I am in my late thirties and have had mood disturbance and substance abuse problems since my teens. I have had some form of therapy for years now. I have been told by my current psychiatrist that I have been diagnosed with bipolar 2, gad, social phobia. I have weekly sessions of supportive psychotherapy. I don't find it all that helpful.

I was diagnosed with depression and PTSD after attempting suicide twice as a teen. I haven't disclosed that yet though. I was sexually abused, also not disclosed. I was really stressed during the initial diagnostic interview and just answered no to many questions.


 But my psychiatrist often points out that I must know the root cause for why I respond to stress by getting depressed and that we should talk about that; that I find minor things traumatic; that I dissociate during sessions when certain topics come up; that my lack of career plans indicate identity confusion. She told me that I am "very limbic". She also says that I have been on many medications with not much response, and that this suggests that something else is going on. She doesn't say what though.

Is this the kind of thing that some professionals do or am I being paranoid?

I am wondering if I should just ask straight out if she is suggesting that I have BPD? I haven't until now because I don't want to be diagnosed with such a stigmatized disorder. I now think that dbt treatment might be more beneficial to me than the current bipolar meds and supportive psychotherapy.