Borderline Personality Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
Hi.
I was diagnosed with BPD in 2023 and it's been a very hard diagnosis to accept having. Last Thursday I found out I also have OCPD. Sometimes it's a little overwhelming seeing the list of ailments grow and knowing I can't do anything to stop or change the diagnoses from being added. Sometimes I view it as like "oh, there's more *** wrong with me." and sometimes I see it as "okay! Now I know what to do to get the proper care I need!" It's a weird way to view things but if I'm sad or anxious about it, I just try to remind myself I'm not alone and so many others go through the same things I do.
@GhostandGrimoire
You are not alone and it's so kind if you to share what you are going through to help others 💜💕
Thank you 𥹠I get self conscious sharing these things because I know I am not perfect despite being a perfectionist.
@GhostandGrimoire
@GhostandGrimoire
Hey, I did happen to look at your user profile and saw the list of diagnoses there... and yeah I could see how that would feel pretty overwhelming. 💜
Diagnostic comorbidity is really common with PTSD and C-PTSD. Kind of like if you have one or two diagnoses and they're significant enough, you end up being diagnosable with a dozen other things just because trauma can create a lot of different reactions.
https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/comorbidity-psychiatric-disorders-posttraumatic-stress-2/
Some optimistic ways of looking at this:
1) You're not getting sicker or worse. You're still who you are and that hasn't changed. It's just people describing different aspects or manifestations of the same underlying experience. Parable of the elephant comes to mind. 😊
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant
2) Therapies that work on trauma tend to end up indirectly tackling all of the other stuff in the process. (Healing the one thing also helps heal the dozen other things.)
@QuietMagic you’re literally so kind. So far I’ve really enjoyed our interactions 🥹💜
@GhostandGrimoire
Thank you! Reading this brightened my day 🙏
Aww! I’m so glad I could help make your day happier! 🥰
I've been diagnosed with various things, including borderline, and sometimes when I think about it it makes me mad but I try to remember that my quality and value of life are much more important than what someone I hardly know has labeled me with. If I am taking care of myself and making positive strides I can picture the stigma or self condemnation sliding right off of me with ease.
That’s a really good way to view it! I like that way of seeing it. Doctors have repeatedly mistreated and misdiagnosed me so you’re right! What’s it to me the opinion and diagnosis of a person who hardly knows me except when I’m having a mental health episode? That was kind of eye opening. Thank you for sharing this insight with me! ☺️
I have been diagnosed with these two exactly same disorders. I totally get how difficult life must be for you as it has been for me too. I have been on steady meds for about a year now and let me tell you, it does get better! One thing that helped me cope with my diagnosis is that I truly believe my bpd is kinda like neurodivergence. Instead of thoughts, my emotions work a very different way than most people. I feel more intensely than most people do. My feelings shift more frequently than most people's. But but but, I'm still a fully functional human being. Yes, I struggle with little things like getting a shower or something. And I often berate myself internally for not being able to take basic care of myself like normal people can. But you know what, I'm not normal. And neither are my struggles. Most people don't struggle with these the way I do, but they have their own different struggles. Mine just happens to be more visible and obvious. I'm not sick, just differently built. Most people around me also can't feel happiness the way I do. And I'm lucky for those cracks through which the sunlight seeps in. You'll find that with some redirection of thoughts and altering of thought patterns, you'll be able to navigate through most of your mood swings that may seem irrational in the moment and you'll begin to understand where it all comes from. I hope that happens for you sooner rather than later, for it is bound to happen for anyone willing to give it a closer look! Good luck on your journey!
You are very brave to write this out today, and I am proud of you for acknowledging so many emotions. Just know that you used positive reinforcement as well, which is an excellent tool to cope through a tricky moment such as this <3
@GhostandGrimoire As someone who got a diagnosis 10 years ago, I'd like to provide hope for you dealing with BPD. I've learned how to manage, control, and use it to my advantage to set boundaries, confront others calmly, and feel more confident. You're gonna be just fine! You're never alone.
