im almost 18 with professionally dx'd bipolar I and bpd traits. i know bpd and bipolar have an extremely low comorbidity rate, but its still possible, right?
Kait: It is definitely possible, yes. Don’t let statistics completely deter you from validating your illness because that can be the case for you.
Emi: Definitely possible and definitely valid! I think that bipolar and bpd do share some common “themes,” and I was considered possibly bipolar by a previous therapist (before I was diagnosed with bpd). I think that depending on a which symptoms a person has and the ways that they present, most people can consolidate their experiences into one diagnosis, which is why comorbidity is so low. But it for sure could be the case that your symptoms don’t neatly cluster under one diagnosis, and both could fit! I’d suggest talking to a mental health professional about this concern and reconsidering your diagnostic status if you think that it would be helpful. I’d use pros and cons to evaluate how you feel about that option if it was me, but if you think that your treatment is compromised by lack of a bpd diagnosis definitely go for it!
Ali: Absolutely it is possible. Personality Disorders, particularly BPD often develop because of an invalidating environment during youth, which can often happen with mentally ill or otherwise neurodivergent children and teens.
Rachel: Getting separate treatment for bipolar and borderline has made a big difference for me. I started with an MDD diagnosis with bipolar traits, was diagnosed borderline, then hit full mania and got a bipolar diagnosis. They can be hard to tell apart but in my doctors’ opinions I have both and I trust them. While I’m in DBT for BPD, my meds management is really important too. There is different treatment for each disorder so identifying that you have some of each is important to getting real help. For me, getting DBT alone was like standing on one leg, I needed both treatments in tandem to start finding some stability.
