I am not diagnosed with BPD. I’ve been looking into it for about 2 years and strongly resonate with a lot of the symptoms, as well as a lot of posts made by people with BPD.

I have gone to two therapists about it- with the first therapist, I said I was thinking I may have BPD, to which she grabbed the DSM-5 book, went through the symptoms, and then in a sort of mocking way, said- “now, those symptoms don’t seem like you at all, huh?” (without her really knowing much about me because I am bad at letting my feelings out). I was only like 15 and I was so shocked, humiliated and on the verge of tears, I just agreed with her and chose not to have any more appointments with her after that.

The next therapist did something similar. This time, I was able to express a little better how I related to the symptoms. She basically told me that my symptoms weren’t strong enough for me to have BPD, and that also, since I don’t experience hallucinations, I can’t have BPD (as far as I know, you do not need to have hallucinations to have BPD though?). I was once again shocked and hurt and left the appointment crying, feeling so misunderstood again.

For context, I was a minor during both of these appointments and apparently minors can’t be diagnosed with BPD so maybe they were just trying to do their job without doing something illegal? But I’ve heard of even 12 year olds being told by doctors that they show symptoms of BPD? Is this a common experience, or do I just really not have BPD and I’m crazy? I currently can’t afford another therapist so I have no means of obtaining a diagnosis like I used to be able to.