PTSD or BPD

[cal644]

I've been doing alot of research since the split with my wife.  However her councilor has only told her she has PTSD - but I see soo many of the flags (8 of 9 criteria) with BPD.  Can anyone tell me in simple terms how I can tell the difference.  Also is it possible that her councilor is so blind that she hasn't seen the BPD or maybe she doesn't want to disclose it? At first I mentioned to her I thought she was Bi-polar (where her councilor informed her I was Bi-polar --- What the heck).  But now without a shadow of a doubt I beleive its BPD.

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RELATIONSHIP PROBLEM SOLVING This is a high level discussion board for solving ongoing, day-to-day relationship conflicts. Members are welcomed to express frustration but must seek constructive solutions to problems. This is not a place for relationship "stay" or "leave" discussions. Please read the specific guidelines for this group.

[trevjim]

I wondered the same thing about my ex, she got with me after being in a very physically abusive relationship. Looking back before him and now, I'm fairly sure it is BPD but it has crossed my mind it could be PTSD, probably a mixture of both and I got the brunt of it.

[MaybeSo]

If there's insurance involved a therapist will often dx as axis I so that treatment can be covered; most insurance companies won't treat axis II personality disorders.  Also, telling someone they have a personality disorder can be much more scary and stimagtizing than saying you have a axis i mood disorder or stress related disorder.

Also... .  a person can have BOTH PTSD and BPD and often do have both going on... .  in fact, if a person has BPD... .  in my opinion, they are in a way always dealing with chronic or complex posttramatic stress symptoms.

[refuge]

yea mine was PTSD+ BPD+ Dissociative identity... .  

there is a point where the severity of the dysfunction (dissociation) will give the appearance of total normality. The emotional instability of the typical borderline can  be completely masked by dissociation...

[Cloudy Days]

I agree with what someone else said. They don't always give the diagnoses of BPD because insurance companys won't pay for treatment. My husband is listed as having Bipolar Disorder and PTSD, they leave out the BPD even though that's the main thing he is getting treatment for. He does have the other two as well though. The main thing I notice about PTSD is that it makes him very hypervigilant when he is around a crowd and he has obvious triggers (the show Cops is a big one).

[Somewhere]

yea mine was PTSD+ BPD+ Dissociative identity... .  

there is a point where the severity of the dysfunction (dissociation) will give the appearance of total normality. The emotional instability of the typical borderline can  be completely masked by dissociation...

A+   

When the abuse history is real -- not Fantasy/Victim-for-Life stuff -- this is a combination that goes right together.

[refuge]

I see I'm not the only one that took a ride into the twilight zone ...

I showed a psychiatrist that didn't believe in multiplicity her  pictures over a two year period ,and he  lost his breath- as he fell out of his chair... .