Diagnosis Is Hard; Considering How Many Possibilities

I am new to the Healing Well Forum. I was one another forum about seven years ago, until I was diagnosed with Borderline Personalty Disorder, in place of Bipolar 2. This change of diagnosis, left me confused, and frusterated. The following list, begins from 22 years ago when I got my FIRST diagnosis. All the other diagnoses are in order they were made. The LAST one is my new up to date diagnoses. Not all diagnoses were done by the same psychiatrists. The list.....

1) DEPRESSION.
2) ANXIETY DISORDER.
3) OCD (OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER).
4) OCD, BUT IT WAS CAUSED BY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA.
5) I WAS PUT ON LITHIUM FOR MY EPISODES OF RAGE.
6) OCD, AND CHRONIC DEPRESSION.
7) OCD, AND A LITTLE BIT BIPOLAR.
8) OCD; NOT BIPOLAR, BUT INSTEAD I HAD HISTRIONIC, NARCISSISTIC AND AVOIDANT PERSONALITY DISORDERS. WITH OCCASIONAL DEPRESSION.
9) OCD, AND ALCOHOLISM.
10) BIPOLAR 2 AND OCD.
11) BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, AND OCD.
12) COMPLEX PERSONALITY DISORDER WITH OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE FEATURES.
13) The latest diagnosis: ANXIETY DISORDER (OCD), AND MOOD DISORDER (RAPID CYCLING BIPOLAR 2).


Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar 2 Disorder, have striking similarities. The reason why I was told I had Bipolar at first, was because I was hyper, agitated, spoke fast; jumping from topic to topic. Now, the reason why I was told I have Borderline personality Disorder, is because I bang my head (I rarely do that now) and have cut myself a few times.

The way I see myself now is: I have OCD and Cyclothymia The cutting and head banging, stems from childhood trauma and OCD. I have most of the symptoms of Bipolar2, except, I haven't shopped wildly, and maxed my VISA on a manic high (some would buy a new car, or house, or fly to Tokyo on a whim); because of this, it played a part in ruling out the Bipolar diagnosis. Because of mood swings, in combination with OCD, it had made me appear unstable, therefore, others diagnosed me with the Borderline instead. A fear of abandonment is a very large part in Borderline Personality Disorder, which I don't have.

By the way, recently, it was found that Bipolar Disorder was also shown to be linked to OCD; 30% of those with OCD have Bipolar 2.
I am currently on a mood stabilizers, antidepressants ,and two type of benzodiazepines.

Mental illness is hard to diagnose; since the body, mind, and soul, are intertwined. I hope all of you are doing well. For those who aren't, make sure you have a good psychiatrist, and be patient with finding the right medication and therapy. The following is a METAPHOR......Mental illness is like a job: If you don't stay with your job duties; then something may not go right. // If you don't stay persistent with staying on top of your treatment; then something may not go right.

(((HUGS)))

Hi Bohemian,

I think you hit on exactly the reason why we need to have our symptoms treated instead of our diagnosis. The diagnoses overlap and will change over time. I have been bipolar for years, but earlier this year, after I had a manic episode mind you, I had a new psych say I wasn't bipolar, just suffering from severe depression, but she chose to keep me on lithium anyway. Now she sees the bipolar too. The problem with changing psychs is it takes a while to make these diagnoses -- you can't do it in 15 minutes. You have to get to know someone.

I cut for years and head bang too occasionally. Both are under control now. But no one has ever suggested borderline for me. So I would say that you need to be very honest with your doctors about your symptoms, and not get too wrapped up in the "name" for your situation, which is clearly very complicated.

Be well,
serafena