Think I might have Borderline Personality Disorder
I know self diagnosing is bad but it seems to make so much sense... it explains everything, really...
My question is how do I speak to a doctor about this? Perhaps more importantly how do I get them to take me seriously? Currently being treated for moderate depression and taking 20mg prozac (although am going to ask them to up my dose when I go back).
A referral to a psychiatrist might be a good idea. They'll be able to go through the symptoms with you and hopefully give you a clearer picture and see if there's any additional support they can give you.
Asking for a review with a psychiatrist is a good plan.
Remember though that the symptoms you're experiencing may be related to other things.
Like, for example, I fit the criteria for BPD but I don't have it. I just have symproms of other things that also fit the criteria.
Try not to go win there with the view that you have it. Say you're having concerns about your mental health, describe what you're experiencing and go form there. BPD is a very limiting diagnosis and you may find out that your symptoms are actually related to something else. Be honest and see what help is available to you.
^^ MeaCulpa has put it much better than I can right now. It is worth bearing in mind that the most important thing to go to the Drs with is the symptoms you experience. Symptoms often cross-over between DXs so it may be that you do not at all have BPD. It is much more important to address how you are feeling, and not what sticker you think that fits.
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
Also bear in mind, it can take years to get a diagnosis....the psych will get to know you over time, get to know your symptoms, how it affects you etc...best thing to do, is like the other posters have said, talk about your symptoms, ask for a psych referal, and get the treatment that fits your needs.
Sometimes it is easier to hide where noone knows who you are.
if you look at symptoms theres quite a few that are simular, i was first diagnosed with depression but was changed to bpd and now im diagnosed with it for about 2 years, just focus on how you feel and work on getting better from that rather than finding he diagnosis
in the same boat as you, i think i may have BDP aswell, doctors arnt really that helpful you need to be referred to a psyc, im being treated for moderate depression too, but when you talk to ur doc/psyc just say that ur concerned with the mental wellbeing and you think you fit in with the diagnosis for bdp.
tbh i think their just going to refer u to councilling, if you go in there determined that u have bpd and show all the signs (as if u were reading them from a book) then ur probs gonna be diagnosed with something completely different lol try not to obsess about bdp though (heehee im kinda at the obsessing stage now lol)
hope this helps and good luck
x
I was in this situation a year ago... i went to my GP and told her my symptoms and hy i felt i had it and obviously she cant diagnose but she referred me to mental health where i saw a psychiatrist. Granted he wasnt great or particularly thorough... really a BPD diagnosis takes a long time and many sessions to diagnosed and i basically told him i thought i have BPD, why i thought that and he was like "ok, i agree, you do have it", slapped it on my medical record which will be a struggle to ever remove and told me i was going on a waiting list for CBT, that was it! It shouldnt be that easy, i basically diagnosed myself and he agreed! But your best bet is to speak to your GP and get a referral and talk to a psych about it... good luck!
Good advice here. I thought I would just add, I was diagnosed with BPD a few years ago and only found out in the past couple of years because I requested my medical notes. I personally, for myself, don't think the diagnosis has any relevance at all. It might have helped the health professionals know what to do with me, but for me it's such an umbrella term I find it useless. That is for me by the way, I know everyone is different.
What I am trying to say is, don't put too much emphasis on labels and diagnoses. In a way they can help us feel grounded, focused, as if we have something to work towards. At the worst however we can begin to 'live' our symptoms, as in act them out, emphasise them, feel them more acutely, even if it is subconsciously. Which is probably why I was never told first hand what the docs thought. xxxxxxx
