Feeling Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

In this episode, we discuss the emotional rollercoaster that defines emotional instability. From sudden mood shifts to intense reactions that seem to come out of nowhere, we explore why this happens, how it impacts daily life, and what the science says. We’ll explore how childhood trauma wires the brain for emotional extremes and share evidence-based coping strategies to help you ride the waves with more awareness and compassion.

⛔ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of trauma, self-harm and suicidality. Take care and pause if you need to.

🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you'd like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠bpddiariesstoriesandscience1@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and let’s keep the conversation going.

📩 For support on your BPD recovery journey with DBT-based skills and Mindfulness practices, email me for a free 30-Minute Consultation: ⁠steff@bpdsupport.org⁠ or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org

🎧 Looking for guided meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out our YouTube channel Empowered Heroes for free meditations created with love and care: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Empoweredheroes⁠⁠⁠⁠

Also available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify at Empowered Heroes Meditations⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you or someone you care about may be experiencing symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and reaching out to a mental health professional can be a powerful first step. Recovery is possible.

📚 Referenced Research Includes

Begemann, M. J., Schutte, M. J., Van Dellen, E., Abramovic, L., Boks, M. P., Van Haren, N. E., ... & Sommer, I. E. (2023). Childhood trauma is associated with reduced frontal gray matter volume: a large transdiagnostic structural MRI study. Psychological medicine, 53(3), 741-749. doi: 10.1017/S0033291721002087

Brickman, L. J., Ammerman, B. A., Look, A. E., Berman, M. E., & McCloskey, M. S. (2014). The relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and borderline personality disorder symptoms in a college sample. Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation, 1, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/2051-6673-1-14

Cassiers, L. L., Sabbe, B. G., Schmaal, L., Veltman, D. J., Penninx, B. W., & Van Den Eede, F. (2018). Structural and functional brain abnormalities associated with exposure to different childhood trauma subtypes: A systematic review of neuroimaging findings. Frontiers in psychiatry, 9, 329. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00329

Crowell, S. E., Beauchaine, T. P., & Linehan, M. M. (2009). A biosocial developmental model of borderline personality: Elaborating and extending Linehan’s theory. Psychological bulletin, 135(3), 495. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015616

Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.

Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2007). Borderline personality and the pain paradox. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 4(4), 40.