16: Same Letters, Different Story (Symptoms & Diagnoses for Borderline Personality and Bipolar Disorders)

Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder may have similar names and some overlapping symptoms, but they are very different diagnoses.

In this episode, Amy and Brittney break down the differences between bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, including depression, mania and hypomania, emotional reactivity, impulsivity, attachment, and fear of abandonment. They also look at where symptoms can overlap and why telling the difference isn't always as straightforward as it seems.

Along the way, they use examples from King of the Hill, Shameless, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Girl, Interrupted, and even Star Wars to help put some of these symptoms into context. They also discuss sleep, medication, support systems, routines, and other tools that may help manage symptoms.

Plus: Amy learns that apparently starting with the same letter is enough for her brain to file two completely different diagnoses in the same folder.

Chapters

00;21 Intro

01:11 Why the Mix-Up?

02:23 Symptoms if Bipolar Depression

08:00 Pop Culture Examples of Bipolar

12:24 Symptoms & Criteria of Borderline Personality Disorder

17:37 Pop Culture References of Borderline

22:56 Overlaps of Bipolar and Borderline

26:24 Getting Help, Not Self-Diagnosis

28:39 Help for Both Disorders

33:41 Three Spirit Drinks

34: 24 Is it Manic?

35:20 Medications

37:04 Non-Medicinal Help

47:22 One last question

52:08 How You Can Help Someone

This episode was recorded on May 4, 2026 and released on August 26, 2026.