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Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

AngelContributor08 Sept 2014, 6:18 pm AEST

Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

Hi...just a newbie on this site,

I have been diagnosed with complex PTSD and been working for over a year with a trauma counsellor. I have just started seeing this new psychiatrist who believes that I have a Personality disorder based on my personal risk and self harming, poor attachment with my mother as a child and no father figure, as well as due to significant dissociation. I am not impulsive, angry, and have had long standing relationships and been in employment positions for many years prior to becoming unwell and now unable to work. I personally believe the above traits are more due to my PTSD and relationship trauma not Borderline Personality Disorder. I have heard nothing but bad stigma attached with Borderline Personality Disorder. What is the experience of others on the forum diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder?

27 replies

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In response to: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

BatGuanoSenior Contributor11 Sept 2014, 5:05 pm AEST

Re: Sympathy for the Devil

We are the people your Mother warned you about.

We walk among you.

Join us!

In response to: Re: Sympathy for the Devil

chemonroSenior Contributor11 Sept 2014, 5:08 pm AEST

Re: Sympathy for the Devil

Hehe, I've had that song through my head all day!

In response to: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

ivanaSenior Contributor11 Sept 2014, 5:39 pm AEST

Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

I fully agree with Batguano.

Never doubt yourself when someone has a different opinion and never be passive.Ever.

Doctors arn't infallible and can come from their own issues or he could be blinded/narrowminded due to having excessive interest in BPD.

Confidence in a therapist is important and so is feeling you are both going in the same direction.If hes causing you more stress,thats a bad sign.

Personally,if it was me,i'd either get a new psych or ask what his plan was for how he was going to “treat me“ and that you'd prefer it was done without labels.

In response to: Re: Sympathy for the Devil

AngelContributor11 Sept 2014, 8:41 pm AEST

Re: Sympathy for the Devil

hehehe...I think I was someone my mother warned me about...lol... 🙂

In response to: Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

AngelContributor11 Sept 2014, 8:46 pm AEST

Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

I spoke to my psych and although didn't quite feel comfortable enough to say STOP the labelling I did tell him that I didn't agree with him. He was ok and we talked about what was relevant and potential groups/medication changes. I guess I was kind of happy but after hearing what all you guys have had to say I think I am going to be more assertive next week!!! It is nice to know that you are not alone in a situation and to have people impartial to give their thoughts...love this forum!! 🙂

In response to: Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

BatGuanoSenior Contributor12 Sept 2014, 11:07 am AEST

Us and Them, dominance and submission, and the Win-Win result

Angel I'm really glad to hear your good results.

Your psych listened to you. Hold the front page!

This therapeutic relationship (yes I know it sounds weird) has potential.

I have to give a warning here that I'm about to give an opinion and advice.

You have absolutely the right to form your own opinion and ignore any advice.

Its not about us and them. Its a relationship where both of you can agree, disagree, argue, make goals, work together.

Both of you can win out. Have respect, be honest, be fair, be polite.

Now play nice, kids.

In response to: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

NebSenior Contributor12 Sept 2014, 8:31 pm AEST

Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

Stick with the forum Angel if you can. I started awakening to mental health stuff at 15, I am now 55. My journey has trolled through the DSM with an astounding number of diagnosis, an extravagant amount of chemicals. Finding the right professional at the right moment is the biggest challenge I think. I started to get better with a professional establishing a therapeutic relationship for over a year ( I think ) before I started opening up. It was beneficial because all he did was LISTEN!

In response to: Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

MissContentCasual Contributor12 Sept 2014, 10:15 pm AEST

Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

Hi Angel,

I have BPD and feel that is the right fit with me as far as any diagnosis goes. The contributors on here are all savvy people and I have to agree that you, and only you, can say whether a diagnosis is right for you. As mentioned earlier, being given a label can be very daunting and I feel that sometimes its best to disregard the label until you feel you have some sense of safeness with your therapist. I personally did not begin to enter recovery until I felt a strong sense of understanding, authenticity and safeness with my therapist. Indeed, if you feel that this is a therapist that allows you to challenge his labels upon you then he is a good sort. Complex PTSD is often apart of BPD, although this does not guarantee that you are suffering from Borderline. I encourage you to chat with people that are comfortable with their BPD diagnosis, it may help you to gain a more solid understanding of what it is and if it truly fits with you. I am in recovery and have been so for the past 3 years...there is hope and it is not as damning as it often rumoured to be. I wish you well 🙂

In response to: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

Alessandra1992Senior Contributor13 Sept 2014, 6:17 pm AEST

Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

Also, check out mind UK's site, they have stories of people talking about their journey with BPD and other mi issues. I would provide a lunk but I am not tech savvy enough..but really worth viewing..

In response to: Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

AngelContributor14 Sept 2014, 4:45 pm AEST

Re: Is Borderline Personality Disorder commonly diagnosed as part of Complex PTSD?

Hi Ivana,

Unfortunately I tend to be passive. I so wish I wasn't. Saying that I am being a little assertive about this as I don't believe he is right. I agree he may have an interest in BPD however I also believe that as I have complex PTSD he believes I must have BPD. Whereas I look at the accummulation of traumas throughout my lifespan as to the "complex" component...It is not just an isolated event!!! I guess he is just a new psychiatrist and we are sorting out the "territory" as such. He is extremely open and lays things out in front of me...however I am yet to see eye to eye atm. I like the idea to put to him re: therapy without the labels. He is the best psych I have come across for a long time and has worked before with my trauma counsellor so I am not going to give him the quick flick as I think he may be good once I trust him per se!

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