Post by Mea on Dec 23, 2015 5:48:11 GMT
Anonymous asked: my therapist diagnosed me with bpd after i told him im might have it but then i got switched to a different therapist and she said that im just an alcoholic and once i stop drinking my bpd symptoms will fade. and then i got switched again and this therapist says im too introverted and nice to have bpd. she said i dont seem to want attention or seem manipulative. im really confused now and idk what to do but not having a stable diagnosis is giving me anxiety
Answer: This sounds like you’ve been getting a lot of unreliable therapists who, frankly, don’t know what they’re talking about. Alcohol can certainly make your symptoms worse, but people don’t go from being neurotypical to qualifying for a personality disorder just because they’re drinking. If alcohol is making your symptoms worse, then it’s because there was already a problem. And that mental disorder could also be what’s driving you to drink. Addiction is a common side effect of personality disorders, so your therapist SHOULD have been even more suspicious of a BPD diagnosis because of that fact.
If you check the diagnostic criteria, wanting attention (which isn’t a bad thing btw!) and being manipulative are not requirements for being diagnosed with BPD. That therapist should read a book. Or better yet, quit their freaking job.
I have no idea how much power you have over which therapist you’re seeing, but I would really recommend finding one who takes you seriously. We have some resources in the FAQ on how to find a new therapist and what questions to ask. If this isn’t a possibility, I would go with the first therapist you saw who confirmed your diagnosis. For one, they respected your prior research, which is a good sign. These other two you mentioned should be ashamed to call themselves professionals. They’re not just being rude and invalidation; they really have no idea what they’re talking about.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this, anon. I hope you find a good therapist soon who treats you well.
-Mea
Answer: This sounds like you’ve been getting a lot of unreliable therapists who, frankly, don’t know what they’re talking about. Alcohol can certainly make your symptoms worse, but people don’t go from being neurotypical to qualifying for a personality disorder just because they’re drinking. If alcohol is making your symptoms worse, then it’s because there was already a problem. And that mental disorder could also be what’s driving you to drink. Addiction is a common side effect of personality disorders, so your therapist SHOULD have been even more suspicious of a BPD diagnosis because of that fact.
If you check the diagnostic criteria, wanting attention (which isn’t a bad thing btw!) and being manipulative are not requirements for being diagnosed with BPD. That therapist should read a book. Or better yet, quit their freaking job.
I have no idea how much power you have over which therapist you’re seeing, but I would really recommend finding one who takes you seriously. We have some resources in the FAQ on how to find a new therapist and what questions to ask. If this isn’t a possibility, I would go with the first therapist you saw who confirmed your diagnosis. For one, they respected your prior research, which is a good sign. These other two you mentioned should be ashamed to call themselves professionals. They’re not just being rude and invalidation; they really have no idea what they’re talking about.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this, anon. I hope you find a good therapist soon who treats you well.
-Mea
