Borderline Personality Disorder And Bipolar Disorder - How They Are Different

Borderline Personality Disorder is not as common as Bipolar, and also we know less about this illness. Twenty percent of hospital admissions for mental illness are diagnosed with this disorder, while fifty percent of hospitalizations for mental illness are bipolar patients. Young women are the group more known to develop Borderline Personality Disorder, while bipolar affects both men and women equally regardless of age.

Mood swings such as anxiety, depression and violent flare ups are experienced in both patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and those with Bipolar. With Bipolar patients these symptoms can last weeks or months in a cycle, whilst in Borderline Personality Disorder it may only last a few hours or a day.

With Borderline Personality Disorder, a patient can reach periods where they they do not know what their likes and dislikes are, who they are as a person or their personal preferences. Their long term goals may change quite often, and trying to stick to one activity becomes difficult. They act on impulse with overeating, shopping sprees and may indulge in sexual liaisons with strangers. Mania is also present in bipolar patients.

Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder also experience emptiness, feelings of being misunderstood or mistreated and worthlessness; much like the symptoms felt in depression of patients with Bipolar.

In terms of relationships, a patient with Borderline Personality Disorder will have extremes of being totally besotted or hating someone with a passion. One minute they will be in love, then a small upset or conflict will instantly make them hate that person. If they fear being abandoned, the patient gets depressed, feels rejection and may threaten suicide. Bipolar patients also have these issues when it comes to relationships.

Treatments for both disorders are also similar. A psychiatrist will prescribe both medication and therapy, the preferred choice. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was originally developed in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder, but found to be successful for Bipolar patients. There are various medications for both mental illnesses which have been to achieve good results.

There is little known about both illnesses which are thought to be either genetic or due to the environment. Research shows that the nature of Bipolar is more biological and hereditary, whereas Borderline Personality Disorder is due more to the stimuli of the environment and situations.

These similarities show that either illness is difficult to distinguish and diagnose, for doctors and psychologists, too. Anyone who is suffering from these symptoms should medical or professional advice for the correct diagnosis and treatment. Self diagnosis is not the best way to go about treating your symptoms especially with Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder. A psychiatrist or psychologist is the best person to advise you in order for successful treatment to be prescribed, and give you the best chance for managing your mental illness for a better future.

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