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Wednesday, July 29, 2009 mom2twins asks

Q: Bipolar or Borderline?

I hope some of you can help me. My ex-husband was diagnosed as having BP2 almost 2 years ago ( he had had a major breakdown at that time)...he never went on the medication because he said he was not sick.

My ex was a mild mannered guy, never yelled and rarely raised his voice to me. He was however extremely neglectful and had an unnatural obsession with paintball (this has gotten much worse).

The problem is that he is now a screaming bully. I still have to deal with him because of our children but i can not take his rapid mood swings (he tries to be sweet but if i say something he does no agree with he flies into a rage)

He is seeing a new therapist and she has said that he may have been misdiagnosed ...that really he exhibits all the signs of borderline personality disorder.

I don't think he has mentioned to her that he is not on his meds. I do not understand how a person can be so "sweet" for 45 years and then suddenly be has BPD. He never self harmed and he sure did not have abandonment issues.

Can someone please tell me, ...what is the difference between BPD and bipolar disorder. How can you tell the differnce between the 2??

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Answers (1)
3/25/10 10:54pm

I'm so sorry to hear about your difficult, painful situation. I was diagnosed

with BiPolar disorder 28 years ago. I am presently in an emotionally stable

state.  I don't know if your Ex has BiPolar for sure but when I was diagnosed

early in my disease I read about a woman who acted similarly to your Ex.

She infact had Bp.  It can take many forms.  But until you are able to get

him to be compliant & take his meds he will not get better.  That is something

I have personally come to understand & accept.  No one wants to take the

the meds because they s--k, pardon me, but they have a lot of bad side

effects; but if a person with Bp doesn't take them they have no quality of life. 

So you see it comes down to the lesser of two bad situations...the proverbial

'stuck between a rock & a hard place'.  This will not get better without meds,

therapy & emotional support for the person with Bp.  I would encourage you

to contact NAMI they have support for families...they will help.  I hope things

get better for all of you.  My heart goes out to you.  Hang in there...get some

support for yourself.  peace  J

 

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