Emotionally unstable personality disorder

[dangermouseisace]

I’ve just had this added to a long standing depression diagnosis. I was surprised but thought maybe I just didn’t realise, and that I should keep an open mind.

However, reading the criteria, I still don’t feel I meet it, as 5 out of however many behaviours were needed and I could only get 3...at an extreme push 4 (if you count worrying in the evening as a mood swing)

Has anyone else had this issue?

Is this Borderline Personality Disorder? Google says it is.

If so then yes, me too. Today!

What do you feel you have?

I know I'm depressed (and have been since early teens) but it's not just that.

I have this issue too. I do not self harm, I do not worry about abandonment nor do I go to great lengths to avoid it. I don't engage in risky behaviours but yet I'm looking at this diagnosis too. As depression and treatment for depression had failed to improve me (think : over 15 yrs of deliberation, treatment for depression). It's frustrating as I refused to accept i fit the diagnostic criteria. Can you ask for second opinion? I think it's frustrating.

Me too! I have never seemed get any better - I just hide it more.

I don't feel like I have a fear of abandonment either - in fact I fantasise about running away regularly.

My therapist said today that there are loads of combinations of BPD or EUPD and it's to broad a diagnosis but it's all they have.

I've just finished STEPPS having been diagnosed last November. I was pleased to get the diagnosis as everything I read seemed to fit.

A catch-all disorder which may or may not actually apply to those who are diagnosed with it due to the 'spectrum' and wishy washy diagnostic criteria which you may or may not have. Really helpful. It mage me emotionally unstable just thinking about it.

I could look it up but what's STEPPS?

haha - well yes doesn't it just. I never denied I was emotionally unstable just that when there's a whole disorder it makes me pay more attention.

I do see that I have an attachment disorder and I know why so if this is all there is, I guess I'll wear the (metaphorical so therefore invisible) hat.

STEPPS is a group therapy course to help you manage the symptoms of EUPD

Ah I've found my people! Thanks ladies. I'm glad to hear that the diagnosis was useful for some of you, but sorry to hear that others are in the same position as me.

I actually had the proper Milton psychological tests a couple of years ago that indicated I didn't have it, that I was depressed.

Then after another hospital admission a different psychiatrist thinks I do have it. Their reason is that I was abused in childhood and then had a long period of illness teens/early 20's. Another reason is that I have had 2 depressed episodes whilst on anti depressants. Apparently, if I was 'just' depressed I wouldn't get depressed whilst on anti depressants .

I think my problem is my life has been unusually shit over the past 4 years, with quite a lot of what are called 'major life events' happening concurrently. I've not had any stability in my life for the past 4 years and I think this has meant I haven't got over the 1st 'bad' period that led to hospitalisation 3 years ago.

I've been on AD's most of my adult life- but I'd been managing well with small 'blips' (except PND which was awful) around every 2 years for about 6 weeks...usually whenever I'd try and stop medication. This pattern of the last few years is not how my life was, at all.

I'm doing something similar to STEPPS mygastisflabbered did you find it useful?

and nameandaddress yes I found that the diagnosis certainly made me feel emotionally unstable when I had been ok before...

I've just this week finished the course, it was a struggle as it's a 20 week course. But it's been useful and I hope I can build on the skills I've been taught.

Is STEPPS online? or an actual group therapy with others? Is it NHS?

BPD has a bad press and even though I have (or have had in my life) a good few of the traits, I don't want to have it IYSWIM. EUPD on the other hand seems more palatable to me because I am emotionally unstable at times.

You can have episodes of depression (which I'm sure you know) when you're on ADs, especially when they're not the right kind for you.

I am desperate for a diagnosis though - I want to understand why I can function like other people can. I still think I have Severe Depressive Disorder (stops people just hearing 'depressed') with ADD.

i was told i have this , but its just been changed to enduring personality change as i didnt fit all criteria.
very confusing

I'm glad it was useful myghastisflabbered

are you seeing a psychiatrist uniquesiren?

wfrances I'm sure sometimes they just make stuff up as they go along, as I seem to be included even though I don't meet the criteria. It is indeed very confusing.

A psychologist dangermouse

It seems so broad a diagnosis that they try to fit people in when they don't fit elsewhere.

How are you at the moment?

Psychologist is probably better uniquesiren

I think that’s true about the diagnosis. It’s a bit like, “well, it’s just how you are”

I’m ok at the moment but it is a bit like spinning plates to stay ok! How are you?

Yes I feel like that. Grateful that I'm doing ok but expecting to be tipped over the edge sometime soon. I guess that's the emotionally unstable part...

I feel a bit vulnerable going to therapy tbh. She's telling me things about myself that - although they are spot on - are completely different than my firmly held beliefs about myself. It's hard.

I'd rather just take a new (this-will-change-my-life-this-time) pill as is my (albeit misguided) comfort zone.

How was/is your therapy? I read that a lot of therapists (psychologists/psychiatrists) hesitate to take on people with BPD because they/we get too attached. Bit offended by that, if anything I find it difficult to become attached and trust.

Glad you’re doing ok at the moment @uniquesiren

It sounds like your therapist is pretty good- if it’s hard to do then hopefully you’ll be able to make some changes in your personal life. Have you told your therapist that you find it difficult, so as they have some sort of idea about how it’s affecting you?

I did psychotherapy last year and that was hard as I was already on a downward slope. It was useful in that the therapist challenged some of my beliefs about family dynamics, and also got me to start thinking about being less hard on myself. This would have been before the BDP diagnosis though.

The thing now is skills training, coping strategies etc which is useful, but I don’t think I’d have found it as useful without the psychotherapy bit first- a bit like getting in the right mindset.

I get what you say about the assumption ppl with BDP get too attached. I’m a bit of a hermit so I don’t feel like that at all, especially with professionals, and like you have issues with trust. How can you get attached to someone who is only there because they’re paid to be?! I don’t get the angry bit either...the things I’ve read have discussed ‘rage’ a lot, but it’s very rare for me to get angry. Except when a professional tells me they think that really I’m very angry- that DOES make me cross!