BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) doesn't make people make things up and lie. They are not psychotic, and contrary to the old myth it is not on the border of psychosis and neurosis.
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 instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
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
I know many, many borderlines and co-run a self help group. I don't see many of the people I associate with, with the description that you give.
I had anxiety come up later in life and yeah some symptoms changed here and there like for example I originally saw monsters and whatnot frequently but now not as much but mine was left untreated until about 22 so my catatonic episodes that started at about 9 years old grew longer and longer as I grew older, just as another example.
I've had just about everything I've heard of that happens with schizophrenia happen to me, so if you have any further questions, don't be afraid to ask.
Jordan has had symptoms since he was about 5 as well. Can I ask...did your symptoms change as you reached adulthood? Were they about the same as always? @Jaime0924 Thanks so much. It is hard at times. Hard to know what to address head on and what is not worth the fight. I know for example that confronting him about his "delusions" is pointless and only serves to upset him and sometimes even pushes him further into himself and away from others. But, I feel like I should be doing SOMETHING! I guess we just keep plugging away and keep journaling and keep those all important appointments. Time will tell!
Thanks to you both though! Really!!!
I don't have any intelligent advive to give you. Coming from one mother to another, I wish you the best. Keep ur chin up the best you can...I know it gets rediculously hard to do!!!
Because childhood schizophrenia is quite rare, although not impossible as I'm living proof of that. I had symptoms since I was like 5 but I wasn't diagnosed until about the age of 22.
Interesting...I don't really understand the diagnosis process. I know that I have been told for years by my son's Doctors and his therapist that he will be diagnosed with schizophrenia, but they can't diagnose him now because he is too young. They say they can't use that diagnosis until after he turns 18. What does that mean? Why would that be?
People with either disorder can live in a fantasy world. Bipolar is actually the subtype of his schizoaffective disorder and not a separate diagnosis.