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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:18:28 GMT
Here are a collection of posts to help you decide whether or not you may possibly have Borderline Personality Disorder. The following information can be found on this thread:Page 1 - The Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist
- The BPD Checklist (Quiz Version)
- I relate to ______ symptom. Do I have BPD?
- I don’t have _______ symptom. Do I still have BPD?
- I think I have BPD, but my therapist/psychiatrist doesn’t agree?
- I experience symptoms differently from what I’ve read. Do I still have BPD?
- Can I still have BPD even if I “seem normal” to other people?
- Can I still have BPD even if I don’t have the more “stereotypical” symptoms?
- Can I still have BPD even if have some “opposite” symptoms?
- Can I still have BPD if I don’t relate to blogs about “BPD feelings”?
- Can I still have BPD even if I don’t relate to the “simplified” description of it?
- Sometimes I relate to BPD relatable posts, and sometimes I don’t?
- Are there any REQUIRED symptoms of BPD?
- I was diagnosed with BPD, but I don’t think I have it?
Page 2 - How can I get diagnosed?
- Can I have BPD even though I did not have a traumatic childhood?
- I’m a teenager. How do I know if it’s BPD or “teenage hormones”?
- Can minors be diagnosed with BPD?
- I can go weeks with borderline symptoms and then weeks without?
- Maybe I’m just faking it?
- I feel like I didn’t experience these symptoms until I read about them?
- Can I have BPD if a family member has it as well?
- Do I have these symptoms or am I adopting them/faking for validation?
- Do I need an “official” diagnosis in order to be valid?
- Does SBD support self-diagnosis?
- What is the best way to self-diagnose?
- Can I self-diagnose, even if I am underage?
- Is it okay for me to self-diagnose even if I am able to see a professional?
- 20 Things Only Someone with BPD Can Understand
Page 3 - What do I have if I don’t have BPD?
- I definitely don’t have BPD, so what is the “opposite” of BPD?
- Can you still have BPD if you only experience negative emotions?
- What is a Favorite Person? Do I need to have one to have BPD?
- What is the difference between a Favorite Person and a Depended?
- What is similar to BPD?
- How can I figure out if this is BPD or Bipolar?
- Does it matter if I express my symptoms internally or externally?
- Does self-diagnosis hurt those with a professional diagnosis?
- I relate to blogs about BPD but not the criteria?
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:29:21 GMT
The Borderline Personality Disorder ChecklistThis is a checklist to help one understand Borderline Personality Disorder. One may use it to self-diagnose or as a worksheet to present to a doctor or therapist or other medical professional and better communicate symptoms they are experiencing. All information is taken from the DSM-5. Section IMust check TWO or more of the following:- I have identity problems, including: I have an unstable sense of identity, I have poor self-esteem and excessive self-criticism, and I often experience dissociation when I am under stress.
- I am unstable in my goals, aspirations, values, and/or career plans.
- I have a heightened sense of empathy and am hypersensitive to the feelings and needs of my peers, although my perceptions are often biased towards negative attributes.
- There is a lot of instability in my relationships, in that I am needy, mistrustful, and anxious.
__ / 4 Total Section IIMust check TWO or more of the following:- I have cognition problems and difficulty retaining information and remembering people and events.
- I have affectivity problems and difficulty controlling the range and intensity of my emotional responses.
- I have problems with interpersonal functioning and being aware of my own actions and feelings and how they affect others.
- I have difficulty controlling my impulses.
__ / 4 Section IIIMust check ONE or more of the following:- I am very impulsive and often act on things without planning.
- I engage in dangerous, risky, and/or potentially self-damaging activities with no concern to my personal limitations.
- I am easily angered.
__ / 3 Total Must have at least FOUR checks TOTAL by the end of this section, including ones from previous section (If you checked two above, you only need two here, for example):- My emotions are incredibly unstable, and I change moods often (sometimes within minutes), feeling things more intensely than others seem to.
- I experience intense feelings of nervousness, tenseness, panic, and/or anxiety. I have fears of the future and of falling apart or losing control.
- I get separation insecurity and fear abandonment.
- I am frequently depressed and feel hopeless and have a difficult time recovering from such moods.
__ / 7 Total Section IVMust check FIVE or more of the following:- I have a fear of abandonment and do my best to avoid it.
- I switch between idealizing and devaluing the people in my life. My relationships are often unstable and intense.
- I have an unstable sense of self and often question my identity.
- I am impulsive.
- I have attempted suicide and/or I self-harm.
- I have frequent mood swings.
- I often feel empty or depressed and have doubts about my future.
- I am hot-tempered.
- When stressed, I am paranoid and/or I experience dissociation.
__ / 9 Total Section VMust check ALL of the following:- My symptoms impair my personality and social functioning
- My symptoms are consistent across a broad range of personal and social situations.
- My symptoms have lasted a while and started in early adulthood or earlier.
- My symptoms are not caused by medication, drug use, or another medical condition.
- At this point, if you have checked the minimum, you may qualify for a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. The next section is a compiled list of symptoms, behaviors, thought patterns, etc. often found in borderline patients. If you did NOT meet the minimum, check out Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. If you checked ALL of Sections II and V but still did not meet the minimum in other sections, look into other personality disorders, especially other Cluster B’s. - Section VICommon Symptoms and Behaviors associated: - I have disordered eating patterns.
- I am sometimes obsessive.
- I sometimes get intrusive thoughts which I am unable to ignore.
- I become attached easily.
- I often “bait” people in order to start a conflict.
- I have trouble sleeping, or I sleep too much.
- I have a child-like curiosity.
- I am dependent on others.
- I sometimes mimic or mirror others.
- I have nightmares.
- I have difficulty processing information.
- My appearance changes often.
- I have an extreme need for acceptance.
- I have a natural rejection of people in authority.
- I constantly feel like I need to prove myself over and over again.
- I very much live in the moment, to the point where past actions don’t matter. How I judge others (and myself) depends entirely on what is happening right now.
- I isolate myself, even when I need social interaction.
- I am often defensive.
- I have anxiety/panic attacks.
- I experience memory lapses.
- I consider myself a perfectionist.
- I react very strongly to mundane experiences.
- I have a difficult time making decisions.
- I have difficulty completing tasks.
- I often feel misunderstood, mistreated, or victimized.
- When I am upset, I am unable to calm down without help.
- I castrophicize my problems and see the smallest things as the end of the world.
- I often see my problems as unsolvable and hopeless to fix.
- I hold grudges.
- I alternate between seeing others as completely for them or against me.
- I have a hard time recalling someone’s love for me when they’re not around.
- I change my opinions depending on whom I’m with.
- Sometimes the slightest provocation will make me feel abandoned.
- I feel distrustful and suspicious a great deal of time.
- I rush into relationships based on an idea of a person rather than the person themselves.
__ / 35
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:30:53 GMT
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:34:42 GMT
I Relate to _____ Symptom. Do I Have BPD?Anonymous asked: I relate to some of the stuff on here like getting into arguments but not being able to handle them. Does that, and being emotional make me borderline? Answer: Well, no. That’s a very small part of the criteria which describes BPD. Being emotional + not being able to handle arguments doesn’t even suggest a mental disorder. Lots of neurotypical people are like that. According to the DSM IV, you had to experience seven out of nine of the listed symptoms. While the DSM-V is out now and does a far better job of describing the symptoms, it’s a little more in depth, and the DSM-IV’s version I feel is a good starting point. - Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
- A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation
- Identity disturbance, such as a significant and persistent unstable self-image or sense of self
- Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)
- Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior
- Emotional instability due to significant reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
- Transient, stress-related paranoid thoughts or severe dissociative symptoms
If you checked yes to five of those, I’d recommend checking the updated version of the diagnostic criteria and seeing if that fits you. -Mea
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:36:44 GMT
I Don't Have _____ Symptom. Do I Still Have BPD?
Anonymous asked: I believe I have BPD but I don't think I suffer from any fear of abandonment (that I know of) and I do not have any past trauma in my life. Otherwise, I believe I fit a lot of the criteria. Could I still have BPD?
Answer: Yes. If you read the diagnostic criteria for BPD, you’ll see that you don’t need to experience 100% of the listed symptoms. There is no required symptom for BPD, so missing one symptom doesn't mean you can't have it.
-Mea
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:38:09 GMT
I Think I Have BPD, But My Therapist/Psychiatrist Doesn't Agree?
If you think you have BPD, but your psychiatrist/therapist does not agree, we still will not diagnose you. I can’t really give advice on this because it’s possible you don’t have BPD. It’s possible you have something else with overlapping symptoms and similarities to BPD. It’s also possible you aren’t seeing a great professional. I cannot say whether or not you have BPD. All I can tell you is to seek a second opinion. Second opinions are good to have anyway. Professionals misdiagnose and miss diagnoses all the time, so extra perspective can always be good. Even if you do get the diagnosis you suspected you had, a second opinion may reveal a diagnosis you hadn’t considered before.
-Mea
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:39:32 GMT
I Experience Symptoms Differently From What I've Read. Do I Still Have BPD?
I see a lot of people talking about BPD and framing it as though experiencing a symptom one way is The way to experience it, as though its the exact same for everyone who has BPD. I don’t know whether or not this is intentional but it seems to be causing a lot of panic and anxiety in people who don’t experience that symptom in that way. Flattening this disorder into one experience ignores the complexity of the disorder and the complexity of the people who have it. You should speak freely about your own experiences, because they are valid, but it won’t be the same for everyone
I want to remind everyone that not only do you not have to experience every single symptom of BPD to have BPD, but that BPD is a vast and varied disorder, much like the people who have it. If someone is saying their experience with a BPD symptom is one way doesn’t mean you have to experience it the same way to be valid. Both their and your experiences are valid - you’re two different people with two different lives, things will be different.
This also goes for our allies(???), BPD is complex and just because you know how one person with BPD experiences the disorder doesn’t mean all people experience it that way. Let us speak for ourselves, don’t assume you know what its like for all of us, don’t assume that you can tell us how we’re feeling because you knew someone else with BPD who reacted differently.
We’re all important and all of our voices deserve to be heard. Treat us like individuals with a disorder, not like a two-dimensional stigmatized idea of a disorder.
-Kenzie
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:43:17 GMT
Can I Still Have BPD Even If I "Seem Normal" to Other People?
Anonymous asked: I've been told that people with BPD have to express all their impulses and feelings otherwise they don't have BPD. Is it possible to still have it even if you don't express it around other people at all and come across as "completely normal" (quoting my friends)?
Answer: Much of the material for BPD flattens the disorder into only one kind of behaviour, they type where you only express outwardly. This isnt the case though, and much like everyone else on earth, those of us with BPD are vast and varied and express ourselves many different ways - outwardly, inwardly, a mix of both. Some people like to call what you’re experiencing “quiet borderline” or “high functioning borderline” but those are extrmemly harmful terms.
also, as you can see in the diagnostic criteria, only one thing mentions outbursts or acting outwardly,
“Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)”
And even then, only the examples show any language for outward expression. I often have disproportionate anger that I completely internalize. The rest of the criteria are left neutral enough to leave the potential for both inward and outward expression. Also, many of my impulses I wouldn’t call strong, because I never act on them, but theyre there, and they are definitely not in tune with who i am or what I like/want.
You “passing as neurotypical” and internalizing your symptoms doesn’t mean you don’t have BPD. People don’t know I have BPD and even my closest friends are unaware that I have a disorder until I talk about it. I have to pass as neurotypical to stay safe, so I internalize a lot. That doesn’t mean I’m not suffering or struggling.
-kenzie
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:44:55 GMT
Can I Still Have BPD Even If I Don't Have the More "Stereotypical" Symptoms?
Anonymous asked: can you be diagnosed without that lack of emotional permanence, without the worry that people don't like you? the worry that people will leave? i know not all symptoms have to be present but theyre the symptoms that seem to be the hallmark of bpd.
Answer: Even the most common “stereotypical” symptoms of BPD don’t actually have to be present in order for you to have BPD. For example, splitting is another key symptom of BPD, but I very very rarely experience splitting. (And even then, only in regards to myself. I am either the Best or the Worst, and I never split with other people.) So yes, even if you don’t experience emotional impermanence, you can still have BPD. x
-Mea
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:48:13 GMT
Can I Still Have BPD Even If I Have Some "Opposite" Symptoms?Anonymous asked: is it possible to have pds that have a few contradictory symptoms ? i have bpd and usually ppl w bpd have more empathy, but i have very low empathy bc of another pd, does this sort of thing usually happen ? Answer: It is possible! I also have BPD and low empathy. It can be super alienating, even invalidating, to see other people with BPD who have really different or even “opposite” symptoms to you! However, people with BPD are very diverse. Since you only need five of the nine symptoms to qualify, you might only have one symptom in common with another borderline person you meet. You’re both valid even though you don’t have a lot of overlap in experience! If you have conflicting symptoms, you may: - experience both at once, even though they are different or “opposites”, eg wanting and hating attention at the same time
- experience one at a time, depending on the situation and the people around you
- experience one at a time and cycle between them for no (obvious) reason
- experience one symptom, which then triggers the other
- almost always experience one symptom and rarely experience the other
- have a blend of the above experiences
- Exo
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:49:52 GMT
Can I Still Have BPD If I Don't Relate to Blogs About "BPD Feelings"?
Anonymous asked: is it ok if i exhibit barely any of the behaviours on those "bpd feelings" or whatever blogs? i fit into the dsm-5 criteria, and my psychiatrist says that she is sure that i have it. i only marginally connect with bpd tumblr, i feel. is there still a chance that i have the disorder?
Answer: No worries, anon. I’ve seen a few blogs like the ones you’re talking about, and I relate to… maybe 10% of what they post? Something to keep in mind about blogs like that is, like our own graphics we have posted, they run on submissions. Most of these submissions may be people expressing very specific events in their lives or a specific way of how they express their symptoms, which is very unlikely to be relateable besides to a small portion of the community.
For example, I saw one that was “that bpd feel when you’re worried your OCs hate you.” It definitely fits into assuming everyone hates you part of BPD, but it’s a very specific way of expressing the symptoms which not everyone will relate to. Being worried OCs hate you is absolutely possibly BPD, but that doesn’t mean it’s a universal borderline thing. My OCs don’t have any kind personhood (or not like they used to; I used to have headmates, but I don’t anymore), so the fear of my OCs hating me is not something I experience at all.
There’s a lot of BPD Tumblr I don’t connect with at all. A lot of the BPD Feelings blogs are posts I can’t relate to, and it doesn’t mean that I’m wrong or that the blogs are wrong. I just experience my symptoms differently than the people who submit to those blogs.
So yes, there is still a chance you have BPD. If it helps, I was diagnosed by two different professionals, and I still don’t relate to blogs like that. Hell, you won’t relate to every post here either. We get some asks sometimes that I can’t answer because it’s an experience I don’t have or a symptom I don’t have (so I leave it for a mod who does). There are so many different ways to have BPD, and then even more ways to experience those symptoms. Despite having the same personality disorder, we maintain uniqueness. <3
-Mea
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:51:50 GMT
Can I Still Have BPD Even If I Don't Relate to the "Simplified" Description of It?
izayule asked: i think maybe anon means something like, can you have a disorder without fitting the common/simplified DESCRIPTION of that disorder, as long as you meet the minimum criteria. For example, having NPD but not necessarily being low empathy, which is part of the description.
Answer: Yes, as long as you meet the minimum, you can be considered for diagnosis.
Most of the “common/simplified descriptions” are made by NTs looking to fit us into boxes and stereotype us anyway. I mean, a “simplified description” of BPD is that we’re controlling and abusive, but we all know that isn’t true.
Even then, the DSM is nothing more than a legal document. And some people have diagnoses while still not meeting the minimum criteria of a disorder because the symptoms they do have are so strong and worthy of a diagnosis. Psychiatry has a lot of grey area.
-Mea
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:54:20 GMT
Sometimes I Relate to BPD Relateable Posts, and Sometimes I Don't?
Anonymous asked: i dont know what I'm supposed to think - sometimes I'll look at those "you have bpd if.." things and relate to every single one, and sometimes I'll only relate to one or two. i don't know if im fluctuating or faking or..?? what's happening
Answer: BPD has a lot of possible symptoms and you only need a certain number (five out of these nine) for diagnosis. That means there are symptoms you may never relate to. For example, I’ve been struggling recently with feeling invalid because I see and even write posts that mention the extreme attachment many people with BPD feel, and I don’t have that symptom. It can even happen when I do have the symptom, but not strongly or often “enough”, like hyper-empathy. It’s difficult to remember that people experience BPD differently, but nobody else’s experience of BPD makes yours any less real or correctly identified.
As for fluctuating symptoms, this is very normal, at least in my experience. I can’t tell you whether your symptoms are consistent enough across a broad range of situations for diagnosis. But before my diagnosis, when other people suggested the possibility I had BPD, I was unable to say that my symptoms were consistent across a broad range of situations. It didn’t feel that way to me, because nothing about my symptoms felt consistent. Now after several months of being diagnosed I feel like I’m just beginning to get it. Obviously it’s likely to be a lot harder if you’re self diagnosing, although again, it’s different for everybody.
If you spend considerable periods of time (eg weeks, months) without symptoms, you might want to look at bipolar disorder. Symptoms are present most of the time for people with personality disorders.
If you switch between different/opposing symptoms, eg no empathy and hyper-empathy, it’s probably comorbidity. You relate to BPD when your BPD symptoms are present and you don’t when symptoms of other disorders are present instead.
If you frequently switch between feeling like you’re going “crazy” or you can’t function anymore and feeling like you’re fine, that’s a strong indication that you’re experiencing mental illness. To be honest, it’s not really unique to BPD, but this kind of endless “Am I faking?” loop is ubiquitous in BPD spaces. We experience everyday crises as world-ending crises, then get confused by our own behaviour once the symptoms fade.
- Exo
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:55:42 GMT
Are there any REQUIRED Symptoms of BPD?
Anonymous asked: something that isnt explicitly explained in ur faq-are there any symptoms that all that need to be present, at least partially, for someone to have bpd? u say not all symptoms have to be present but there isnt an explanation of if there are any specific symptoms that are absolutely necessary for diagnosis
Answer: Actually, this can be explained in the BPD checklist. There aren’t any specific symptoms which have to be present other than “must cause distress in your life,” etc. If you look at the BPD checklist, which is in the FAQ, that explains which symptoms must be present. It’s never specific symptoms, just a minimum amount out of a list, besides the sections which read “All symptoms must be present,” which includes stuff like “isn’t caused by a medical condition or substance use” etc.
-Mea
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Post by Mea on Dec 16, 2015 4:57:06 GMT
I Am Diagnosed with BPD, But I Don't Think I Have It?
Anonymous asked: I've been diagnosed with BPD and I don't think I have it. I think I only fit 3 of the criteria (suicide, emptiness and dissociation). I also have depression and anxiety, and other problems that haven't been diagnosed (flashbacks, panic and eating issues). I was first diagnosed during and emergency admission to hospital after attempting. Should I ask my regular psych to re-assess me? Should I just ask them to remove the diagnosis?
Answer: Yes, you should, if you feel you don’t fit the criteria. You are not the first to be misdiagnosed. I’m not sure what your gender is, but BPD Is especially misdiagnosed in women. “A woman with a lot of feelings! Borderline or bipolar, surely!"
Personally, I think what you’re describing sounds more like PTSD? Some doctors also seem to assign BPD to people with post-traumatic stress since trauma is one of the causes of BPD. (And even then, not always.)
I think it’s worth seeing someone else and getting a second opinion. Explain your symptoms, explain why you don’t agree with the diagnosis. If you think another diagnosis fits you better, explain why you relate more to that diagnosis and ask if that’s a possibility. Doctors aren’t perfect. Sometimes, they’re wrong! It happens. Additional opinions are always good to have. x
-Mea
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