Could Borderline Personality Disorder Actually Be Undiagnosed Autism?

Wow! Great insight, Erika Aaberg! As a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, I can appreciate the depth and complexity of this issue. With a superficial understanding, it's easy to overlook the intricacies and nuances of such conditions. However, with intimate knowledge of both, a clearer picture can emerge. I have gone through a transformative period over the last two years, searching for the root causes of my struggles with maintaining close friendships and intimate relationships, which have felt both desired and foreign. Along this journey, I have received various diagnoses, including ADD, ADHD, atypical depression, social anxiety, GAD, bipolar disorder, high-functioning autism, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). It took a thorough psychological evaluation to finally embrace the complexity of my condition.

Sifting Through Diagnoses

For a long time, no one, not even my previous therapists, truly understood what was behind my bipolar symptoms or ADHD. It was only my current therapist who suggested the Developmental Trauma Protocol that led me to consider trauma as a significant part of my history. This realization was a turning point, as no other practitioner even considered C-PTSD during the extensive psychological testing and assessment I underwent at the university psychology clinic. The process was exhaustive, totaling 16 hours, and yet, the connection remained elusive.

Finding Inner Disassociation

As I delved deeper into my psyche, I began to recognize the presence of multiple emotional parts within myself. The concept of dissociation from my core self became clearer, revealing that I had been living a life propelled by a mirrored behavior and learned perspectives. This realization was a profound moment of self-awareness, as I started to grasp the extent of my dissociative symptoms. Moreover, I discovered that while I did not exhibit external rage, the internal manifestation of old anger and rage was still very much a part of my experience.

The Connection Between Borderline and Autism

The proposed connection between BPD and autism has long been a subject of debate. A logical and seemingly obvious response to whether BPD could actually be an autistic condition would be, “BPD is a secondary form of autism— not related via brain structure but in processing. The processing of stimuli, emotional activation/deactivation, and behaviors all create a landscape that the person cannot see differently in relation to self and intimate relationships. While the processing delays in intimate personal relationships are perplexing, they do not manifest in other social and relational contexts.” This observation underscores the complexity of such conditions and the need for a deeper understanding.

Emotional Sensitivity and Trauma

In my case, the connection between these conditions becomes clearer as I explore the emotional trauma I faced, exacerbated by early life experiences. I recall being overstimulated as a baby and child, with heightened sensitivities to sound, light, touch, and taste. While some of these sensitivities have diminished over time, emotional stress still triggers intense reactions. The emotional abuse from a narcissistic parent further compounded this. It is clear that if a condition or disorder is looked at superficially, the intricacies and nuances that present in less obvious ways have no way to be understood. A holistic approach is needed to uncover the true causes of these conditions.

The Holistic Approach to Healing

Healing from early trauma is an essential step, but it does not address the damage that occurred later in life or the emotional abuse I endured. Overcoming the developmental trauma was a significant part of my journey, and while it provided clarity and insight, it also highlighted the ongoing struggles. The emotional distress and the chaotic experiences absorbed from parental relationships required a deeper understanding and a more compassionate approach to treatment. Embracing the reality of my core self, the disassociative symptoms, and the emotional parts that emerged from dissociation all contributed to a clearer picture of my condition.

Complexities and Intertwined Conditions

It is crucial to recognize the complexity of individual experiences when dealing with conditions like BPD, autism, and C-PTSD. The intertwining of these conditions can result in a myriad of symptoms that may be missed or misdiagnosed. Conditions such as eating disorders, self-harm, substance abuse, BPD, NPD, and suicide ideation are very strong indicators that significant trauma has occurred. These conditions often stem from intolerable experiences, leading individuals to compartmentalize or split off parts of themselves to cope with the pain.

Therefore, the compassionate approach to treating trauma and split-off parts involves focusing on what happened to the person rather than labeling or diagnosing personality disorders. This process is essential for long-term healing and addressing the root causes of these conditions.