Borderline Personality Disorder and Bi-Polar?

Question

Can someone please explain to me the difference between Borderline Personality Disorder and Bi-Polar Disorder.
Answers i can actaully understandable please :)
Thank you X

Answer 1

For an illness to be classified as a personality disorder over a biploar disorder is a matter of a couple criteria. One of them is length of time that the symptoms present themselves. A personality disorder has to meet several qualifications over a long period of time. Bipolar disorder has to be medically proven.

Personality disorder is based off behavioral symptoms.
I hope this makes sense to you. They are both serious disorders, but come from different things. Sometimes from a physical dysfunction, sometimes a learned behavior or attitude.

Having bipolar symptoms do not always mean that you have Bipolar Disorder. Example, I had major depression once. Although I presented symptoms of bipolar disorder, it wasn't severe enough or lasted long enough to be a medical, or Axis I , disorder. True Bipolar Disorder is an Axis I disorder, or disease. Personality disorders are classified in Axis II.

I don't know how to make it any more clear than that. Axis I and II are classifications of psychological disorder in the DSM - the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Axis I diseases are directly medically based, while Axis II are more psychological in nature (i.e. caused by behavior, not by biology.)

Answer 2

Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder where you can have depression or feel euphoric at times. These moods can change rapidly depending on the person. Borderline is a Personality Disorder and refers to the traits/characteristics a person exhibits that a dysfunctional in nature. Bipolar Disorder is a chemical imbalance. Borderline Personality Disorder is not; it is frequently the result of one's environment and upbringing.

Answer 3

go to bipolarworld.net, and click on dr. phelps, then go to his website. he has a very detailed explanation.

Almost nobody gets borderline if they weren't seriously abused, so if you have no sexual/emotional abuse history, and I mean seriously bad abuse, you are probably bipolar.

If you were abused, you can have both, or just have bad bipolar and no borderline.

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I went back to this question, and am adding more now that I have seen other answers on here.

It is not so clear-cut on the differences between bipolar and borderline. You can meet the criteria of borderline if you are bipolar and there is just one behavior that fits borderline. And just because borderline is classified as a personality disorder, or Axis II in the DSM-IV doesn't mean anything, this manual is used for research and coding for insurance, there is so little known about the various mental illnesses that the categories in the DSM have nothing to do with reality. There are proven chemical imbalances in borderline. That's why I said to go to dr. phelp's website. There are many, more complicated forms of bipolar than the classic description people read in this DSM book. The answers on here are so oversimplified that they are no help. And it is true that borderlines were almost all sexually abused, and it is probably more appropriate to classify borderlines as having severe, chronic post traumatic stress disorder from severe chronic abuse. Try googling complex post traumatic stress disorder. And you can be bipolar and also have been abused, and in fact, many of the most severely bipolar individuals do have a sexual abuse history.

Answer 4

Borderline - rapid mood swings, emotional dysregulation (caused by external percieved stressors)

Bi-polar - mood swings often not rapid and cannot identify reason

This is a laymens version. The whole concept is alot more complicated.

Answer 5

The best thing for you to do would be... go to the local book store and pick up a book called "DSM-IV" I believe that it is silver this year. You can look the difference up in that book. I wouldnt want to give you the wrong information. If this is a mental health issue of yours then it is best that you find out from your mental health provider, exactly what that means to you and what ways you can keep these disorders in check.

Answer 6

DEAR BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER IS LIKE TYPE 3 BI-POLAR AND THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING THEY CAN DO WITH YOU. THE TYPE I HAVE YOU ARE BORN WITH
BI POLAR 1-2 IS SOMETHING YOU ARE BORN WITH LIKE THE BIRTH DEFECT CEREBRAL PALSY. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE'S BETWEEN THE TWO OK AND WHEN YOU HIT TYPE 4 THERE IS NO HOPE THEY PUT YOU IN A STATE HOSPITAL BECAUSE MEDICINES DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE ON YOU RIGHT NOW THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR YOUR PROBLEM WITH A DOCTORS CARE AND THE RIGHT MEDICINES ON THE MARKET JUST HAVE TO FIND TE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU OK