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Borderline Personality Disorder VS Bipolar
Author: Li Ming Wong
Borderline personality disorder and bipolar are often mistaken as being
the same thing. They are also often misdiagnosed, one for the other. This is
because the symptoms for both illnesses are startlingly similar.
Borderline personality disorder is actually less common and less known
than bipolar. Borderline personality disorder accounts for only about twenty
percent of hospitalizations for mental illness each year, while bipolar
accounts for about fifty percent of hospitalizations. Borderline personality
disorder is most common in young women, whereas bipolar is equally common in
both men and women, as well as all age groups.
Borderline personality disorder and bipolar patients both experience mood
swings that may involve violent outbursts, depression, or anxiety. However,
while bipolar patients typically cycle through these moods over a period of
weeks or months, borderline personality disorder patients may have bursts of
these moods lasting only a few hours or a day.
Borderline personality disorder patients also undergo periods of having
no idea who they are in terms of personality, likes, dislikes, and
preferences. They may change long term goals frequently, and have trouble
sticking to any one activity.
Acting with impulsiveness, going on major unaffordable shopping sprees,
excessive eating, or engaging in risky sexual relationships can also be
experienced. These are also symptoms of mania in bipolar patients.
Borderline personality disorder patients may also undergo periods of
worthlessness, feeling mistreated or misunderstood, and emptiness. These
symptoms coincide with symptoms of depression in bipolar patients.
Another symptom of borderline personality disorder involves how they deal
with relationships. Relationships are often viewed in extremes. Either the
patient is totally in love or hates with a passion. A patient may be
completely in love one minute, then hate someone totally due to a small
conflict or situation. Fears of abandonment often lead to suicide threats,
rejection, and depression in the patient. These relationship issues can also
be found in bipolar patients.
Treatments of borderline personality disorder and bipolar are also
similar. A combination of therapy and medication is typically preferred by
the psychiatrist. Cognitive behavioral therapy, while successfully
implemented with bipolar patients, was originally developed for use with
borderline personality disorder. Various medications can also be prescribed
for either mental illness with successful results.
Like bipolar disorder, little is known about the actual causes of
borderline personality disorder. There is a lot of controversy about
genetics versus environment in this area.
However, it appears through research that, while bipolar is definitely
hereditary and biological in nature, borderline personality disorder is more
likely to be a result of environment and situational stimuli.
As you can see, many similarities exist between bipolar and borderline
personality disorder. It can often be quite difficult to distinguish one
illness from the other, even for doctors and psychologists. If you suffer
any of the symptoms discussed here, it is important to obtain the assistance
and diagnosis of a licensed professional for appropriate diagnosis and
treatment of your symptoms. You should never attempt self diagnosis and
treatment for symptoms such as those associated with bipolar and borderline
personality disorder without the help of a psychiatrist or psychologist.
Doing so may cause your symptoms to worsen, and make treatment less
successful in the future.
About the author:
To learn more, check out
Bipolar Disabilities Guide |
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