New to site possible BPD diagnosis

[bpbreakout]

Does anyone have any advice or feedback for my situation ?

Wife has been diagnosed with bipolar for many years but has recently changed psychiatrist. It looks like new psychiatrist clearly believes that borderline or PTSD may be a big factor in wife's behaviour not just bipolar and also that a DBT course may be very helpful.

Wife is highly defensive/in denial about "mental illness" in general. She keeps starting discussions with me about whether or not she is mentally ill and how unfair I am on her. Frankly I feel uncortable about getting into a debate on menatl illness.

My feeling is that if psych is recommeding wife does a DBT course I should just focus on the potential benefits of this and go along with everything that is said. I don't see a point in getting involved in a debate about whether wife is bipolar or borderline or both. My main fear is that if new psych is diagnosing borderline but not bipolar then he may recommend discontuing wife's mood stabilisers which really worries me.

Being new to this forum I'm interested in any feedback from anyone involved with a dual bipolar/borderline situation and also any feedback about how to approach the meeting with my wife and the psych, also what your experiences of DBT are.

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[izzitme]

   Welcome.  I have no experience with the questions you posed but just wanted to welcome you.  You will find this to be a place of comfort through resources and shared experiences.

[an0ught]

Hi bpbreakout,

the two are not so easy to differentiate. As Bipolar can be tackled with medication while BPD thanks to the "PD" has more a stigma and is harder to tackle the deck is stacked for an initial bipolar diagnosis. I wished the deck was stacked towards a diagnosis associated with a DBT treatment with little side effects (besides learning to cope better everywhere).

Both - getting maybe off eventually the continuous medication and learning techniques to be more effective in life are positive facts. It is also understandable that you are afraid of her changing quickly when taken off medication. Ultimately it is between her and the T. Have you shared your concerns with her?

I don't see a point in getting involved in a debate about whether wife is bipolar or borderline or both.

If it is BPD it has a tendency to affect the whole relationship and the partner to a great deal... .

,

a0