QUESTION:

I was pretty convinced that I had BPD, based on a history of panic, anger, irrational behavior, OCD, etc., and the list goes on. I saw my doctor today (family practice doc) and asked him if he thought I had BPD, and he said absolutely not. He told me that borderline people are the kind that if they walk into a room, you can't wait to get out, and he doesn't feel that way about me. How weird is this? To state that people can't stand to be in the same room as someone with BPD is just bizarre to me, especially from a medical professional. Is this an accurate assessment, although not terribly tactful, or should I be running for a new doctor? I went to him today for dizziness I've been having for some time, and he said I have benign positional vertigo, but now I don't know what to think. He's sending me for an MRI and to a specialist at Hopkins, but I don't know what to make of his diagnoses about anything at this point.

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

I disagree strongly with his comment. For some borderlines it's a true statement, but not for most. I've known many for years who were always sweet and charming, and I didn't discover the diagnosis until some crisis came about - usually relating to a spouse or child problem.

When I was a medical student a psychiatry professor said about personality disorders "you don't like them, that's why they're called personality disorders." With the exception of antisocial, I never heard anything again of personality disorders until I was first exposed to the BPD.

I cannot accurately comment about whether your physician is correct about the vertigo or not. Getting a second opinion is rarely a bad idea, particularly when you are not confident about your physician. Regarding the BPD, you need to seek help from someone more knowledgeable about the subject.

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