How to tell a Psychiatrist I think I may have Borderline Personality Disorder?

Question

I made an appointment with a psychiatrist because I think I may have borderline personality disorder. I have been to a counselor/therapist a few times (different ones) before. I never kept my follow up appointments with them because I didn’t feel like they wore helping me. I just felt like they were just making me dig up my past and not helping me feel better or work through anything. They also said that I am suffering from depression. I had read up on the topic of depression and I didn’t not feel like the descriptions I have read (I have been researching depression for about 10 years) described me. Then recently I came across the topic of Borderline Personality Disorder and I felt like wow that describes me exactly. How do I go to a psychiatrist and tell them that. I don’t want them to think that I am crazy or that I am self diagnosing or telling that what I 'have' when of course I have no psych training. How do i tell them without sounding like I am nuts?

Answer 1

If you really believe you have BPD, you should say it, as you may very well be absolutely right. But be sure to describe EXACTLY what the details and feelings are in your life that make you believe that so he knows if you may be barking up the wrong tree. I know you don't want to have the Doc think you are crazy or self-diagnosing, but trust me, if you honestly believe you have BPD and don't mention it, you may find yourself horribly misdiagnosed as I was, because many psychiatrists still still don't know much about the disorder and still think of it is a "trashcan diagnosis" when all else does not fit. Also, medication has never proven to directly combat BPD, just symptoms that go with it (i myself have been on every med known to man without results) so they may steer clear of that diagnosis to keep you from just forgetting about meds and just using say ..Dialectical Behavorial Therapy( just started it. great program BTW) I went through all of this myself for many years so I know what I am saying. Be sure to seek other opinons until YOU are satisfied that they got yoru diagnosis right because you know yourself better than they do. Still, don't bet all your money on the fact that you have Borderline Personality Disorder, but if you REALLY feel like whoever you are seeing is really missing the boat, find a therapist who is familiar with BPD asap and talk to them about it before you get an improper diagnosis and start spiraling downward and going from one med to the next. For me, It took a quite a few doctors and lots of suffering for me before they figured out that the mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics they were giving me just weren't working and that I did not have Bipolar Disorder so that is why I say go for it and tell the doc you believe you have BPD. Oh..and don't listen to the people who say "if you really had BPD you would not know,admit it, or seek help" That is just plain bull**** I knew very well I had BPD back when I was 18 years old, I have been trying various treatments for it for 8 years now, and obviously I admit it freely so don't listen to that utter nonsense.

Answer 2

Usually Borderlines don't go to doctors unless forced because they don't think anything is wrong with them- everybody else in the world is messed up. But your habit of not keeping follow up appointments may be a sign. A rigid diagnosis is probably only important to your insurance company which has to have a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual number to get you into the computer.
To find a psychiatrist- ask your family doctor. He or She may have one s/he refers people too. Look for somebody who practices Cognitive Behavior Therapy- This is a therapy that doesn't care much about your past unless it is really comping up and bothering you today. They work mostly on your current problems by getting you to understand why and how you are messing your self up and teaching you how to stop.
Don't come in with a diagnosis in hand. Just tell the doctor on the first couple of visits what you do or feel that makes you think you are borderline. BUT DON'T SAY THE WORD BORDERLINE. Just talk about your feelings and behavior. Then about the third or fourth visit bring the book and say "Dr. I've been reading this and ......

Answer 3

Tell the doctor what you told us.

As for "so if you think u are a borderline personality most likely you are not", that is just stupid advice. Being educated about the possible reason for certain problems is a good thing. There is nothing subtle about BPD. People who have it KNOW something is terribly wrong, but often don't know quite what that something is.

Your doctor should be your partner is treatment and should listen to and respect what you have to say. BPD is not a diagnose to be made lightly, and it has similar symptoms to some other disorders (like bipolar and PTSD). I wouldn't trust any mental health professional willing to diagnose BPD after a single visit.

I have BPD and co-run a support group for it. I have done tremendous amounts of research on the subject. BPD tends to make a disastrous mess out of just about all aspects of our lives. It is difficult to treat. But there is help out there and if you really do have this illness, treatment is essential. Just don't be afraid to bring it up to your doctor.

Answer 4

I wouldn't go tell the psychiatrist that right away. First of all, there is still a huge stigma attached to that label. Most professionals have had a borderline or two that has frustrated and burnt them out on helping them. Therefore, it is likely the professionals attitude will change when working with you after you have that label. Just continue working in therapy. Your therapist will discover the PD rather quickly if it is there.

Answer 5

All you can do is tell them what your symptoms are. You really should keep going with followup apts. It is very important. By going to your followup apts,you will be helping them to diagnose you. They will be able to see your behaviors for themselves. Being diagnosed is not just a one time thing. It can take a long time of therapy to get an accurate diagnosis.It took 6 months of therapy to find out that I am bipolar.Now with the combination of medication and continued therapy,I feel like a new woman.Digging up your past is very exhausting and painful.But it is necessary in diagnoses and healing. I promise,if you continue to go to therapy,you will begin to feel better.You have to sort through all the crap first.There is no way around it.

Answer 6

I would tell him/her exactly what you told us. Then explain why your symptoms better fit PD than depression. I wouldn't say borderline. My son was diagnosed with borderline BPD, and everyone gets so hung up on that. Borderline to a lot of people means "not quite", and that's not true.

Answer 7

You can tell a psychiatrist his pants are on fire but he likely won't listen. Same goes for self-diagnosis. You could tell him you have green eyes and he'll still have to "find out" for himself. They specialize in not listening and ignoring the obvious. And unless you're a psychiatrist too (and went to a better school than him) he won't listen or respect your thoughts or opinions. Try to not take it personally. They're just jerks.

OR you might find the one in a million shrinks who actually listens (I've heard one or two might exist on the planet).

I wish you the very best of luck!

Answer 8

You say "I think I have Borderline Personality Disorder! Check us all out now!

Answer 9

I have heard that many personalty disorders have a root cause usually related to trauma in early childhood you suppress these memories and choose a persona that hides and masks these memories. If you had trauma got to a psychologist and talk about it man but if you fell that you have true multiple personalty's get some help and got to Doctor that can give your some medication.

Answer 10

I also have BPD and depression. What I did was print up some info describing the symptoms of BPD and presented it to my doctor. Good luck to you, BPD is extremely difficult to deal with and affects all aspects of your life.