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Children, Parents, or Relatives with BPD => Parent, Sibling, or In-law Suffering from BPD => Topic started by: Kayclan on May 08, 2019, 09:23:50 AM



Title: BPD combined with autisum spectrum
Post by: Kayclan on May 08, 2019, 09:23:50 AM
Has anyone got a person with BPD as well as high functioning autism?
My sister seems to have both, maybe. She has been to a psychologist many years ago but said she wrong, whatever she told her. I think it is this because she is fixated on 1 thing. She has no friends and doesn't seem to care. She's lived alone for years and now she's temporarily with me, for 6 months already. She has other behaviors that make me suspect this as well.
Her present topic is food, nutrition and weight loss . She goes on and on incessantly about these subjects.  Sometimes I just want to say...shut up already. And she researches and watches u tube and so she is always right and when I make a statement it's mostly contradicted.
So, how to keep sane, for me?


Title: Re: BPD combined with autisum spectrum
Post by: HappyChappy on May 09, 2019, 04:22:53 AM
 Hey Kayclan,

I have a BPD mom and have worked with two people I know to be high functioning autistic people. Both these aliments involves a lack of empathy, but some high functioning autistic people can come around, i.e. they have low rather than no empathy.

We can't really diagnose on here, you'd need a specialist to do that. Also you've not given out enough info. Being affixed on one thing could also be OCD. But the poor interpersonal skills do map to autism  (or Asperger). A key definer is that people with autism have a very logical approach, so they don't get Political satire. But by the same token some with Asperger are not anti social. See here:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/04/robert-white-comedian-asperger-britains-got-talent

I hope that helps but the main value of a diagnosis is to bring about change, is your sister capable of change ?


Title: Re: BPD combined with autisum spectrum
Post by: Notwendy on May 09, 2019, 06:26:38 AM
I agree that we can't diagnose here. I think it is possible that someone with autism and someone with BPD may have some similar behaviors, but what is going on with each of them can be different.

People with autism can experience anxiety and so can people with BPD. In response to anxiety, a person may try to overly control their environment. Someone with autism responds well to a rigid routine. They may like everything to stay the same every day. When something doesn't go the way they want it, they can get very upset and this may look like a BPD dysregulation.


People with autism may also experience social anxiety and have difficulty with social relationships. People with BPD can have unstable relationships.  Some people with autism have difficulty regulating their emotions and so can people with BPD.

But they are two different disorders and the cause of their behaviors is different. It would take a trained therapist to decide if a person has either of these disorders.