BPD & Bipolar

[wildflower444]

Hi all,

I am in my mid-20s and have semi-recently been diagnosed with Bipolar type 2 'evolving'.

The thing is, it's never been explained to me what the 'evolving' word means.

I also have BPD and have had this diagnosis for many years, and I identify with this diagnosis.

I was wondering - does anyone else with BPD also have bipolar disorder?

Does your BPD affect how your bipolar looks/acts/feels or vice versa?

Are there any resources out there for managing overlapping symptoms?

TIA for any responses!

🙂

[RiverSeal]

Hey @wildflower444, thanks for sharing your experiences with the community!

I totally understand having questions about your diagnosis and identifying with BPD. I am diagnosed with schizophrenia and I identify with that. When I was first told, I researched it, and was like, that sounds like my life. 

I was misdiagnosed with BPD for 9 years, and I never identified with it. I couldn't get the treatment (DBT) as I was not eligible at the time. It often is the case that diagnoses change over time, and it sometimes has to do with having a history of MH and what symptoms at present. 

I beleive the community will have some insights to share about their journey's with MH diagnoses!

Here are some SANE Fact Sheets that might help you:

• https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/bipolar-disorder
• https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/borderline-personality-disorder

Thanks again for reaching out!

Take care

RiverSeal 

[tyme]

Hey @wildflower444 ,

Thank you for sharing. 

I was diagnosed with BPD in my late teens. I was later diagnosed with bipolar.. then after 10 years of taking bipolar meds, I was taken off the meds because it was discovered that my main diagnosis was BPD which was causing all the bipolar-ish symptoms.

I'm guessing that 'evolving' bipolar is that they are monitoring to see if it is bipolar? Maybe it's good to ask them?

How do you find you manage your symptoms? What helps?

[AuntJobiska]

Good luck to whoever diagnosed you! Bipolar 2 is a dodgy diagnosis to start with, and in the context of BPD… my best guess is that there’s diagnostic uncertainty at the moment as to what is going on, and the evolving is a pointer to that. The idea is that as the psychiatrist gets to know you over the following weeks and months, they’ll get more of a sense of what’s going on, and clarify the diagnosis.

Remember that a bunch of psychiatrists are likely to come up with different diagnoses for the same person, this is just one person’s opinion. The important thing is whether it resonates with you, and whether it facilitates you getting - and staying - well. BPD/CPTSD/BP2 and even ADHD sometimes, can all look remarkably similar, and it’s common for psychiatrists to disagree about what they think is the best description (diagnosis). What matters is what makes sense to you. 

[Sbee]

All disorders may be classed or measured in stages, but it depends on how we cope and manage  our lives, environment etc. Diagnosises can be acute  or non accute, depending on how each persons mental health conditions develop.