Difference Between Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder

Both bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are serious mental illnesses that can significantly impair a person’s capacity to live a full and fulfilling life. These illnesses are clearly unique conditions even though they have some traits in common. Fortunately, both conditions are curable. You can find the best kind and quality of professional care for yourself or someone you care about by knowing the distinctions between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

A type of mental illness called bipolar disorder is characterised by abrupt fluctuations in mood, energy level, and other related factors. The condition can cause manic or hypomanic episodes as well as depressive symptoms in its victims.

• Significantly boosted self-esteem, a reduced need for sleep, and increased activity are all characteristics of manic episodes. A manic episode can make a person very distractible. They might start talking a lot more, change their minds frequently, and take on numerous tasks. Additionally, they could act recklessly impulsively in relation to monetary or sexual matters.
• Similar to manic episodes, hypomanic episodes do not persist as long. Symptoms must last for the majority of the day, nearly every day for at least a week in order to meet the clinical criteria for a manic episode. It’s possible that hypomanic episodes only last four days. If it present reach the spravato clinic near me and get consultation.
• Pervasive sadness, low self-esteem, decreased energy, a loss of interest in important activities, difficulty concentrating, and persistent thoughts of death and dying are all possible symptoms of major depressive episodes. The duration of these symptoms is at least two weeks.

Bipolar disorder comes in three forms. Depending on the kinds of symptoms a person experiences, they can be distinguished:

• At least one manic episode is a component of bipolar I disorder. Major depression or hypomanic episodes are also possible, but they are not necessary for this diagnosis.
• At least one major depressive episode and one hypomanic episode are part of bipolar II disorder.
• A person with cyclothymic disorder experiences recurrent symptoms of hypomania that do not reach the severity of a hypomanic episode and recurrent symptoms of depression that do not reach the severity of a major depressive episode throughout a two-year period.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Impulsivity and instability are traits of mental illness known as borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder symptoms frequently have an adverse effect on a person’s relationships, emotions, and sense of self.

Those who experience borderline personality disorder may show signs like the ones listed below:

• Having a series of brief but intense relationships.
• Take drastic action to avoid being abandoned, even when there is no indication that this may occur.
• Act impulsively in areas such as spending, driving, eating, substance use, and sex.
• Frequently threatening to harm or kill themselves. This may escalate to self-harming or suicidal behaviours.
• Experiencing rapid and severe mood swings.
• Engage in fights, have outbursts of rage, and otherwise demonstrate an inability to control their anger.
• Undergoing rapid changes in their self-image or sense of self.
• Feeling that they are empty or worthless.

A borderline personality disorder may impact 1.6% to 5% of the general population, according to experts. The prevalence of BPD has increased to roughly 20% among those who receive inpatient mental health treatment.

Symptoms of BPD

Self-image, mood, and behavioural instability are all symptoms of BPD. These signs and symptoms can cause impulsive behaviour and interpersonal connection issues.

Symptoms of BPD include:

• Uncertainty about one’s role in the world
• Frequently changing interests and values
• A tendency to view things as either all good or all bad
• Changing opinions about others quickly, e.g., perceiving someone as a friend one day and an enemy the next
• A pattern of unstable, intense relationships with family and friends, for whom feelings alternate between closeness and love to hate and anger
• Unstable, distorted self-image or sense of self
• Attempts to avoid imagined or real sources of abandonment, e.g., stopping communications with someone in anticipation of them cutting off ties
• Self-harming behaviours, such as cutting, burning or overdosing
• Difficulty trusting people, sometimes because of an irrational fear of their intentions
• Recurring thoughts of suicide
• Impulsive or reckless behaviour, such as unsafe sex, drug misuse, reckless driving, and spending sprees
• Intense episodes of depression, anger, and anxiety
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Fear of being alone

Not every BPD patient exhibits all of these signs and symptoms. While some people only suffer a few minor symptoms, others deal with severe and ongoing difficulties.

Some of the symptoms of BPD might be brought on by stressful or emotional situations. These incidents could seem little to others or out of proportion to the reaction they elicit.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Extreme mood swings are common in people with bipolar disorder. Many times, people will experience periods of steady mood interspersed with highs (manias) and lows (depressions).

Some of the most common symptoms of mania include:

• Extremely elevated mood
• Reduced need for sleep
• An exaggerated sense of confidence and optimism
• Race speech, thoughts, or both
• Reckless or impulsive behaviour
• Grandiose ideas
• Inflated sense of self-importance
• Irritability or aggression
• Poor judgment
• Hallucinations and delusions, in severe cases

Symptoms of bipolar depression include:

• Constant fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
• Inability to concentrate or make simple decisions
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Prolonged periods of sadness
• Unexplained crying spells
• Significant changes in sleep patterns and appetite
• Irritability, anger, and agitation
• Indifference and pessimism
• Excessive anxiety or worry
• Inability to find pleasure in former interests
• Social withdrawal
• Thoughts of suicide and death

Depression is not a symptom of bipolar illness in everyone. In actuality, the sole condition for a bipolar I disorder diagnosis is having experienced a manic episode.

People with bipolar II disorder can have depression symptoms, but they also have hypomania, a milder form of mania, and can get spravato treatment resistant depression.

Typically lasting at least 7 days, manic episodes can occasionally be so severe that hospitalisation is required. Typically, depressive episodes last at least two weeks.

When they have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, some people go through four or more mood swings in a year.

What Are the Differences Between Bipolar Disorder & Borderline Personality Disorders?

Mood swings and impulsive actions are symptoms of both BPD and bipolar disorder. However, there are a number of significant distinctions between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder:

• Age of onset: Borderline personality disorder symptoms normally start to appear in adolescence or early adulthood, however, they can be found in children as young as 12. The majority of people with bipolar disorder do not get this diagnosis until they are 25 years old.
• Gender differences: Women make up around 75% of those with a borderline personality disorder. Although males often start displaying symptoms of this condition around five years earlier than women do, there is essentially no difference in the prevalence of bipolar disorder between men and women.
• Symptoms of persistence: People with bipolar disorder may go for long stretches without having any manic, hypomanic, or depressed symptoms. Borderline personality disorder sufferers are more prone to experience symptoms on a daily or nearly daily basis.
• Self-harm: Although borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar illness are both linked to an increased risk of suicide, BPD is more frequently connected with self-harming behaviours.
• Relationships: People with borderline personality disorder tend to exhibit patterns of intense but unstable relationships much more frequently. Although the quality of a person’s relationships can be impacted by bipolar illness symptoms, these effects are often less severe than those of BPD.
• Risk factors for having borderline personality disorder include poor childhood experiences like abuse, neglect, verbal harassment, and sexual assault, according to research. Bipolar disorder appears to be more significantly influenced by genetic factors and chemical abnormalities in the brain.

Consultation with a trained healthcare expert is the best approach to distinguishing between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. This expert can carry out a complete evaluation and provide suitable therapy alternatives.

A sound diagnosis is a crucial first step on the path to a better future. A person with bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder can have an improved quality of life when they receive thorough, individualised care from a respected practitioner.

Diagnosis

A mental health practitioner will interrogate a patient about their symptoms, particularly their intensity and length, in order to diagnose either bipolar illness or BPD.

A person’s family medical history will also be questioned, primarily to see whether any members have ever experienced mental illness.

To learn more about the symptoms and the history of the illness, they may employ questionnaires.

A characteristic episode of mania lasting at least seven days or requiring hospitalisation is required for a bipolar I diagnosis.

Bipolar II disorder may be identified in those who have episodes of significant depression and hypomania.

Clinicians may concentrate on particular symptoms to assist distinguish between BPD and bipolar illness when it is difficult to make that distinction. These signs consist of:

Sleep:   During manic and depressive episodes, people with bipolar disease frequently have incredibly disturbed sleep patterns. Sleep cycles might be regular for those with BPD.

Cycling mood time: People with bipolar disorder often experience mood cycles that extend for weeks to months, with the exception of individuals who have a rapid-cycling form of the illness. Those with BPD frequently experience abrupt, fleeting mood changes that last a few hours or days.

Self-harm: Some estimates state that 75% of BPD sufferers have self-harmed. They might view self-harm as a technique for controlling or regulating volatile or strong emotions. People with bipolar disorder attempt suicide more frequently than those with BPD, despite the fact that self-harm is less common in bipolar disease.

Unstable relationships:  BPD patients frequently engage in extremely intense, contentious relationships. Relationship maintenance may be challenging for those with bipolar disorder due to the severity of their symptoms.

Mania: When a mania episode occurs, people with bipolar disorder act impulsively. Although it is a characteristic of people with BPD, impulsivity is unrelated to mania.

Family history: Although scientists have not yet discovered a particular gene that is to blame, mood disorders like bipolar disorder and depression frequently run in families. Additionally, it appears that those who have a close family with BPD are more likely to experience this illness themselves.

History of trauma: Although the exact aetiology of BPD is still unknown, many individuals who have it report having gone through trauma during their childhood or youth. Abuse, abandonment, great adversity, tumultuous family ties, and conflict exposure are a few examples of trauma.

Treatment

Finding the best course of treatment for BPD and bipolar disorder can require some time and patience.

Since the benefits of medication are unclear and there are no medications that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed, it is not a common treatment for BPD.

However, if certain symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, are present, some drugs may be able to help manage them.

The most popular form of treatment for BPD is psychotherapy, which may include both individual and group talk therapy. People with BPD can learn how to interact, communicate, and express themselves through therapy.

Some examples of the types of psychotherapies that can help treat BPD include:

Dialectical Behaviour therapy 

It centres on the concepts of acceptance and mindfulness as well as paying attention to one’s immediate surroundings and emotional condition. DBT may also aid in reducing self-harm, fostering better interpersonal connections, and managing strong emotions.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 

People who get this kind of treatment may be able to identify and modify some of the fundamental attitudes and practices that shape the way they see the world. CBT may also assist those with BPD in learning improved social skills while minimising anxiety, self-harm, and mood-related symptoms.

To treat bipolar disorder, doctors typically advise a mix of drugs, psychotherapy, and lifestyle modifications. Bipolar disorder therapy options include the following:

Medications

The highs and lows of your mood can be balanced by drugs referred to as mood stabilizers. Anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and other drugs are further potential treatment options.

Psychotherapy

CBT is one of many types of therapy that can help people with bipolar disorder learn to handle the difficulties that their condition brings. Therapy can be used to address the condition as well as other mental health issues like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse.

Self-Management

By becoming aware of the early symptoms and patterns of mania or depression, people with bipolar disorder may be able to manage their highs and lows. Before the symptoms worsen to the point where hospitalisation may be required, a person can phone their doctor as soon as they start experiencing symptoms to discuss changing their therapy or prescription regimes.

Complementary Health Approaches

Bipolar individuals may benefit from stress-relieving activities like yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and exercise that can help them manage their symptoms.