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I was told by a teacher a few years ago that I might have Borderline Personality Disorder. I laughed at the time and denied it, I didn't think I was that messed up. Diagnosis of BPD is rarely done before adulthood, so I got to avoid being tested and possibly told I had a mental problem.
I remembered this today, while watching a presentation on depression and other mental disorders.
I could not remember exactly what Borderline Personality Disorder was, so I looked it up (
Google Health's definition). I fit most of the symptoms, some more severely than others. My diagnosed anxiety attacks fit into the symptoms (I'm prone to periods where I cannot breathe and actually start crying for no reason.) and I can identify with a lot of the other ones.
I don't want to have a personality disorder, but I fear I might have a mild one.
I hate self-diagnosis. I hope I'm wrong. I probably am. Most of the time self-diagnoses are wrong, people have a tendency to exaggerate and worry.
Do you ever convince yourself that you might have a disorder? What do you think of "self-diagnosis"?
Comments (22)
NEVER self -diagnose something like this! If you feel that you have depression or something just as severe, go to a doctor and get a real diagnosis. Not only will you be sure, but they will make sure you get any help you may need. There is no shame in admitting to yourself and others that you might have a problem.
Oh, wow. I was just talking about this to my therapist. We got on the topic of the dangers of self-diagnosing and I told her how I'm not stupid enough to do that. Unless diagnosed by a trained professional, I do not claim to have anything. I've been seeing my therapist for over a month, and though she may or may not think I am depressed, unless she says I am, I will never go around saying that I've been diagnosed with depression.
I despise self-diagnosing. There are extremes and spectrums that tell psychologists and those in that field the difference between someone feeling a certain way at times and having some sort of diagnosis. Not only that, but psychologists are very hesitant to diagnosis a personality disorder. They're really no way to treat it, even with drugs and extensive therapy. My psychology professor said she only diagnosed it once in her 15 years in the field.
If you think you have something, go to a professional. That's why they're there. Do not try to diagnos yourself with something.
I've found it's never good to self-diagnose, mental illnesses or otherwise. For all we know, we could be very off with our self-diagnoses. People tend to pick and choose what fits them and ignore other symptoms. This could also lead to the person attempting to treat the supposed illness (whether medically or through other methods) when it could be nothing or even worse, a completely different illness we could be ignoring.
If you believe you have BPD, then you should probably go see someone. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, maybe it's a completely different illness (you mentioned anxiety so maybe you could have an anxiety disorder instead; and I say maybe because I'm not attempting to diagnose you in any way). Here's hoping you don't have it though.
The internet can make you believe you have all kinds of stuff. It is easy to fall into this trap, I have many times! If you really think you may have something consult a dr, in this case a therapist, they will be more accurate than you and the internet. Best of luck!
i'm pretty sure i'm bipolar.. it gets soooo bad and rapid that i can be extremely happy by day and then about to kill someone by night. sometimes each episode lasts for weeks. i'll be on a high. and then BAM low low low. i told my mom and she said, "eh you're just a moody girl"
uh oh
i get a little crazy with self-diagnoses. hypochondriac much?
i don't think i fit enough of the requirements to actually have bpd. still...
I thought I had it too. When things overwhelmed me a couple years ago, I went to a psychiatrist. After listening to me for a couple of sessions, he asked what I thought my problem was, and laughed when I said that. I mean, I fit most of the criterion as well...but he said no. I don't know, my emptiness periods had to be caused by something, right? And the fact that I push away the ones I love the most was also something to be spoken for, right?
He said he believed I was manic depressive. That was a blow.
it's common to read a "diagnosis" and think you have it - I forget that name of that.
I suggest you go toa therapist if you think you have it, and allow themn to decide.
if you really think that you have BPD and it is bothering you should get diagnosed so that it doesn't become a bigger problem. It's better to get things under control before they become out of hand.
I try not to self-diagnose because if I did I'd be convinced I had so many diseases that it isn't funny.
The good news is that if you think you have a personality disorder, you probably don't. I have worked in mental health for years and most people with BPD or any personality disorder don't see it as their problem. It's always someone else's fault that they do these things.
That doesn't mean counseling can't help you. Most personality disorders are just extremes of behaviors and feelings that we all have. If you are upset by how you feel or react, see a professional.
Up until almost three years ago, I knew that something was a bit off kilter with regards to my moods. I was either really happy, or extremely depressed, but I didn't want to actually believe it, and I certainly didn't want to diagnose myself with anything. I did go to a professional, however, and was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and major depression. It was such a relief to know what was going on, and since I've been on meds and in counseling, I've been so much happier.
I diagnosed myself as Bipolar and told a therapist and a psychiatrist. Two years later I was hospitalized with psychosis. My diagnosis is Schizo-affective Disorder. It is a cross between schizophrenia and Bipolar.....LOL I was part right. Actually I more bipolar than anything. Don't look at the limits of having a mental illness. Go to a doctor and get meds so that you can live the rest of your life. I am living proof that having a diagnosis doesn't have to be the end of your world.
@HollowTendencies@xanga - just a min ago i wrote about how i think i have signs of being bipolar. Im way to scared to bring it up to my parents because of the "moody girl" response i'll receive.
Self diagnosing is sooo scary. It's crazy what the mind can do. I feel like if you self diagnose too deeply you'll end up making whatever you THINK you have actually appear or get worse and then you'll seek help and get meds you don't even need. Idk... I try to avoid it. Adding unnecessary stress!
I don't self-diagnose! I am not a doctor, so I don't do it, nor should anyone else, and I will freely tell anyone who does it how flipping stupid they are!
I may look up my symptoms before calling the doctor so that I am informed as to what may be wrong with me, but I don't let the info scare me.
My boyfriends parents do that, and of course which ever illness or disorder is the WORST that fits their symptoms is what they automatically have, they also stop taking medicine and decide they know more than any doctor.
And what many morons who self-diagnose fail to realize is that when they look up symptoms of something, they often see things in a disease/disorder/illness that they don't actually have the symptom of, they tend to exaggerate their own symptoms or read too much into what they do experience to fit it to the disorder.
i thought i had a personality disorder, and told my aunt about it...she's got degrees in psychology and a counselor by profession, and she told me i was being ridiculous and there was no way i had a personality disorder at all.
i still self-diagnose things all the time...i'm a bit of a hypochondriac i suppose. my boyfriend always tells me there is no way i have those things and if i think i do i should see a doctor about it haha. after a while i either forget about my new "illness" or decide my bf is right and i don't have it. but i panic myself often...i thought i had diabetes for a while too.
I hope that you are NOT borderline. Looking at what you have written - depression and anxiety can seem much worse than it actually is (in terms of symptoms). Borderline is a full-blown mental illness.
I used to self diagnose a whole lot. I still do, but very differently. I research, a whole lot. I monitor the symptoms carefully for several months.
The problem with self diagnosing is that it is very easy to get it wrong. The problems with going to a professional are many - often you have to first convince your doctor to get the referral to the mental health specialist. Sometimes that is where treatment ends - the doctor decides you are hypochondriac and refuses to write a referral. Then you have to go through the waiting period, then sometimes the specialist decides that you are fine and refuses to diagnose.
Then sometimes you do not even get treatment.
Anyway, since I have put the rules in place, everything I have self diagnosed with, a psychologist has later diagnosed me with, bar two (because my psychologist was an ED specialist, and would not diagnose me with anything after the ED, depression and anxiety).
its good to know what is going on in your own head, however a self-diganosis is a bad idea, if you think you have BPD then you should see someone and have them confirm it. BPD is usually seen in adults and has been defined as that the adult has had a traumatic event occur when they are younger usually to the role model parent (males-dads, females-moms) that basically causes the individual to not have that parent for a significant amount of time or has their desires pushed away from them because of the parents inability to cope/help etc.
the other thing your symptoms fit a lot of other mental illness (GAD, MDD, etc) not everything has to fit perfectly... you need to seek a mental health professional not xanga...
It seems that every definition of borderline personality disorder is different. Get a second opinion - this personality disorder is actually very serious, so I doubt you have it. I believe that everyone can "identify" with a personality disorder but that doesn't mean you have it. Don't take it to heart. You may have some issues, but those can be worked through. Seek professional help.
Look here at the DSM criteria for borderline personality disorder. It's a "pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following..."
My psychiatry book also says, "Persons with borderline personality disorder almost always appear to be in a state of crisis."
Just having panic attacks, or just feeling empty, as someone said, does not a diagnosis of this disorder make.
I also agree with what lots of people have said - if you're worried about it, go to the doctor. Self-diagnosis is bad.
I love diagnosing myself. I try to do it once a day, really.
I often wonder what's actually wrong with me...