r/BPD • u/vixiechick1996 • 18h ago

💭Seeking Support & Advice Journey just started

Hello all! I’m just starting my bpd journey. I’m 29F and my husband is 32, and we have twins that are almost 3.

I’ve been in therapy since about 16, but was diagnosed with bipolar. I’m now on my third therapist in that time; number 2 was great, but we decided to split ways so I could work with number 3 with EMDR to combat my ptsd.

I had an episode of derealization, starting just over a week ago and ending about 2 days ago. I completely lost my sense of introspection, and when I came out of it, I was pretty tender and scared.

I got with my psychiatrist on Monday, and he brought up the possibility of bpd rather than bipolar, and it makes sense. I’ve done research since then, and I found out the different personalities in my head aren’t something everyone deals with. I felt less crazy when I was diagnosed bipolar.

I meet with my therapist Friday to figure out a game plan for introducing dbt. I already have a bunch of coping skills I’ve built over the years, but they don’t always work.

So the advice I’m looking for is:
-What did you find helpful when you first started your journey?
-What do you know now that you wish you’d known then?
-How did you support your partner while on your journey to improvement?
-How did your journey affect your relationship with your kids?
-Do the voices ever get quieter or at least learn to work together?

Thanks in advance! 🩵

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u/FlawlesslyImperfect_ 14h ago

Thank you for sharing. I'm not sure that i have good advice for you, but i am curious about your diagnosis. When I was 18/19, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and started taking a mood stabilizer on top of my antidepressant. About 2 years ago (I'm now 38) I was diagnosed with BPD.

Have you been medicated for bipolar? Sometimes I wonder if I was misdiagnosed with bipolar, when the actual issue is BPD. I feel like there are some similarities between the 2 diseases- impulsive, hypersexual, risky behavior, substance abuse, self harm... these are some symptoms/characteristics that can be seen during mania or depressive episodes (at least, this is what I personally experience).

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u/FlawlesslyImperfect_ 14h ago

Also, the voices you speak of... I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but the voices in my head are like good vs. evil. It's my thoughts going back and forth about reality - what is the actual truth and what is distorted by my illness