Does anyone have borderline personality disorder?

Question

I know people aren't supposed to self-diagnose, but I am working on a degree in psychology right now and I have researched a lot of mental illnesses for classes. I am 100% positive that I have borderline personality disorder but I don't know whether it is worth getting diagnosed or not because I know there is such a stigma attached to it and a lot of therapists won't work with BP's. Does anyone have any experience with this or advice about how I should approach this?

Answer 1

I actually diagnosed myself with BPD when I was 17 (I read the book "I hate you, don't leave me", the title says it all, slightly outdated now but still a great read), and was later diagnosed with it by many mental health professionals. I think you should try to get help. You should find a therapist that specializes in BPD, or personality disorders in general. You are ABSOLUTELY 100% right about the stigma, but finding a therapist who specializes in it should help. If insurance is an issue, find a regular therapist, tell him or her about all of your symptoms, and perhaps you can be referred to a specialist.
I would also recommend finding a therapist that does DBT (dialectical behavior therapy). I actually only ever did DBT in a group setting, but my psychiatrist used a lot of techniques inspired by DBT.
If you by chance run into one of the many mental health professionals who perpetuates this stigma, do not let it get you down. I am living proof that people with BPD can and do get better.
Best of luck to you!!! Feel free to contact me if you want to talk.

Answer 2

Wow I just read the two previous answers, they didn't help at all huh. I have bp. The second answer sounded like they were talking about multiple personality disorder. I don't think i have many "personalities" ie I'm sandy one day Debra the next. But since u know what BP is. you know its more emotional where people cant tell well i cant anyhow talking to my therapist helped when i had one i was going to go into a dbt group i hear they help. I am not on any meds right now so I try to cope my best and still get it wrong i would go to an intake with an open mind. not just thinking that u have this. and don't take to heart what the other person said about your career choice you want to help people and i think that is great.

Answer 3

self diagnosing is never a good idea. I have bpd, used to go to a group therapy for it based on Marsh Linehan's book, which you may be familiar with since you are working on your degree. Since there is such a stigma on this diagnosis, they are changing the wording to a dissociative disorder, can't remember the full title of her new book.... people are always mistaking bpd for multiple personality....SO WRONG.
From what I have learned about the DSM everyone fits a lot of the criteria for most of the disorders in there....the difference is to what degree you have the symptoms. So for instance, one of the things with bpd...intense relationships, failure to keep them....that doesn't mean having friends or boyfriends and breaking up like everyone might think....its actually a very severe lack of being able to hold onto the people in your life even inside your own mind, once they leave your presence, its sort of like they disappear in a way, the longer they are gone, the more the relationship can morph into something totally different, or into nothing.
so don't be too quick to self diagnose.....

Answer 4

I agree with T Dubya. I consider myself to have Multiple Personality Order, not dis-order. It is what I need to work with my patients. We are all taught to analyze every little speck in our lives. So, just get on with getting on, keep your thoughts to yourself, and life will change daily for you.
You are over thinking my dear. I do think we are many personalities wrapped up in one unit. So, enjoy all of your personalities. As long as none are evil. Are you sure you want to be a Psychologist? I can't imagine a Core Dump. Someone else's garbage in your mind forever. I know many people need a sounding board, and a lot of tragedy happens. Sounds like you might be a magnet. Be careful...real careful...

Answer 5

everybody has a borderline personality disorder, nobody is perfect. I respect psychology in it's approach to understanding, however I don't respect how it tries to put an anchor in water that hasn't even been fully inspected. don't get worried about your personality disorders, that itself is a personality disorder, a hypochondriac

Answer 6

yes , and we love it. some people only have one crayon,i got the whole box!