Q. My question is what are the main differences between the borderline personality disorder and the histrionic personality disorder? I feel that I fit both of the criteria and want to know if there are specific differences between the two, to help with deciding which one I fit best.

A. This is a very good question, and illustrates what is a problem in mental health care at this time. Chances are you do have both diagnoses, as well as two to four other diagnoses on Axis II. The average if you have BPD is 4 other Axis II diagnoses. You do not "fit" any better than the other. You are all of them. None of them are a diagnosis. All of them are symptoms of a common biological disorder. Just like you have fever, nausea, diarrhea, aches, and tiredness with the flu, you have multiple symptoms--histrionic behavior, BPD behavior, depression, anxiety, migraines, PMS, etc., with your illness.

Do not try to figure out which single symptom fits best. Try to get on a medication which best addresses all of your symptoms. Since they all come from the same cause, resolution of this biological cause will resolve them all.