People often confuse the two mental health disorders, but there are differences between BPD vs bipolar disorder. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder both provide challenges to a person’s life in many ways. The two mental illnesses share similarities but also have distinctive differences.
Montare Behavioral Health knows that everyone has a choice in where to put their trust when it comes to treating mental illnesses. Our program is a world-class experience that changes people’s lives and gives them more control over how they feel, think, and act. We offer both outpatient and residential programs that treat BPD and bipolar disorder, as well as other illnesses. With our gold standard help, you can get on the fast track to recovery.
Are BPD and Bipolar Disorder the Same?
Because of the overlap of symptoms, it can prove difficult for someone to try to determine which mental illness they have. When it comes to BPD vs bipolar disorder, are they the same thing? No, they are not. They are two different types of mental health disorders:
BPD vs Bipolar Disorder Differences
Definite differences between BPD vs bipolar disorder exist. Someone with bipolar disorder tends to act impulsively during their manic or hypomania stages. Someone with BPD has urges to act out impulsively at any given time.
People with BPD have moods that don’t last long, while those with bipolar disorder have cyclical moods that can last for several weeks or months.
People with BPD have a deep fear of abandonment, which often negatively influences their relationships. Bipolar disorder can cause difficulties in relationships, but not out of a fear of being abandoned.
BPD vs Bipolar Disorder Similarities
Both BPD and bipolar disorder are categorized as mood disorders. While they cannot be cured, overall management of their symptoms can be achieved through therapy. Similiarities between BPD and bipolar disorder include having suicidal feelings. As well, people with both mental illnesses tend to have longer stays at inpatient facilities than those with just one.
There is also a higher occurrence of having a substance use disorder in people with both disorders than those with just one. Finally, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be used for people with BPD and bipolar disorder.
Can You Be Bipolar and Have Borderline Personality Disorder?
Both BPD and bipolar disorder can co-occur in the same person. About 10% of people diagnosed with type 1 bipolar disorder also have BPD. Approximately 20% of those who have type 2 bipolar disorder also have borderline personality disorder.
The majority of people who have both mental health disorders receive one diagnosis first. It can be quite some time before a professional determines they also have the second disorder. Part of the reason for this is that the two illnesses have similar symptoms. Bipolar disorder is diagnosed first more often than BPD. It takes a skilled mental health professional to discover the overlap between BPD vs bipolar disorder and make the call that the individual has both disorders.
Treatment for BPD vs Bipolar Disorder
Although BPD and bipolar disorder cannot be cured, a person can learn to control their symptoms through participation in different types of therapy. Many people find success for BPD in using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT helps people identify and accept their emotions while keeping them from negatively impacting their behavioral choices.
Mentalization-Based Therapy also helps people with BPD. It teaches them how to rethink how they think. They learn to differentiate between their own thought process and emotions and those of others. This allows them to make a better connection between how their thoughts contribute to how they behave.
Bipolar disorder is commonly treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This type of therapy helps the individual identify their emotions and thoughts and determine how they influence their behavior. They can alter negative ways of acting that they used to use and instead act in positive manners.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) can also help those with bipolar disorder. The individual responds to a therapist’s directed eye movements or hand and tapping motions while discussing traumatic events from their past. This helps them reprocess them and reduce the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
While there are different therapies to undergo in BPD vs bipolar disorder, patients often respond well to participation in holistic therapy, family therapy, and the use of prescription medications to treat both illnesses.
Contact Montare to Begin Treatment for BPD or Bipolar Disorder Today
Do you experience symptoms of poor mental health but don’t know if you have borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, or both? Everyone who comes to us receives a thorough assessment as part of our structured care. We assess you to determine if you have BPD vs bipolar disorder and create a plan to target your symptoms and help improve them. Our staff of skilled clinicians also offers access to an array of prescription medications to help you feel better. When you put your trust in Montare Behavioral Health, you get results.
Contact us now and let’s talk about how you’re feeling and which disorder you likely have. From there, we can find the right level of care for you and help you start feeling better quickly.
