Suspecting I might have BPD
Hey, Ive recently found myself relating to basically all of the signs of having BPD. My whole life Ive felt a little different and I think that I might have figured out a reason why. Im nervous to go see a professional to find out if this actually is my diagnosis. What are the first steps I should be taking?
@Nfbarr I am not an expert, but I would suggest that your very first step could be to check what the signs of BPD really are. This is because the diagnosis of BPD changed in May 2013, and many sources of information are still out of date after all these years. The old diagnosis is no longer useful.
To be diagnosed with BPD now, you have to meet five general criteria for a personality disorder (A, B, C, D and E), together with five specific criteria for BPD (A1, A2, B1, B2 and B3, which include eleven specific symptoms). Diagnosis is very difficult and confusing, and even many mental health professionals find it hard. It's completely impossible to diagnose yourself, or for anyone to diagnose you on the Internet.
Another thing that has changed over the years is that a good treatment, DBT, has gradually become more widely available. This means that if a professional does diagnose BPD, there is help.
That feeling of being a little different all your life, together with your suspected reason for it, are the kind of thing that any good therapist would be able to help you explore. So a different first step could be to see a therapist. It might be an easier path than going straight for a complex diagnosis. After getting to know you, a therapist would also have a pretty good idea about whether BPD is possible.
If you'd like to chat to me about your situation, feel free to click on my profile picture and message me.
Charlie
