This is how screwed up the system is right here. Borderline is the most damaging, controversial and outright misogynist diagnosis, hands down. It's vindictive, because the PTSD diagnosis is given for roughly the same condition, and entails a totally different, non-punitive treatment course. Unlike Bipolar and PTSD, Borderline just happens to be a certificate of untreatability; insurance companies and state mental health authorities do not authorize treatment for BPD, since it's on the lifelong, untreatable AXIS II, unlike bipolar and the rest. And it's on AXIS II because Borderline is generally understood as an immutable and grotesque developmental adaptation to severe childhood abuse. But the 9 point checklist involves vague and ordinary human components, like "emptiness", "intensity" "unstable sense of self" and "extreme fear of abandonment" so labeling someone borderline differs from the self-report found in a depressive for example, and is "determined" by the observer. Unlike trendy, life-enhancing mental illnesses the person getting this one doesn't come up with it herself or participate in figuring out what's going on with her. It is foisted on her, she is completely acted upon. Which means the BPD dx is fraught with counter-transference, which amounts to a vindictive mh worker deciding "she's a bitch, she's a schemer, I don't like this woman might as well get my thrills from throwing her in the trash." Ugh.

It's not known as the "wastebasket" diagnosis for nothing.

I think a big driver of overdiagnosis is the mis-interpretation of drug side affects and withdrawal affects. When I experienced these, I became convinced along with those treating me, that the diagnosis was correct. The drugs prescribed nearly ruined my life and my health. When I came to understand that many of my symptoms could be drug side affects, they told me I was wrong. When I went off the drugs they tried to talk me out of it. They didn't tell me of the hazards of quitting abruptly so it was difficult. The experience could easily have convinced me further that I was mentally ill.

I'm glad the overdiagnosis of bipolar is coming out. I don't think Bipolar or Borderline or any other condition exist as discreet incurable medical diseases.

I'm w/ Flawed Plan. The psychologist acts like they have done the patient a service by slapping them w/ an Axis II diagnosis rather than a dx of Bipolar Disorder. They need to add this to the consent form:
"I understand that if I piss off my psychologist/psychiatrist I will be given an AXIS II diagnosis and this will prevent me from ever entering certain occupations. This is okay with me." Sign here.

Let the wild rumpus begin!
http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au
http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/content/condition.php?category=neuro&condition=Bipolar+Disorder

LOL.

"emptiness"

God. It took two years to get my tdoc off that noun.

Yes, it was a fair description of how I felt. No, it was not who I am.

I agree that there is a lot of baggage that goes along with a personality disorder diagnosis. And rarely do I substitute a Borderline diagnosis for a bipolar (most often major depression, generalized anxiety, PTSD, or Personality Disorder, NOS). However, in terms of treatment, Borderline personality disorder is much more treatable by psychotherapy than Bipolar Disorder, meaning that some day they will be able to get off of medication in many cases. You are mistaken if you believe it will look better when you are applying for a job by having an Axis I diagnosis of Bipolar, which implies a lifelong disorder, versus Borderline, which research shows is very amenable to treatment. The other thing is, most of the people I see who are better explained by Borderline Personality Disorder than Bipolar disorder are not seeking a job, they are seeking disability.

Seeking disability? Or truly disabled?
When your psyche is shattered and you are in almost constant emotional pain you're not likely to be able to take the stress of competing in today's society.
Give us a break, when we climb out of the last black hole we've fallen into we DO take up our lives again. And again and again...
But inevitably we are going to look as if we lag behind.