I'm So Confused...Maybe I Don't Have BP - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

dreams in neon · 02-28-2009, 04:11 PM

Hi everyone,

Someone on another message board told me that BP is an internal problem with the brain. That I can agree with, but here's where I'm confused. They also said that BP isn't immediately affected by the things around you or by your current thoughts. They gave the example of someone saying something to me that hurts my feelings and causes me to go into a depression, that is not BP making me depressed, it's something else. If that's true, then how come I rapid cycle so much in response to the things that happen to and around me? I'm so confused and am beginning to wonder if I don't have BP at all, but BPD (borderline personality disorder). I don't know -- perhaps I have both. I know none of you can diagnose me, but at this point, I'm terribly confused and don't understand *anything* that is happening to me.

dreams in neon · 02-28-2009, 05:06 PM

No one has to respond to this post if they don't want to. I PM'd 2 people who told me that environmental factors and stress DO in fact have an impact on BP and rapid cycling (just as my pdoc and tdoc told me in the past). From now on, I'm avoiding this other message board like the plague. It's feeding me too much incorrect information from so-called "experts" who think they know what they're talking about, but don't.

katlin09 · 02-28-2009, 07:10 PM

Dreams,

I think it's a good idea to stay away from teh other board. You know that you have a good pdoc now, and you trust him and he has verified your DX. We all also know the BP is a chemical disorder in the brain and that things can "trigger" manic or depressed episodes. Don't let people confuse you or make you question your DX, your pdoc would have told you if you had BPD.

kat

Bunnylover · 02-28-2009, 07:53 PM

It's always good to stay away from message boards, or real life people, who have a negative impact on you (a lesson I learned the hard way.) Keep talking to your pdoc about what's going on, ask your questions, and focus on your health.

seaturtle · 02-28-2009, 08:31 PM

(((((neondreams))))))

From all you have posted here, I would vote for bp. You don't sound as if it's borderline at all. I am pretty sure that is what you have.
As for the other message, I would agree that you stay away. The people here know you and what you've been through, and I think we give solid advice. You are one of us. And some of the symptoms of borderline, as you know, are similar to bp.

Stay away from them, listen to your docs, and stay around.
And trust your own instincts.

I am easily triggered into depression or mania by many things: bright light, too much noise, a critical comment, a failure on my part (or so I see it), bad news, over-stimulation, or someone looking at me the wrong way. We are hyper-sensitive, and I think our moods are very easily triggered. You're not alone in this. Bp, like other brain disorders, are influenced by our emotions.

Try not to be swayed by what people tell you when they don't know what they're talking about.

I am sending you (((( ))))) and sure you are what you have been diagnosed as. After all, you were diagnosed schizo-affective, and you're not that, either.

Your friend,

Seaturtle