Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are two types of mental health disorders that both involve mood changes. Because each condition has similar signs and symptoms, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish the difference between each. Keep reading to learn more about the difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder below!
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What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that involves extreme mood swings. These mood changes are often categorized into two types: depressive episodes and manic episodes. A depressive episode is when an individual experiences feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and an overall feeling more tiredness for several weeks. Meanwhile, manic episodes are when an individual experiences an increased mood and energy level for several weeks on end, which can oftentimes lead to that individual being more impulsive.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline personality disorder is when an individual also experiences mood changes, which can lead to interfering with relationships with others, as well as engaging in more impulsive behavior. However, unlike bipolar disorder, where depressive and manic episodes typically occur for several weeks to months, individuals with borderline personality disorder experience these mood swings much more quickly than individuals with bipolar disorder.
Plus, typically, individuals with borderline personality disorder experience a triggering event that can cause the source of their mood changes. For example, fear of abandonment is one of the many triggers of someone with borderline personality disorder. If the individual has a loved one who doesn’t respond quickly enough to a call or text, this may trigger feelings of abandonment and cause them to experience extreme shifts in mood.
3 Differences Between Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder
Now that you know more about each condition, below is a breakdown of the difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder you need to know about.
How Quickly/Frequently One Experiences Mood Changes
One of the primary differences between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder is how quickly or how frequently one experiences mood changes. Individuals with bipolar disorder will experience episodes where their mood can change for weeks on end. This includes experiencing a depressive episode or manic episode for several weeks.
Meanwhile, individuals with borderline personality disorder experience rapid mood swings that can shift within a matter of hours or days. This is because borderline personality disorder is triggered by certain events or circumstances, while the mood episodes in bipolar disorder are not typically caused by a specific event or situation.
Bipolar Disorder Lacks Clear Triggers
As briefly discussed above, another difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder is what does (or does not trigger) the individual’s mood swings. In bipolar disorder, there is not a clear trigger that can cause a shift in mood episodes. Therefore, the duration at which one starts and continues to experience a manic episode is not triggered by a signal event or situation. Meanwhile, for borderline personality disorder, mood swings are typically triggered by a specific event.
The Source Behind the Mood Change
The final difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder is the source of the mood change. As discussed above, mood changes seen in bipolar disorder are not typically caused by a specific trigger or event. In other words, there is no clear source behind why an individual may go from a manic episode into a depressive episode.
However, for individuals who have a borderline personality disorder, there is often a triggering event or circumstance for why they experience shifts in mood. There can be a number of situations that can trigger one to experience mood swings, including fear of abandonment, rejection, feeling misunderstood, and more.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about the difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. While both share the symptom of extreme mood changes in each condition, the mood change duration and triggers behind why an individual experiences those mood changes are major differences between the two conditions. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health disorder, it’s critical to seek professional support so you can safely lead a healthier, happier life.
Our compassionate team at Multi Concept Recovery is here to help you safely transform your health and quality of life for the better. We provide an extensive range of treatment options so you can receive the tailored support you need to safely lead a healthier, happier quality of life. Ready to start your recovery journey? Contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder?
There are several differences between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. One of the primary differences is how quickly/frequently one experiences shifts in mood. Bipolar disorder involves mood changes/episodes that can last for days or weeks, while individuals with borderline personality disorder experience changes more rapidly– within hours or days.
What are examples of triggers that can cause changes in mood for individuals with borderline personality disorder?
There are several events or situations that can cause mood changes in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Common examples include fear of abandonment, rejection, feeling misunderstood by others, or even having a disagreement with someone can trigger you to experience an intense shift in mood.
Are there any similarities between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder?
Yes, the main similarity between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are that individuals experience mood swings. While the cause or triggers behind why an individual experiences these shifts in mood and how long they experience these changes in mood can differ, it is important that each involves a change in mood. This is why sometimes it can be difficult to understand whether someone may be struggling with bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder.
