Difference between DID and borderline personality?

I just want to point out there are dissociative disorders that aren't full blown DID. Perhaps you have fragmented parts that make up your whole or something like that.

Psychotherapy works well in uncovering unconscious things that are going on. Perhaps just working on your unconscious rather than finding a therapy for a specific diagnosis would be beneficial to you.

I can't say it enough--therapy is SO important. I thought I had a handle on my unconscious until I started therapy six weeks ago. So much about me I had no idea was going on.

Formal diagnosis of DID requires evidence of both identity alteration and amnesia, the evidence not explainable by use of alcohol or drugs. A large percentage of men diagnosed with DID have a history of alcoholism. In one of his publications on the natural history of DID, Richard Kluft mentions that many of his male patients with DID are referred to him by a counselor who runs a support group for alcoholics. These patients would stop drinking but the signs and symptoms would continue, and the counselor knew what that signified!

You sound like D.I.D.

I have been diagnosed correctly with numerous stuff. All was true. However, it was all brought on by
severe Dissociative disorder, not uncommon for this to happen.

1. As I remember Personality Disorder: Black and white thinking. I was a sociopath. the PTSD levels make it; life or death around people. Numb, felt nothing as a human being. Rage/crying/happy/horrible. back and fourth I would go in my moods. As I remember, it was all on-off. Life was completely black or white.

D.I.D:
D.I.D. Blackouts, evidence of other personalities. PTSD. Dissociation/depersonalization/amnesia.

D.I.D. is a three dimensional world with much more dynamic, and much more going on. Other personalities will be running things at times. One gets to know these entities (i.e. the family). The whole family becomes of interest.

Personality Disorder is one dimensional. D.I.D. is tri-dymentional.

This is my opinion, take what you like and leave

HopeIsHere wrote:BPD = someone with maladaptive coping techniques (ie...use drugs, alcohol or other ways to numb their own feelings; can have addictive behaviors along with the chemicals - such as sex/promiscuity, shop lifting, or other possible self-destructive behaviors) Most BPD are very engaging - highly intelligent or extroverts.... There is a lot of unpredictability with their relationships. "I hate you - don't leave me" is a good book about this. and "Stop Walking on Eggshells" is good for the SO of a BPD -but can still be revealing (but triggering if you are ready).

My Mother is Borderline and Father is a Psychopath.

To answer the question in the first post: Of course to the lay person DID, DDNOS of various types and BL and so many other things can appear the same. The lists seem so vague in the DSM, but there are rule-outs and other criteria that are consulted. A therapist watches and listens for signs of all kinds of things with an open mind. They rule-out anything else it could possibly be - including organic problems. What is left is what it is. After all other things have been ruled out and the symptoms still fit a category then this is what the DX is. One does not just go straight to a page in the DSM and look at a list and say .. oh this is me or it's not. It is not that simple. This is why those that do DX study how to do it, and no one should self diagnosis or those that are not skilled in it should not do it - therapist or not. There is an important process to follow.

I agree with all that Hope wrote plus would add that a BL will NOT ever admit they are wrong about anything. They are so moody. Up and down. Insanely angry then nice.


Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis: DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self image and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood ** and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1 Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.

Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior*** covered in Criterion 5.

2 A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.

3 Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.

4 Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating).

Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior*** covered in Criterion 5.

5 Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior***.

6 Affective [mood] instability.

7 Chronic feelings of emptiness.

8 Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).

9 Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.

This cartoon was going around Facebook. It's so poetic to borderline!

Learning how to accept criticism graciously is a form of art but for me it is a work of art in progress. This is because I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and part of that syndrome is being unable to tolerate critical comments, no matter how well-meaning.

So what happens when I get criticized. No matter how mindful my brain wants to be, my body has an anaphylactic reaction. I feel as though someone has thrown acid in my face. I feel my body disintegrating and my internal organs shutting down and psychological and physical death is imminent. Does that sound familiar to you?

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i think the previous post talks about both borderline and d.i.d pretty well. having d.i.d i have an alter that has borderline personality disorder. her behavior can be off the wall things i wouldnt personally ever do. such as promiscuity and more reckless behaviors. one difference between us is im very cautious. especially in cars. but she is NEED for speed lol. i think the main difference here is. im not her and she isnt me. i wouldnt do half the stuff shes capable of doing. shes outgoing and i am not, im the complete opposite. she comes and she goes but often is a trigger that gets her to come out. mostly men is what triggers her. but i have many other alters as well. like i have one that has ocd. young to even the opposite sex, accent talking ones etc. list goes on. on the other hand i went most of my life without realizing i had d.i.d its there to protect and its hidden. it was well hidden from others including ourselves. it took some time to realize and accept what was going on. once i stopped denying it, i started to become more aware. and it was a hugh conflict. i suppose i never asked the questions because i was scared of what the real answer was. and i felt that if i ignored it...it would go away. then i had to realize its not going anywhere so at some point i had to ecknowledge it. noone here can tell you for sure if it is borderline or d.i.d butttt. sometimes asking yourself these questions can help. also seeking professional advice, though sometimes it takes sometime before it is spotted since it is often well hidden. i dont know if my answer helped at all but i do hope u find the answers your looking for!

my understanding is many people (even healthy ones) with disorders (like BPD) experience dissociation to some degree from time to time, but when the dissociation becomes so severe and often, then there is a dissociative disorder involved