Bipolar Type 2 Vs BPD / EUPD

It is easy to confuse Bipolar Disorder 2 with Borderline Personality Disorder -BPD (often known as Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder) as they are very similar. Differentiating between the two can be difficult even psychiatrists can find this tricky. However although they are very similar they are also very different too, and have different treatments. 

Bipolar 2 disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings. These can range from highs (hypomania) to extreme lows (depression). Episodes of hypomania and depression often last for several weeks or months.

Hypomania: Elevated mood, decreased need for sleep (feels rested after only a couple of hours sleep), inflated self-esteem, racing thoughts, impulsivity, more talkative than normal or pressure to keep talking, distractibility.

Depression: Fatigue, sleeping to much or to little, loss of interest, hopeless outlook, changes in appetite (eating too much or not enough), suicidal ideation and self harm, irritability, anxiety, low self-esteem, having no motivation.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) / Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) is a serious and often life-threatening disorder that is characterised by emotional dysregulation, unstable sense of self and lack of identity. People may also struggle with chronic feelings of emptiness and extreme fear of abandonment. 

Many people with BPD / EUPD often show other symptoms of: 

Anxiety

Depression

Extreme Mood swings
Feeling emotions very deeply

Low or inflated self-esteem

Impulsivity and risk taking

Irritability

Suicidal ideation and self harm

Unstable and intense relationships

Transient, stress-related paranoid thoughts

Dissociation

Now I have documented (very briefly) what Bipolar 2 and BPD / EUPD is lets take a closer look at the similarities and differences between these two mental health disorders.

Similarities: Extreme mood swings, instability, irritability, impulsivity and risk taking, low or inflated self-esteem, suicidal ideation and self harm, anxiety and depression.

Differences: Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder while BPD / EUPD is a personality disorder. People with Bipolar can go periods of time symptom free and feel that they are at an emotional "baseline." While BPD / EUPD doesn't afflict sufferers on an episode-by-episode basis, the disorder's impact on the sufferer's life is more consistent. BPD / EUPD has more to do with interpersonal relationships and external stimuli. Bipolar symptoms can come out of no where with no trigger (although some episodes can be triggered by stress). 

Treatment: Bipolar 2 disorder and BPD / EUPD can be treated with the same medication to treat mood swings, anxiety and sleep although those with Bipolar should not take anti-depressants as this can trigger a hypo/manic episode and can be detrimental to their mental health. Therapy: BPD / EUPD is primarily treated with Dialectical Behaviour Therapy - DBT, Bipolar Disorder is best treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - CBT.

It is possible to receive a diagnosis of both Bipolar Disorder and BPD / EUPD. Most people who have a dual diagnosis receive one diagnosis before the other. This is because the symptoms of one disorder can overlap and sometimes mask the other. 

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