Combo Personality Disorders

I read somewhere that it is not uncommon to have a mixture of personality disorders...say, 40% BPD, 20% Avoidant, 30% narcissistic, and 10% something else...any possible combination. I know I do have some of each. The symptoms all overlap, don't they? Some days one particular personality type (dis-order) will be dominant that day. Anyone else notice this?

I honestly don't know. Did you have a professional tell you that because it sounds like you got it from one of those cheap online self-tests. A professional wouldn't tell you something like that.

Some combinations are unlikely (probably impossible but I'm not sure) such as... a AsPD/AvPD. ie. How can someone who views other people as objects (AsPD) and not real human beings be anxious of them at the same time (AvPD)?

On the other hand there are some PD cross-overs which are said to be more prevalent, like HPD/NPDs, BPD/HPDs...

Diagnosing someone as you said '40% BPD, 20% AvPD, 30% NPD, 10% something else' sounds silly and I think that you need to fit almost all of the criteria before it can be said that you actually have a personality disorder, and when some criteria from one PD directly contradicts another, it gets a bit confusing. Remember psychology is not an exact science.

en_causa_sui wrote:I honestly don't know. Did you have a professional tell you that because it sounds like you got it from one of those cheap online self-tests. A professional wouldn't tell you something like that.

Seconded. A pro wouldn't label you as a laundry list of percentages, it sounds like you took some test on Facebook.

I read recently about a combination of bipolar and borderline disorders being labelled as tripolar, where borderline dysphoria combines with bipolar mania to produce a third state, which is like the evil twin of bipolar mania (which as I understand it is frenetic but usually pretty high-key and cheerful). But this is probably not relevant to your percentages.

Actually, yes, a doctor told me it was possible to have more than one PD diagnosis. I never took any tests online, only the standard tests given by psycologists, etc...
The percentages given were meant as an example. I have only some symptoms under BPD, some under AvPD, then some under NPD. I used to be alot more confused until I asked docs and researched; I am diagnosed with BPD, schizoaffective bipolar & PTSD. Now I'm understanding how they all over-lap and can morph from time to time looking like yet another diagnosis. I was surprised when a professional told me that a persons diagnosis can change into another over time. Just wondering if anyone else has similar observations.

Oh ok, that makes more sense. Since there is a huge overlap in some diagnostic criteria for different disorders, I'm really not surprised. That and people's personalities evolve over time based on experiences and influences so why not disorders? I don't know everything that I have and I don't think that every little detail is important. Most of the things that are wrong with any disorder are caused by something else and a lot of them have similar triggers.

I do know that since being diagnosed and reading all I could about it I can look for the warning signs in my own behavior and get help or correct that behavior on my own accordingly. It may only be for the more minor stuff because well, BPDs are the best at lying to themselves but I can tell on my own that I've made significant progress over the years and how my psyche has changed.