Can Schizoid and BPD be comorbid?

I'm asking because I go through intense periods of emotional instability followed by an inability to care about anyone or anything. Even though I'm generally a solitary person, after my fear of abandonment fades, I have an unquenchable need for being alone. I become so stressed when I can't be and rather uneasy when I'm around people if they don't leave me alone. I have no need for them at that point in time, nor do I have any want. I could see someone crying one day and my brain will begin the tears with an overload of empathy, to the next being completely void of any and all emotion. There are times when music is the only thing that will bring me "joy" and other times when I can't even stand a pin drop. Sometimes I just binge eat out of something small that made me feel upset, and I'll spend all of my money in a few days, plus drive at over 80 MPH in a 40 MPH zone when depression kicks in.Yet, there are other periods when the exact same thing will happen, and not even an eyeblink can be detectable. I constantly fluctuate between being overly empathetic, to being extremely cold and apathetic. I can feel the emotions of others by mirroring what they feel, or genuinely not give a single thought to someone who's on the verge of tears. I feel like there are many people residing within me feeling all that I do. However, my psych thinks I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder NOS and PTSD-NOS. I think she's a bit daft, but I like her. Well, I dunno. Anyone ever felt the same? 

I think that you bring up a genuinely great point.


As a co-morbid myself, BPD/HPD, I find it interesting when we become self-aware, and can begin picking apart our different puzzle pieces that make up the portrait.

I'm primary Axis I BPD, or recovered BPD, but regardless - I cherish the times that I can come home and no one is here. I like to read, I like to spend time on my computer, and I like to do things with people (I love a group, and am a chatty person), but after my day ends, and it's not a night going out with friends, I enjoy the alone time I get.

I do not know clinically if you can be SzPD and BPD co-morbid, but at the same time, why couldn't someone be?

Very, very interesting post. I hope others will weigh in on this too.


<3


AMP

Hi civilian:

We have this topic crop up every once in a while over on the schizoid forum. These threads are rather informal but you may find them helpful:

http://www.psychforums.com/schizoid-personality/topic82415.html

http://www.psychforums.com/schizoid-personality/topic63933.html

http://www.psychforums.com/schizoid-personality/topic62980.html

What you've described is pretty typical of BPD. I don't think the two can be co-morbid, but rather pwBPD very commonly experience schizoid states. But I agree with the links above where people have said that one is dramatic and emotional, the other is not. I'm intrigued by true SPD simply because it is pretty much the exact opposite of true BPD. PwBPD are in the unenviable LOL position of experiencing a miriad of states on account of our extreme nature, hence why we can feel schizoid at times and appear schizoid, doesn't mean we have SPD, quite the opposite. I find something like ASPD and NPD far less intriguing (in fact, not interesting at all!) compared with SPD, simply because they too have emotional natures, unlike the SPD. Oh, and I'd trade places with a pwSPD any day!

This is just my view on it and I may be corrected however.

It's just that I feel as if other people take over when I'm in a BPD or Schizoid state. I'm merely a passenger in those circumstances. I'll fluctuate rapidly and without notice. There are times that I never want to be around anybody, and it usually stays that way. Because a.) everyone hates me and doesn't care about me or b.) I truly don't like being around people because people are a nuisance I can avoid. I'd rather live alone in a cabin in the middle of the woods. But then, I'd be afraid that my mother or siblings and niece are sick. But when I found out they were okay, I'd revert to being okay. I can't seem to properly convey this message to my therapist... Which is a forced social interaction, by the way. Sometimes I want to see her, other times I think she's the most incompetent human in the world.

Oh, and I forgot to mention I can't feel or express much emotion. I don't feel joy, excitement, irritation, etc. Although, I can feel angry out of fear of losing someone. Even if it's me pushing them away. But I never have the anger surface and I never appear angry or afraid.

I actually feel they can be comorbid. But not perfectly so.

You are either borderline with slight schizoid tendencies, or you are schizoid with slight borderline tendencies.

I think I'm the latter. Most days, I cannot feel anything. I don't have a strong sexual drive to people, weak social network, and trouble sharing emotionally. Unlike a pure schizoid however, I do sorta desire company. But I have some subtle moodiness, a few "stalker" like crazy tendencies, and some self-destructive impulses.

On the other hand, I have seen some very moody people who get aloof during their down moods.

I have moods but a great deal of it is as a result of never really being in touch with my own emotions. So it's sorta like someone trying to "quietly shout" when they are upset. It's noticed alot more by other people than me.

I think it is more common than people realise. I think theres something like 34 cluster B traits. As a so called non Im certain I have a number of the traits from different disorders. I don't have the intensity that someone suffering have but its still there.

What you described in your post sounds like me. I like my own space and sometimes people just frazzle me. I feel worn down so sometimes Im not as empathic as I should be.

I think most people feel like this at times. I suppose it depends on the intensity of it and how it affects your day to day life.

I've often wondered if SPD and BPD can be comorbid, how many people have that and how it would affect someone.

A lot of personality disorder traits are just normal human experiences run amok as far as can see. I really value my privacy, like my own space and enjoy my own company. I'm a real introvert. It's whether your natural predisposition starts to have a negative impact on your life and causes distress. Then it crosses over into disorder territory.

Sorry for waffling.

Yeah I can relate. One of the big things about BPD I don't really see in myself a lot are the "frantic efforts to avoid real or perceived abandonment". There are times when I'm like this, but other times when I'm either completely indifferent to others, or feel negative towards them. A lot of times I have to force myself to do things with people, just because I know it's what I'm supposed to do. It may be the unstable love/hate relationships thing, but it's usually not hate, just complete indifference. I read somewhere that BPDs need to be around people constantly, and that's definitely not me. Maybe it's not true though...
One of the things about BPD I can really relate to is the chronic feelings of emptiness/boredom...maybe that's what you're describing.
You say that you don't feel any emotion, and I'd say that's more like SPD...the core of BPD is emotional instability, so that's why it would probably be hard to have both at the same time.

Here's a study on it. "With the exception of schizoid personality disorder, which occurred in only one subject, all the disorders occurred at higher rates in the group with borderline personality disorder than in the group without..."
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10. ... 57.12.2011

The DSM is useful to professionals for assisting with differential diagnosis, but is not intended to be used for diagnosis without the background training and education. Professionals learn the core dynamics and presentation of disorders from textbooks, lectures and experience, and the DSM is more of a 'quick reference' to some key visible features of each disorder that *might* be present.

The most useful role of the DSM for non-professionals is to inspire conversations with a professional. It is possible to have nearly every criterion of a disorder and not actually have that disorder.

As an example, it never ceases to amaze me how many people have "self-diagnosed DID". One psychiatrist admitted to me that whenever he sees a patient who claims to have that, he mentally replaces it with BPD until he determines otherwise. He says he's only been wrong twice, and he's been practicing for nearly 50 years. One of those cases still wasn't DID, but was also not BPD. Turns out they had a factitious disorder.