Is it true that no one who has Borderline Personality Disorder recognizes that they have it?
Question:
I am going into clinical psychology, and I know all about this disorder, and my family, friends, and significant other all agree that I have it as well... but my doctor says this can all be caused by basic Clinical Depression/ADD... both of which I was diagnosed 6-7 years ago.
But I know that it's BPD. It more accurately describes me.
His one issue? He said that no one with this disorder can recognize that they have it... and that everyone with this disorder would be "bitching him out" in his office for saying that they do have it.
But is it simply that my major is psychology, and that I am aware of things? Or is he correct that people won't accept that they have it?
They say that about addicts and such, but many eventually admit it.
Answers:
No, it is not true! I have been miserable all my life. When my husband mentioned BPD and I started researching it, I was shocked. I saw my life described right before my eyes and it was undeniable that I had BPD. I was angry at first. Who wants to have a mental illness? Especially one with that kind of stigma? Not me! But, at the same time I was relieved. I finally knew what was making me unhappy and giving me intense mood swings. Perhaps I read about it on the right day, and on another day, I wouldn't have been receptive. Who knows. I do know that I have it, I recognized it, and I made a therapy appointment right away. The very first step to recovering from BPD is to admit there is a problem.
If I were you, I'd talk to another doctor, particularly a therapist who KNOWS BPD. BPD is often unrecognized and undiagnosed because even the "experts" don't always know enough about it. There are true experts who have studied BPD in depth and can give you correct direction and answers.
The truth is, BPD people have major mood swings in a matter of moments. Maybe sometimes you would be "btiching him out," but at other times you wouldn't. Some patients sit in the office politely some days, but are raging and angry on other days. We are unpredictable, and it was not wise of your doctor to assume that every BPD patient acts the same all the time.
Very poor self examination skills and a lack of personal insight are typical with borderline so it's very unlikely a borderline personality sufferer would recognize the symptoms and if they did they would be very likely to blame it on someone else.
With your schooling perhaps you are able to recognize the symptoms in yourself. It's a tricky diagnosis either way. I'd see another shrink and get a second opinion.
My kid's psychiatrist says labeling isn't important except for insurance purposes. He treats symptoms, they do not need a name.
funny you should ask... My husband is always telling me that I have it. He printed up the symptoms for me to read, and after reading it, I am sure he has it even worse! Don't let yourself get caught up in labels! You sound perfectly fine to me.
I think we all have emotions and feelings about lots of things. We have grown up learning how to deal with our problems in many different ways. That doesn't mean we deserve to be labeled. I think labels are mainly an excuse to continue any kind of unhealthy behavior.
I started out in psychology, too, but have since abandoned it. There are few true "psycho's" in this world, the rest are just lost souls looking for happiness.
There are borderlines who know they are borderline. They know it because they were told (and probably got pissed and blamed something else), not because they had the introspective skills to figure it out. Yet, all or none is absurd categorization. That said, it is true that most people don't want the diagnosis because it removes a physical excuse for their behavior and it pegs them as manipulative and self-serving children in adult bodies. Sorry to be harsh, but that's the way of the borderlines I've known.
Do you substitute self-drama for empathy and compassion for what others are experiencing (i.e. a friend is diagnosed with cancer and you turn it into your own personal coping drama). Are you emotionally manipulative? Is something else always the cause of your problems, issues, feelings? Read up on borderline. There's a lot more to it than the stark description that's in DSM.
i remember when i was taking a few psycholgy classes, and reading the disorders, i was like , whoa, i have this one.. wait,no, i have this one!
i think since your reading up on all these disorders, you are wanting to think this disorder is yours. i agree with your doctor, i think it's all in your mind.
no you do not have biopolor disorder thats just a theoredic mood swings causeing you to think like that I AM A DOCTOR i have work in a mental ward worked in abbot noth westen
As a healthcare provider I can tell you that it was an 'old saying' that if you thought you were crazy, you wasn't'. Mental illness is a diagnosis that people do not want to hear.denial is common. But one sign of the beginning of healing, is insight. Insight means to be able to look at yourself and be objective and realistic. So..no.people CAN recognize disorders they have. I also encourage you to read beyond the DSM criteria. Mental illnesses are not black and white but a long continuum ranging from the worst to the best. People can fall anywhere in the range. The worst of the BPD patients would be acting like your physician describes...but maybe you fall differently in that range. Truthfully, it may be a moot point...the treatments you are now receiving for depression and ADD are the same medication-wise that we would give for BPD. Counceling may be a little different ..maybe no.depends on your therapist. But I still encourage you to continue reading about any condition you have. You need to be as knowledgable about your illnesses as you can. Your healthcare should always be a mutual experience between you and all your healthcare providers. It sounds as if you feel you are not being heard by your provider.
In my experience, the answer isn't one way or the other. I think it is a highly individual thing. I think also that it is difficult, at least initially, for someone to hear that they have BPD. Often professionals try to avoid labels and don't tell clients/patients. I am a great believer in the power of knowledge to set one free. We have to know what we are dealing with in order to recover.
However, it is not uncommon for many with BPD to deny it at first. It can take time to get used to and time to figure out what it really means. BPD is defined by 9 traits in the DSM-IV yes, but each individual diagnosed with it needs time to come to terms with and develop an awareness of how the traits that effect him or her manifest in one's life.
I think that for those who read more or who are entering the mental health profession and who have or suspect they have BPD, my response would be yes, you are likley a bit more in tune.
However, most diagnosed, will at some point, hopefully, also come to their own individual awareness and acceptance. Awareness and acceptance of having BPD are necessary in order to be able to seek treatment and work toward recovery.
A.J. Mahari
www.borderlinepersonality.ca
www.phoenixrisingebooks.com
www.nonborderline.com
Hi there hmwith_,
I agree with you both. Most serious mental illnesses which include psychoses are often undetected initially even by those in its grasp. This is true of Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Personality disorders and even clinical depression and ADD. ADHD is soemtimes more easily diagnosed in childhood because of the hyperactive element. Further even patients diagnosed and on a coctail of meds who temporarily discontinue lack insight into their current maladaptive behaviours. Addicts however are often in denial for one reason or another. So there you go. Hope this helps some.
In Jesus's love,
Barry H
Best of luck in your chosen program of study.
People with BPD have a bad rep...even with mental health professionals...the sterotype is that they are difficult clients and non-compliant with treatment. While certainly some fit this description, and I'm sure plenty do not see it...not everybody does. BPD is one of my dx's and I always knew something was very wrong and was relieved to find there was a name for it, because then I had something to work with. I think it's foolish for a doctor to say "no one with this disorder can recognize they have it"...in my experience that is just not an absolute truth. I'm involved in running an email list for people with bpd and bipolar...and I think most people struggling with this are living in hell and desperately want to understand why. I suppose MDD and ADD could look like bpd, but bpd could also look like them. So many psych conditions overlap.
Is it just because you are studying the subject? Well...have you had these symptoms for as long as you can recall? Does your life (relationships, school, jobs) tend to be mass chaos? If yes, it's probably not just a case of thinking you have something you are reading about.
If you are interested, a good book on the topic is "Sometimes I Act Crazy". It's written by the people who wrote "I hate you, Don't Leave Me" (which is good but very outdated and rather depressing as far as prognosis goes...the newer one, based on all these years of research...is significantly more optimistic).
If you struggle with symptoms that look like borderline...you might benefit from DBT. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me...it really helped me make changes that 20 years of regular therapy was unable to do.
Good luck!
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