How do I find out if I have Borderline Personality Disorder?

Question

After growing concern for my well being, I ended up stumbling upon some information regarding BPD. I thought the web page was about me! The similarities between people described with it and myself are undeniable.
-I have no idea who I am
-I don't care about anything or anyone, its all pretty much worthless
-Impulsive stealing (with one prior arrest), Reckless driving (i don't even have a license), Impulsive promiscuous sex (I've cheated on my girlfriend more than once), Eating Disorders (I've lost about 40 pounds from not eating), Excessive substance abuse, Recklessness in general (smoking cigarettes in the classroom, breaking windows, setting fires, ect.)
-Paranoia (sometimes i think i'm being followed by cops and such and start to run or hide thinking airplanes are watching me)
-Spiltting (it's like I want to be two polar opposite people at the same time)
-Chaotic Relationships
-I can never make up my mind about anything
-My life's been on autopilot for months

How should I check?

Also, my parents don't know about a lot of that, they only see the good side of me, where as some of my "Punk/Metal/Pothead" friends only see the bad and my girlfriend (who has been with me for 1 year and 6 months) gets caught with something messy and confused in between.

I don't really want my parents involved and will be 18 soon.

I'm not sure if i want to get better, because i've always been like this, i just kind of want to put a name on it for now, recognize whats wrong, and try to deal with it myself.

Please help me.

I have thought about suicide but never have been close to going through with it or even attempting.

Answer 1

Hello Michael Tsark,
You have received a message from another user!
From: drew
Subject: Hey
Message: I'd like to thank your for answering, but you didn't, in any manner answer my question.
First off, I didn't say I did anything bad, I think I'm a good person all around. I'm a Boy Scout for Christ sake. Everything I do in life is for someone else, I have a hard time doing anything for me. I like myself as a person, I just want to see if I should get tested for BPD. I'm not judging my personality at all, that's the doctor's job, i try not to judge people. I hang out with the mischievous teens, and keep them out of trouble. I rub off on them. Common sense seems to have told us both the same thing. Your making me seem like a hardened criminal here "experiment and do something good for a change" like saying is advice, its an insult.
I'm a Taoist, Vegetarian, Boy Scout, War protesting, volunteer firefighter. Maybe you should stop judging my personality on the "bad" things i've done.
When i mean good and bad, its not in the terms of like nazis vs superman, more like my mood, views on the human race, or towards certain people or things, what i think about, etc.
It's not like i'm sacrificing a chicken with my friends and teaching the blind to talk with my parents. jesus man.
You've genuinely upset me with that post.
Oh yeah, thanks for telling me there isn't anyone putting a gun to my head, because i couldn't see for myself. Thanks again for not answering my question and making me pissed off.

Reply to drew by Michael Tsark:
Sorry, drew, I stand corrected and thank you much for correcting me. I apologize for upsetting you and certainly don't blame you for getting upset. I just wish you had also entered your attributes onto your post instead of just the somewhat negative aspects such as impulsive stealing, reckless driving, breaking windows, setting fires, but smoking in the classroom sounds cool with me. Now, in light of what you've further shared with me, you're question doesn't quite make sense because based on the new information you sound too sane to be considered any type of so-called borderline personality disorder? In other words I'm no longer worried nor concerned about your personality but am only still worried about the suicide part.

You've apparently blocked me when I just tried sending you this email reply and received a failure notice, however, I think your new information is worth sharing with your original question or else your original question is slightly too bias without giving representation to your good qualities. However, if I've angered or upset you to the point where you'd rather not have anything more to do with me whatsoever and if you prefer that I delete my answer altogether then please don't hesitate to let me know and I will delete my answer pronto per your request.

On looking over the failure notice again, I think I tried sending it to a wrong email address and so I'll try again to send you this reply.

And, drew, can I share this on Forum Answers, up to you?

...It's now been over 24 hours and I couldn't help but give more thought to your question especially in light of new information. It's obvious that you're somewhat unique as most people certainly do not fit your psychological profile. As for your personality type, you're what I tend to describe as the jesus christ syndrome or messiah personality type, so-to-speak, where you have a greater ambition that most people of wanting to help save and/or change the world for the better and there's nothing wrong with that but you just need to pace yourself, is all, in order to avoid clinical burnout. Incase some of our readers aren't familiar with clinical burnout, it's when someone overly cares too much for the sake of others and then inadvertantly neglect to adequately care for themselves as well. Burnout doesn't happen quickly but rather it slowly creeps on those who find themselves in the midst of burnout which can lead to such things as depleted physical energy, emotional exhaustion, less investment in interpersonal relationships, increasingly pessimistic outlook, inefficiency at work, etcetera.

As for your thoughts of suicide, I'd have to say it's normal for someone who takes life as seriously as you do and as long it remains nothing more than just thoughts and as long as it does not turn into suicidal behavior then like I said, I consider it to be normal in your particular circumstance.

I wish you all the best, drew, and thanks again for correcting me. Tsark out.

Previously Posted by Michael Tsark:
Thank you, drewith2002, for asking. My suggestion is that you forget everything you've every read about trying to psychiatrically label yourself and instead focus on what kind of person you'd rather be in life? By your own admission you've had somewhat of a nasty background but I'm inclined to think that you don't really want to be that way in life for the rest of your life or else you wouldn't've posted your question in the first place. One thing I learned during my early teen years was to choose my friends wisely. Common sense told me that if I chose to socialize with mischievous teens who were apt to getting into trouble then of course I would also increase my destiny to end up getting into trouble.

The best I can do is suggest you try doing something worthwhile for a nice change just as an experiment to see what happens? Perhaps try volunteer work at a hospital? Or perhaps check with your local red cross and maybe there's a blind elderly person who enjoys having someone read to them for an hour just once or twice a month? The more good deeds you do within your life then the more you'll like yourself as a person. So far you're judging your personality on the bad things you've done in your past. No one's putting a gun to your head and forcing you to be either bad or good. Try the experiment and try doing good deeds for a nice change and then try judging yourself again and see what happens?

For someone with your particular background, I surely do appreciate you asking the question. Thanks again, for asking. Tsark out.

Answer 2

It could also be bipolar disorder. My standard post follows: See bipolar disorder, at ezy-build * (below) in section 10. Bipolar usually involves major moodswings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over many months, or a matter of years, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). I'd take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements in the winter months. Try the Lithium Carbonate, or Lithium Citrate (regular tests are necessary, for these) , before trying the other medications, and see how that goes, over a few months, and always check out anything first at http://www.drugs.com/, so you will be aware of the risks, and on the lookout for side effects. If not considerably improved, after a few months, consult your primary mental health care provider, If bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic may also be needed. Everyone should take the Omega 3 supplements, for its other health benefits: see http://www.mercola.com/ TASKBAR. Some people refuse medication, using supplements, and a selective, mostly raw food diet (I do not recommended trying this, if bipolar 1, unless you aren't troubled by hallucinations, or delusional states). Maintain the treatments for the depressive phase, in section 2, at * http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris and BPD is addressed in section 15. Take the quiz in section 10: if not bipolar, possibly BPD:- do you have a fear of abandonment? Are you first idealising, then devaluing partners? If yes, BPD is more likely: EXPERT DIAGNOSIS REQUIRED!!! Get a licence, find out about STD's, HPV, and always use a condom: carry spares at all times. Marijuana induces paranoia. Read section 52: keep in mind for later, when you are ready. Seek therapy.

Answer 3

get a second opinion. Personality disorders are not diagnosed until after the age of 18 because until then their personality is still forming and subject to change... a personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of perceiving and reacting to the world that is enduring and long term..... I think it is the new catch all though for some doctors. Was it a psychiatrist who diagnosed her? She could have "emerging" BPD, or she could have Oppositional defiance disorder, or Bipolar... But you are right, technically, according to the diagnostic criteria, she can not have Borderline. Definitely get a second opinion.... if she is Bipolar then the treatment is very different.

Answer 4

Forget what information you "stumbled on." See a doctor if you think you may have mental health problems. Leave the diagnosis to the doctor.

It's kind of bad when somebody is convinced they have this or that when they haven't seen a doctor. Some people even fake symptoms so they can get a more exotic diagnosis--I hope you aren't doing that.

i have seen that 4 degrees test before, it's just a game, the results aren't as reliable as getting a real diagnosis from a doctor.

Answer 5

I feel pretty much the same as above, I feel very depressed, I have a lot of mood swings and I can't help it i don't know why. I over dosed on sleeping pills so that I would have to deal with the things that has been bothering for quite some time.

Answer 6

look dude i struggle with the same exact thing and believe me man the best thing to do is seek help ive been struggling with this for a long time now and it hasnt gotten any easier i suggest not trying to fix it urself cuz rele man it just gets worse in the long run

Answer 7

I have BPD. you cannot self-diagnosis it, only a professional can. Please make an appointment and see, and then get treatment. DBT works well for it, or any cognitive therapy. There are signs, but really you sound like you should get a professional opinion.

Answer 8

make an appt with a therapist or go to a mental health center
you are abusive to yourself and you can tell them you dont feel safe or you dont trust yourself

i have bpd

Answer 9

I took an online test, here's the link:
http://www.4degreez.com/misc/personality_disorder_test.mv
I have to warn you though, don't take the results too seriously!

Answer 10

Go to your doctor explain all these symptoms... he'll know what's best for you.