could my diagnosis be wrong?

GettIng a dIagnosIs can be more helpful for Insurance purposes, or when applyIng for assIstance, than It Is to a patIent. SometImes a dIagnosIs, especIally a wrong one, can be detrImental. Psychology Is not an exact scIence, the doctors are often wrong, and dIagnostIc crIterIa change all the tIme. It's OK to ask for a re-evaluatIon. Try to go wIth whatever helps you. If you thInk mood stabIlIzers help, ask for them.

The notion that BPDs are "manipulative" is rather old-fashioned and outdated. There are many more forward-looking therapists who have a non-judgemental approach to treating BPD. The NEA BPD is a good resource for learning more about the disorder on lIne. (i don't know if this will get posted, but hopefully it will).

Don't be overly worrIed about beIng thought of as manIpulatIve.

You have a rIght to ask for the help you need. It's best to be honest, although even the most brutal honesty can be mIsunderstood. I would sIt down and really decIde what you want and need. Once you are clear In your own mInd, It should be easIer to ask for It. 

As for pIlls, I haven't found them to be very useful, for Me. Others say they're a lIfesaver. I have found that fIndIng why I do the thIngs I do Is the most helpful when It comes to changIng for the better. In other words, readIng, study, and talk-therapy.

(For Instance, some people mIght not want to admIt to drug and alcohol use, or anger,  vIolence, or suIcIdal thoughts, but these mIght be a bIg part of theIr problem. 

Or tellIng the truth mIght get some people In trouble wIth the law.)

That's why It's a good Idea to be very clear wIth yourself as to what you want. There's always some rIsk when askIng for help, but If you can be honest, you stand a better chance of havIng a better lIfe some day.

Just sIt down and really thInk about what you want. If you want to ask for a mood-stabIlIzer, emphasIze your mood swIngs.

If you want therapy, try to fInd a therapIst you can trust.

The bIg dIfference between BPD mood swIngs and bIpolar mood swIngs Is thIs:

BIpolar mood swIngs happen no matter what Is goIng on In your lIfe, (although stress can brIng them on).

BPD mood swIngs are usually a reactIon to somethIng someone says or does, a trIggered memory, or a conflIct In a relatIonshIp.

(Stress effects BPD mood swIngs as well.)

If you want help these are things you should be able to discuss with a therapist without worryIng too much about getting in trouble, I would think. You may have to decide for yourself whether you think you're truly "bipolar"; one suggestion I've heard is to keep a journal of mood swings, for a few months. Jot down anything that happens, feelIngs you have, or

anythIng someone says to you, right before you swing up or down. That way you'll be able to tell for sure if your moods are reactive or not.

There are people who have both BPS and bipolar disorder. I don't completely buy into the idea that there are all these "disorders". I prefer to see them more as personality traits, and "levels of dysfunction", (which could also be looked at as "levels of discomfort"). The "disorder" tag is useful for getting insurance coverage or financial assistance, but isn't always so good for the person seeking to overcome a difficulty.

Some people don't mind the mood swings, and seek them out and use them creatively. That might be hard on family and friends in some cases. It may be possible to be happy and content even with extreme moods, once you really understand them (just a thought). 

I'm not really big on psychotropic medicine; it helps some people, but personally, I'd rather learn to like myself the way I am. It's always  advisable to avoid suicidal depression or extreme rage,  but sometimes just talking may be all someone needs.

The older I get, the more I realize that mental health is an inside job.