired lifestyles.

 

[Srain]

i am recently diagnosed as haveing PTSD and Haveing BPD traits. i was molested at the age of 12 by my non blood related unlce. cops were notifed and no charges were filed. My family just swept it under the rug :(. when i was 24, i lost my 4th son when he was 2weeks old, then i was sexually assulted by 3 men at a night club at the age of 25. i have been up and down ever since i was 12! i have all the signs and do all the signs as a BPD. i got married Sept. 2010 and left my husband twice already since i have been married. Thats my MO is to run. run from everything, i dont mean to but its so hard to make myself cope with the hurt and all the crap ive been through.
my husband was actually the one who mentioned to me about this. the signs he saw and us being both Psychiatric Technicians, it helps a little but dosent. im finally getting therapy for all this trauma in my life. what im asking for from this forum and feels good to find out that im not alone. i have family support but they only know what i tell them. my husband has my back 100% and understands completely. sometimes i need someone to talk to between the 1 on 1 sessions... anybody up for it. let me know.

I'm so sorry about your child...and the rapes

it's great that you are getting therapy, it's important, group would be helpful, when you are ready as well. I'm glad you found this site.