Doc: "You can't have BPD because you've achieved too much".

[GeordieBadger]

My GP reckons that because of my academic credentials I can't have Borderline Personality Disorder but my behaviour fits the symptoms and BPD runs in my family.

Instead she's pinning my emotional state solely on alcohol.

I haven't read any link between BPD and achievement, what gives?

Sounds like someone trying to fob you off. I have the equivalent of a masters degree and a bpd diagnosis

Well the psych team which treated me worked in sync with a team in Manhattan (not an area associated with under-achievers generally). Their University research into BPD had shown that those that were cured were "rich, white, clever women".

Like willow - very intelligent here and a whopping variety of life experiences.

Double-edged sword - those of us who can hold our shit together 9-5 can just about keep our heads above water in a professional sphere so despite the odd hiccup might appear successful, unfortunately there are also many BPD women who are out-of-control substance-abusers and sex-workers. There but for the grace of God and all that jazz.

Massively wrong. I know a top level lawyer who has worked for the CPS and for the Attorney Generals office with that diagnosis. And there is NO question over the diagnosis, believe me.

I am having problems accessing MH services right now and one MH nurse agreed with me that it's partially because I'm coming across as "too composed" and "lucid".

Wearing clean clothes and having a fairly decent vocabulary is no fail safe indicator of my emotional turmoil.

I have bpd and have a post grad qual.

I'm pretty sure the 'never being right, never being good enough' feelings can lead to high achievement with supportive family/friends. Surely?

Having an amazing, responsible and well sought-after job is no indication of the absolute shitstorm that happens post 5pm. Another BPD-er I knew was brilliant 9-5, by night she was the arm-candy of a cocaine dealing pimp who gave her syphilis who even knew syphilis was still a thing?.

Its incredibly difficult to do a mental health assessment when someone is drinking. If/When you stop drinking your outlook and personality may change massively. I work in mental health and they will try very hard to not diagnose anyone who is currently drinking in a problematic way.
I also have a friend who was diagnosed as having BPD and she was an alcoholic at the time. Shes been sober three years and honestly she would not receive that diagnosis if she were assessed now because her personality has changed so much.
It may well be that you do have BPD but it could equally be problem drinking that leads you to display symptoms of it. Id guess that your doctor wants to see if it is just related to drinking before making a firm diagnosis.
Thing about personality disorders is that most people have at least some elements of one or two and the diagnosis of them is only really useful if those symptoms are impacting on your life negatively. As it could be drinking that is causing you to display the symptoms of a personality disorder it is better to check that it isn't that before slapping a label on you.
I think he was pretty out of line to say that you cant be successful or clever if you have BPD. Some of the people I work with who have it are some of the most clever people you could ever meet!
Good luck with everything x

Your GP isn't a specialist. Some of them can be massively ignorant when it comes to MH. Ask for a referral.

The problem with GPs is that they often don't have the specialist knowledge of MH issues and will say things that are way off the mark due to their lack of knowledge. I'm sure that if you scratched the surface with them, they may not even have a good idea of what BPD actually entails and the problems that it can cause to every day functioning.

I'd ask for a referral to a psychiatrist of mental health professional. You shouldn't be diagnosed with a personality disorder without a proper assessment anyway, so that's the way to go if you want to get some specialist help.

My DP has BPD. He has a first class degree, PhD and is now a manager of a research company. One specialist he saw said he's intelligent enough he should be able to just get over it (the things that were causing him serious distress). Arsehole specialist! Academic ability doesn't mean you're not susceptible to trauma or mental health issues. Any chance you could see another doctor?