What is the essential difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality?
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In a nutshell...Bipolar is a cyclic changing from manic good moods to low depression. Borderline is characterized by see everying in black and white - no middle ground. For more info see below.\n\n\nBipolar Disorder\nBipolar disorder is a condition that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. In most populations it affects around 1 percent of the population. Men and women are equally likely to develop this often-disabling illness. The disorder typically emerges in adolescence or early adulthood and affects sufferers throughout their lifespan. \n\nAlthough traditionally thought of as an adult disorder, there is now recognition that children also suffer from bipolar disorder. There are no definite known causes. Scientists believe that Bipolar Disorder may be caused by a combination of biological and psychological factors. Most commonly the onset of this disorder can be linked to stressful life events. Cycles, or episodes, of depression, mania, or "mixed" manic and depressive symptoms typically recur and may become more frequent, often disrupting work, school, family, and social life. \n\nThe "kindling" theory suggests that persons who are genetically prone (toward bipolar) experience a series of stressful events, each of which lowers the threshold at which mood changes occur. Then at some point these mood changes occur spontaneously. The person then "becomes bipolar". This might explain why the cause of bipolar is difficult to pinpoint but is somehow related to genetics and environment.\n\nBorderline Personality Disorder\nBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder characterised by extreme 'black and white' thinking, mood swings, emotional reasoning, disrupted relationships and difficulty in functioning in a way society accepts as normal.\n\nThe name comes from the DSM-IV-TR; the ICD-10 in Europe has an equivalent called Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder. Psychiatrists describe borderline personality disorder as a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity.\n\nOriginally thought to be at the "borderline" between psychosis and neurosis, people with BPD suffer from a disorder of emotion regulation. While less well-known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depression), BPD is more common, affecting two percent of adults, mostly young women. There is a high rate of self-injury without suicidal intent, as well as a significant rate of suicide attempts and completed suicide in severe cases. \n\nIn some instances people with BPD kill themselves by accident in a case of self-injury that goes too far. Patients often need extensive mental health services, and they account for 20 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations. With help, however, many will improve over time and are eventually able to lead productive lives.
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Bipolar disorder is just one of a range of mood disorders. Bipolar disorder includes mood swings from clinical depression to hypomania, mania and even psychosis. Cyclothymia is a mood disorder involving moderate depression and hypomania. Unipolar depression is a mood disorder featuring periods of normality and periods of severe depression. Take your pick.
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Regarding responses you've already received...Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, and Bipolar Disorder are probably not what's going on.  The symptoms you describe sound much more like Borderline Personality Disorder to me.  Google it, go find it on WebMD, whatever...just check it out and see if the descriptions sound familiar.  No matter what you choose to do, the most reasonable and sensible course of action is to first see your regular doctor to rule out any physical illnesses that could be producing your symptoms (i.e., problems with your pituitary, thyroid or adrenal glands, etc.).  Next, if your doc doesn't find evidence of any physical causes, have him/her refer you to a psychologist or counselor for evaluation.  Jumping to conclusions and trying to diagnosis yourself is just asking for trouble especially if you're already depressed - you'll end up thinking you have every symptom of every horrible illness you hear or read about! :)  Go seek answers and help from competent professionals who have actually spent years of their lives learning about how to diagnose and treat illnesses.  That's what they went to school for - so the rest of the population can pick their brains and get answers when they need them without having to do all the studying themselves! :)
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Keep in mind that diagnosable mental illnesses usually come in bundles. Very rarely will a person be bi-polar and not have a form of social adjustment disorder as well. Likewise, depression NOS ("not-otherwise-specified") goes hand in hand with lots of imbalances.\n\nBut someone acting out sexually can also be a subconscious reaction to trauma, especially to abuse. Or, it can be related to the manic phase of Bi/Po. Look into "borderline personality disorder," as well. Borderlines almost always act out sexually, placing themselves into situtation where they are likely to be preyed upon, and then react strongly to their own victimization.\n\nHope it helps!
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Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health says that more than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close relative with the illness or with clinical, or "unipolar," depression. Read more about the link between genetics and bipolar disorder.\n\nBipolar disorder runs in the family\nA person with close relatives who have bipolar disorder is more likely to be affected by the illness—this is what is known as a "genetic predisposition." Not everyone with the condition has relatives with bipolar disorder. But, according to the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, your chance of developing the illness greatly increases if you have a family history: \n\n\nParents—When one parent is bipolar, each child has a 15%-30% chance of developing the condition. When both parents have the illness, the risk jumps to between 50% and 75%.\n\n\nSiblings—If you have a brother or sister with bipolar disorder, you have a 15% to 25% chance of developing the illness.\n\n\nIt is important to stress that some people with the illness have no family history whatsoever.
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SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER \n\nSymptoms of the Depression Phase \n\nThe symptoms of depression experienced in bipolar disorder are almost identical to those of major depression, the primary form of unipolar depressive disorder. They include the following: \nSad mood. \n\n\nFatigue or loss of energy. \n\n\nSleep problems (insomnia, excessive sleeping, or shallow sleep with frequent awakenings). \n\n\nWeight changes (either gain or loss). \n\n\nDiminished ability to concentrate or make decisions. \n\n\nAgitation or markedly sedentary behavior. \n\n\nFeelings of guilt, pessimism, helplessness, and low self-esteem. \n\n\nLoss of interest or pleasure in life. \n\n\nThoughts of, or attempts at, suicide. \nDepressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder often differ from those of unipolar depressive disorder in the following ways: \nPeople with unipolar depression can still experience a variety of moods, but the moods are neither elevated nor pathological and the affected person does not meet the criteria for mania. [ See Well-Connected Report #8, Depression.]\n\n\nEpisodes of depression in bipolar disorder are less likely to have a specific trigger than are those with major depression disorder. \n\n\nBipolar depression does not typically last as long as major depression (although left untreated some bipolar disorder episodes can still last six to 12 months). \n\n\nBipolar depressive episodes develop more gradually than those caused by major depression. \n\n\nDepressive symptoms in bipolar disorder patients also tend to be atypical, i.e., one sees an increase in sleep and appetite, a feeling of heaviness and slowness in the body, a tendency to feel rejected, and a preservation of volatile mood. \n\n\nOne interesting study reported that many bipolar disorder patients experienced dreams of death at the low point of their depression, and those dreams were soon followed by an upward mood change. \nSymptoms of the Acute Manic Phase \n\nThe acute manic phase is always characterized by mood elevation, either presented as exaggerated euphoria, irritability, or both. The episode lasts for at least a week or for any duration if it was severe enough to cause hospitalization. \n\nIn addition, certain other symptoms are present to assist in making a diagnosis. Some mental health professionals use the mnemonic device DIGFAST to identify them. \n\nIn general, for a diagnosis of mania, patient must have experienced either euphoria with three DIGFAST symptoms or irritability with four of these symptoms: \nD. Distractibility. This is the most common symptom and is usually characterized by the inability to pay attention to any activity for very long. \n\n\nI. Insomnia in mania typically means having high energy and requiring less sleep. (This differs from insomnia in depression, in which the patient has low energy plus an inability to sleep.) \n\n\nG. Grandiosity. Patients with this symptom have an inflated sense of themselves, which, in severe cases, can be delusional. Close to 60% of all manic patients experience feelings of omnipotence. Sometimes they feel that they are godlike or have celebrity status. \n\n\nF. Flight of ideas. Thoughts literally race. \n\n\nA. Activity. An increase in intensity in goal-directed activities occurs, which is related to social behavior, sexual activity, work, school, or combinations. \n\n\nS. Speech. Excessive talking. Is present \n\n\nT. Thoughtlessness. Excessive involvement in high-risk activities is present (e.g., unrestrained shopping, promiscuity). Mood disturbance may be severe enough to damage one's job or social functioning or relationships with others, or which require hospitalization to prevent harm to others or to the self. \nHypomania. With hypomania the symptoms of mania are milder and of shorter duration (but they last at least four days). They do not affect social or work life as dramatically. \n\nMixed or Pure Mania. Manic episodes themselves can be characterized as mixed mania or pure mani
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Bipolar or manic depressive is a chemical imbalance in the brain.  A person who is bipolar experiences either very high highs in moods or very low moods.  The mood can last for days, weeks months.  Often when in a high mood (manic), the person will be so hyper, often unable to sleep they are so hyper.  When in a low mood they will be very depressed, often tearful, angry, and unable to cope.\n\nIf you draw a straight line midway of a sheet of paper across the paper, and label this as a normal person who gets up in the Am and feels like this is just like every morning....normal....then 1/2 inch down draw a line.  This is the same person who felt normal when the day falls apart and they are at the pits of  depression.\n\nDraw a line 1/2 inch above this and this is a normal person who is so happy, they just won the lottery.....life is great.\n\nNow the bipolar person.  You would go 4 inches up the top of the midline of the normal person and draw a line.  The is the bipolar high.  They are on top of the world filled with energy, this is their normal high.\n\nGo 4 inches below the middle line in the middle of the page and draw a line.  This is the of the bipolar in depression.\n\nA simple salt derived tablet called lithuim can control a bipolar person.  But, here is the trigger.  A bipolar person cannot hand feeling normal.  They cannot handle not feeling the mania they feel above the halfway line.  They cannot handle life's little ups and downs like us.  So they don't want/can't handle the normal feelings we have to face day in and day out in a normal life.  So they don't want to take the medication.\n\nGo down to the bottom line on the page 4 inches down from a normal persons normal feelings.  This is depression unimaginable by the normal person.  A bipolar can never reach the normal leval.  Even with the lithium.  And when the depessive stage hits they hit rock bottom.  And, yes, suicidal thoughts are common.\n\n\n_______________Bipolar high\n\n\n\n\n\n\n_______________Non bipolar high (normal person)\n\n\n_______________Normal day in nonbipolar\n\n\n------------------------Normal person lowest point of depression\n\n\n\n\n\n\n_______________Bipolar depression.....deep depression, sense of inability to cope.  Suicide in this state is high.\n\n\nHope this makes sense.
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Schizophrenia or multiple personality syndrome.  Bipolar people usually don't have personality splits which cause internal conversations. If you're having auditory or visual hallucinations (hearing things or seeing things) get to a mental health facility immediately.
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The word "bipolar" is a psychiatric label used to categorise a variety of psychological traits, fundamentally characterised by the alternation of manic and depressive states (severe mood swings).\n\nDespite psychiatric and pharmaceutical company claims, there is no scientific proof that "bipolar" or any other mental disorder is rooted in one's biology, a "chemical imbalance" or some form of brain abnormality.\n\n"For a disease to exist there must be a tangible, objective physical abnormality that can be determined by a test such as, but not limited to, blood or urine test, X-Ray, brain scan or biopsy. All reputable doctors would agree: No physical abnormality, no disease. In psychiatry, no test or brain scan exists to prove that a 'mental disorder' is a physical disease. Disingenuous comparisons between physical and mental illness and medicine are simply part of psychiatry's orchestrated but fraudulent public relations and marketing campaign." Fred Baughman, MD., Neurologist & Pediatric Neurologist.\n\nIf you choose to accept psychiatry's system of beliefs that "bipolar" is a "disease", and that you are "ill" and require "medical treatment", then by all means go the psych route and remove yourself of any responsibility for handling your own condition. Visit http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-md02.html for the full criteria of psychiatry's "bipolar I disorder").\n\nHowever, if you choose not to accept Psychiatry's junkscience, and would like to seek alternative handlings for extreme mood swings, check out:\n\n- http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/default.htm#B\n\n- http://www.truehope.com\n\n- http://www.gsdl.com/home/assessments/finddisease/depression/\n\nThrough Psychiatry's stigmatizing labels, easy-seizure commitment laws and often brutal depersonalizing "treatments" thousands needlessly fall into a coercive psychiatric system which denies the most basic of human rights.\n\nRespect is given for medicine, practiced as medicine, in a spirit of honest and ethical endeavor, and with due consideration to primacy of the patient's needs and health. However, there is every argument with the seduction and contamination of medicine by psychiatrists whose totally unscientific and fraudulent contributions threaten to pervert not only the position, honor, humanity and value of medicine, but to wreck the lives of millions of patients who simply come looking for help.
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I was diagnosed borderline.. /by polar about a year ago... they put me on Saroquel and I'm a lot better now.  I know I was hard to live/deal with.  You just have to be patient if you love the person.  Saroquel was a life saver for me though.
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I've done a lot of research about exactly what you're asking because I'm bipolar too. From what I've found out, people are born with bipolar but it often takes a traumatic experience to trigger it. Once bipoar is triggered it's very important to find the right medication because bipolar is with you for life and without treatment will only get worse. There are many different medications that help with the symptoms so it's equally as important to find a doctor you can discuss all your options with. Finding a proper diet helps too as well as staying away from street drugs and alcohol.
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Registered Nurse Here; A Doctor of Psychiatry, for Bipolar disorders usually require medication.  After getting established with a psychiatrist, he or she may very well involve a psychologist at some point of your treatment
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Bipolar disorder is difficult to detect and if the person is a danger to themselves or others regardless of diagnosis they should be hospitalized
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) works best for Borderline Personality Disorder.  \n"Clients receiving DBT, compared to TAU (Treatment as usual), were significantly less likely to drop out of therapy, were significantly less likely to engage in parasuicide, reported significantly fewer parasuicial behaviors and, when engaging in parasuicidal behaviors, had less medically severe behaviors. Further, clients receiving DBT were less likely to be hospitalized, had fewer days in hospital, and had higher scores on global and social adjustment."\nHere are some links on finding a DBT program and more info on DBT.
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You might want to check on a film called "Girl Interrupted", which deals with Borderline Personality Disorder.  Check here for review:\nhttp://www.soulselfhelp.on.ca/ginterrupt.html
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It really depends on whether they are both organic (meaning chemical imbalances). Usually what happens is that there is a chemical imbalance like bi-polar with the corresponding depression and maniac phases. That's the organic component. Now, you may also have problems with anxiety (for example) associated with problems created by being bi-polar. That is a behavioral problem. So yes you can have two different mental illness. I had a diagnosis of Bi-polar with extreme depressive episodes and Borderline Personality Disorder. One is organic the bi-polar and one is behavioral. So you may need to treat both things with a combination of medication, counseling, and behavior modification. Don't despair, it will get better. You just have to communicate with your doctor about medication (side effects, etc), take your medication (very, very important), and keep talking. Just my two cents worth. Hope it helps.
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Your best bet is to speak to a psychoanalyst. Unlike like normal psychologist and doctors who use CBT which is what I use fro treatment with bipolar disorder. They are more concerned with resolving past issues in order to work back up. My experience with CBT  has been talking about the past but dealing with my present issues and not dealing a lot with what the source was from my past. however when i went to a psychoanalyst, she had me start from childhood and find the root of the problems it's causing me now. try looking on the National institute for Mental health's website for more information and also if you have insurance look on their website to find a Doctor that may offer this sort of therapy or call them directly