Is there such a thing as a self-recognizing BPD?

[SeekingSusan]

So here it goes, my daughter (21) is exhibiting BPD traits. She is convinced that BPD is the underlying cause of her problems. You should also know that she is currently in treatment (just a few months in) for a severe eating disorder, and several other co-occuring disorders including depression, anxiety, drug & alcohol abuse. I understand that all of these disorders are so closely related, that it is very difficult for her clinicians to make an official diagnoses at this early time. I guess my first question is I want to ask of the other forum members experience is if any of their adult children have been able to self-recognize that they may have BPD prior to their diagnosis?   

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[Dontknow88]

Hello, may be s little different but I have an ex (father of our child) he dose crazy things and has moments of clarity when he would go on the net and research his actions cause part of him things it isn't right. He's the one that told me he may have BPD, Bipolar, depression and anxiety disorder And officially he was right.

He would go back to doing crazy things then realizing what he did.  We are going threw custody battle cause I see he isn't a fit parent right now and sometimes he sees that too. When he's unstable he acts like a know it all and belittle everyone, abuse alchohal and so on

[VitaminC]

Hi Susan and !

I cannot answer your question from personal experience, but do not find it unimaginable that someone with BPD might be able to self-diagnose.

Lists of symptoms are readily available online and it is thankfully a less mysterious disorder than in even the recent past. Our own resource on identifying traits is here. Having said that, there is still a great deal of poor quality information online and it is wise to work with reputable sources. You have found such a one here.

Are you anxious about your daughter's self-diagnosis in any way?

This is likely a very stressful time for you as well. How are you supporting yourself during this time?

Keep talking to us, SeekingSusan. You will find much in the way of solid information, practical tips, and emotional support for yourself. We are here for you.

Best wishes,
VitaminC

[SeekingSusan]

Thank you both,
Dontknow88 - your experience with your husband has helped a great deal, I now know there was at least one person out there that self-recognized.
VitaminC - yes, I am trying to take care of myself, I have started to see a Therapist as well, Thank you for the words of encouragement.

[Yepanotherone]

Hi there , my DD16 was quite clear a year ago when her problems became apparent that she thought she was either bipolar or BPD . She told told the very first mental health officer who assessed her that that is what she thought it was . That mental health officer told her at the time that she was being rather harsh with herself and that it was likely just a clinical depression , yet here we are , one year on , and she is diagnosed with bipolar AND BPD

[Rockieplace]

Hi there. Although my BPDd34 wasn't diagnosed with BPD until 2 years ago after a series of crises she immediately accepted the diagnosis.  This surprised me at the time as she had professed a dislike for working with this category of mental health patients (she was working as a mental health nurse at the time).

When clearing out her house after she was admitted to a long term residential therapeutic programme I found 5  or more books specifically about the treatment of BPD which she had taken from the library (and not returned!) around a year before her diagnosis. At first I thought it suspicious that she had been reading so much about it and was perhaps using it to explain her 'bad' behaviour which was causing so much heartache to everyone around her at the time.  Another explanation which I am trying hard to believe is that she knew she had BPD and was reading everything to try to understand the nature of her illness and possible treatments etc.

When we talk now she does say that when she first started reading about it she knew that that was what she was suffering from. She says she fulfilled all the criteria from her own assessment!

 

[SeekingSusan]

Thank you for telling me your experiences - It does help that we are not alone

[Dontknow88]

Hi there , my DD16 was quite clear a year ago when her problems became apparent that she thought she was either bipolar or BPD . She told told the very first mental health officer who assessed her that that is what she thought it was . That mental health officer told her at the time that she was being rather harsh with herself and that it was likely just a clinical depression , yet here we are , one year on , and she is diagnosed with bipolar AND BPD

No problem, now the hardest part is actually sticking to getting help. Don't forget to take. Are of yourself

[PaulaJeanne]

Yea, when my daughter (now 23) was 17 she was hospitalized in a pediatric psych facility for a while and twice a week they did DBT therapy. My daughter was all excited about this and told me that there were some number of diagnostic symptons for Borderline PD and she had all of them. No one would give her that official diagnosis at the time... .too young, they said.
DBT has been the only thing that's really helped her, but it's hard work and she needs to make a commitment to it. She's run away so many times. She's married now, with a baby, but she's still a child herself. Yesterday we started a new program (very, very expensive... .don't take insurance) but they diagnosed her BiPolar with borderline tendencies. She accepted that diagnosis, and I think she recognized the BPD at an early age.