Medication and BPD: it’s one of the most debated, confusing, and personal topics out there. In this episode, we unpack what the research actually says about meds for BPD and what they can and can’t do.
From antidepressants to mood stabilizers to the “medication merry-go-round,” we explore the science, the side effects, and our own lived experiences. Whether meds changed your life, didn’t help at all, or left you somewhere in between, this one’s for you.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains frank discussion of medication, mental health treatment, and sensitive topics. Listener discretion is advised.
🌱 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.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes Meditations on Spotify.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Bohus, M., Haaf, B., Simms, T., Limberger, M. F., Schmahl, C., Unckel, C., ... & Linehan, M. M. (2004). Effectiveness of inpatient dialectical behavioral therapy for borderline personality disorder: a controlled trial. Behaviour research and therapy, 42(5), 487-499. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(03)00174-8
Crawford, M. J., Sanatinia, R., Barrett, B., Cunningham, G., Dale, O., Ganguli, P., ... & Reilly, J. G. (2018). Lamotrigine for people with borderline personality disorder: a RCT. Health Technology Assessment (Winchester, England), 22(17), 1.doi: 10.3310/hta22170
Ingenhoven, T., Lafay, P., Rinne, T., Passchier, J., & Duivenvoorden, H. (2010). Effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for severe personality disorders: meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Psychiatry, 71(1), 14-25. 10.4088/JCP.08r04526gre
Lieb, K., Völlm, B., Rücker, G., Timmer, A., & Stoffers, J. M. (2010). Pharmacotherapy for borderline personality disorder: Cochrane systematic review of randomised trials. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 196(1), 4-12. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.108.062984
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2009). Borderline personality disorder: recognition and management. Clinical guideline [CG78]. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg78
Ripoll, L. H. (2012). Clinical psychopharmacology of borderline personality disorder: an update on the available evidence in light of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–5. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 25(1), 52-58. DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32834c3f19
Stoffers-Winterling, J. M., Ribeiro, J. P., Kongerslev, M. T., Völlm, B. A., Mattivi, J. T., Faltinsen, E., ... & Lieb, K. (2022). Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012956.pub2
For decades, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has been painted as a “woman’s disorder.” But what happens when you’re a man, transgender, or non-binary and struggling with BPD? Does the system see you, or miss you?
In this episode we explore the myths and realities of gender and BPD. We dive into the research that challenges old assumptions, explore how socialization shapes symptom expression, and highlight the devastating consequences of misdiagnosis, especially for men and gender-diverse people.
BPD doesn’t care about gender, and neither should compassion. So whether you identify as male, female, trans, non-binary, or somewhere in between, your experience is real and it matters.
🌱 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.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes Meditations on Spotify.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Connolly, M. D., Zervos, M. J., Barone II, C. J., Johnson, C. C., & Joseph, C. L. (2016). The mental health of transgender youth: Advances in understanding. Journal of Adolescent Health, 59(5), 489-495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.012
Grant, B. F., Chou, S. P., Goldstein, R. B., Huang, B., Stinson, F. S., Saha, T. D., ... & Ruan, W. J. (2008). Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV borderline personality disorder: results from the Wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Journal of clinical psychiatry, 69(4), 533.
Johnson, D. M., Shea, M. T., Yen, S., Battle, C. L., Zlotnick, C., Sanislow, C. A., ... & Zanarini, M. C. (2003). Gender differences in borderline personality disorder: Findings from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study. Comprehensive psychiatry, 44(4), 284-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-440X(03)00090-7
Özel, B., Karakaya, E., Köksal, F., Altinoz, A. E., & Yilmaz-Karaman, I. G. (2025). Gender bias of antisocial and borderline personality disorders among psychiatrists. Archives of women's mental health, 28(3), 563-571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-024-01519-0
Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2011). Gender patterns in borderline personality disorder. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 8(5), 16.
Why does a quiet partner at dinner instantly mean they're going to leave? Why does a friend's joke feel like a personal attack? If you have BPD, you know this spiral all too well. In this episode, we explore how Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) is a therapy designed to address the core of this exact problem, and we break down the life-changing concept of "mentalizing".
🌱 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.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes for meditations created with love & care: https://www.youtube.com/@Empoweredheroes Also available on Spotify at Empowered Heroes Meditations.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Bateman, Anthony, and Peter Fonagy. "Effectiveness of partial hospitalization in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: a randomized controlled trial." American journal of Psychiatry 156.10 (1999): 1563-1569. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.156.10.1563
Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2008). 8-year follow-up of patients treated for borderline personality disorder: mentalization-based treatment versus treatment as usual. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(5), 631-638. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07040636
Fonagy, P., & Bateman, A. W. (2006). Mechanisms of change in mentalization‐based treatment of BPD. Journal of clinical psychology, 62(4), 411-430. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20241
Oud, M., Arntz, A., Hermens, M. L., Verhoef, R., & Kendall, T. (2018). Specialized psychotherapies for adults with borderline personality disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52(10), 949-961. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867418791257
Storebø, O. J., Stoffers-Winterling, J. M., Völlm, B. A., Kongerslev, M. T., Mattivi, J. T., Jørgensen, M. S., ... & Simonsen, E. (2020). Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020(5), CD012955. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012955.pub2
Hi everyone! Happy World Mental Health Day from your hosts Steff and Kerry!
Here at BPD Diaries, we know that understanding our minds is a journey we don't have to take alone. Today, and every day, we see you, we hear you, and we're so glad you're part of this community. Wherever you are in your story, your experiences are valid. Thanks for listening, and for helping to create a world with a little more compassion and a little less stigma.
🌱 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.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes Meditations on Spotify.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has become a buzzword in trauma therapy, but what does it mean for Borderline Personality Disorder? If you've ever wondered what it is and if moving your eyes back and forth can actually help with the intense emotional pain, fear of abandonment, and identity disturbances of BPD, this episode is for you.
🌱 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.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes for meditations created with love & care: https://www.youtube.com/@Empoweredheroes Also available on Spotify at Empowered Heroes Meditations.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Brown, S., & Shapiro, F. (2006). EMDR in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Clinical Case Studies, 5(5), 403-420. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534650104271773
Mosquera, D., Leeds, A. M., & Gonzalez, A. (2014). Application of EMDR therapy for borderline personality disorder. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 8(2), 74-89. DOI: 10.1891/1933-3196.8.2.74
Shapiro, F. (1989). Eye movement desensitization: A new treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry, 20(3), 211-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(89)90025-6
Valiente-Gómez, A., Moreno-Alcázar, A., Treen, D., Cedrón, C., Colom, F., Perez, V., & Amann, B. L. (2017). EMDR beyond PTSD: A systematic literature review. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 1668. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01668
If you've ever asked yourself, "Why do I keep doing this?!" when it comes to relationships, self-sabotage, or your inner critic, this episode is for you. DBT gives us the tools for the what, but Schema Therapy answers the why.
Trigger Warning: We mention sensitive topics. 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.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes for meditations created with love & care: https://www.youtube.com/@Empoweredheroes Also available on Spotify at Empowered Heroes Meditations.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Assmann, N., Schaich, A., Arntz, A., Wagner, T., Herzog, P., Alvarez-Fischer, D., ... & Fassbinder, E. (2024). The effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy compared to schema therapy for borderline personality disorder: A randomized clinical trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 93(4), 249-263. https://doi.org/10.1159/000538404
Arntz, A., Jacob, G. A., Lee, C. W., Brand-de Wilde, O. M., Fassbinder, E., Harper, R. P., ... & Farrell, J. M. (2022). Effectiveness of predominantly group schema therapy and combined individual and group schema therapy for borderline personality disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA psychiatry, 79(4), 287-299. Doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0010
Arntz, A., & Van Genderen, H. (2020). Schema therapy for borderline personality disorder. John Wiley & Sons.
Farrell, J. M., Shaw, I. A., & Webber, M. A. (2009). A schema-focused approach to group psychotherapy for outpatients with borderline personality disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry, 40(2), 317-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2009.01.002
Giesen-Bloo, J., Van Dyck, R., Spinhoven, P., Van Tilburg, W., Dirksen, C., Van Asselt, T., ... & Arntz, A. (2006). Outpatient psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder: randomized trial of schema-focused therapy vs transference-focused psychotherapy. Archives of general psychiatry, 63(6), 649-658. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.6.649
Taylor, C. D., Bee, P., & Haddock, G. (2017). Does schema therapy change schemas and symptoms? A systematic review across mental health disorders. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 90(3), 456-479. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12112
Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2006). Schema therapy: A practitioner's guide. guilford press.
If you're tired of being terrorized by your own mind, this episode is your first step toward freedom.
For people with BPD, it’s like your mind is on fire. It’s like being in a runaway car with no brakes. In this episode, we explore the life-changing practice of mindfulness, not as a way to empty your mind, but as a way to finally get some distance from it.
This isn't woo-woo wellness; it's a radical, evidence-based tool that builds a pause between your feelings and your actions.
Trigger Warning: We mention sensitive topics. 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.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes for meditations created with love & care: https://www.youtube.com/@Empoweredheroes Also available on Spotify at Empowered Heroes Meditations.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Fresco, D. M., et al. (2013). Mindfulness training increases neural markers of attentional stability in prefrontal cortex and insula. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 8(9), 935–943.
Hölzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S. M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S. W. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 191(1), 36 43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2010.08.006
Kliem, S., Kröger, C., & Kosfelder, J. (2010). Dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(6), 936–951.
Lazar, S. W., Kerr, C. E., Wasserman, R. H., Gray, J. R., Greve, D. N., Treadway, M. T., ... & Fischl, B. (2005). Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness. NeuroReport, 16(17), 1893–1897. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.wnr.0000186598.66243.19
Linehan, M. M., et al. (1991). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronically parasuicidal BPD patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48(12), 1060–1064.
Linehan, M. M., et al. (2006). Two-year randomized controlled trial of DBT. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(7), 757–766.
Luders, E., Toga, A. W., Lepore, N., & Gaser, C. (2009). The underlying anatomical correlates of long-term meditation: Larger hippocampal and frontal volumes of gray matter. NeuroImage, 45(3), 672–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.12.061
This episode explores the powerhouse toolkit of Dialectical Behavior Therapy: what it is, how it works on the brain, and why it's so often recommended.
Join us for a balanced, evidence-based look at the therapy that promises a “life worth living,” where we share our own experiences with the skills that changed everything. We keep it real about the criticisms, the time commitment, and practical options if you can’t access a full program.
Whether you're living with BPD, supporting someone who is, or just curious about life-changing coping skills, this episode is packed with practical takeaways and hope.
Trigger Warning: We mention sensitive topics. 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.
🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes for meditations created with love & care: https://www.youtube.com/@Empoweredheroes Also available on Spotify at Empowered Heroes Meditations.
If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:
📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Cristea, I. A., Gentili, C., Cotet, C. D., Palomba, D., Barbui, C., & Cuijpers, P. (2017). Efficacy of psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Jama psychiatry, 74(4), 319-328. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.4287
Goodman, M., Carpenter, D., Tang, C. Y., Goldstein, K. E., Avedon, J., Fernandez, N., ... & Hazlett, E. A. (2014). Dialectical behavior therapy alters emotion regulation and amygdala activity in patients with borderline personality disorder. Journal of psychiatric research, 57, 108-116. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.06.020.
Kliem, S., Kröger, C., & Kosfelder, J. (2010). Dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: a meta-analysis using mixed-effects modeling. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 78(6), 936. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021015
Linehan, M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
Linehan, M. M., Armstrong, H. E., Suarez, A., Allmon, D., & Heard, H. L. (1991). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronically parasuicidal borderline patients. Archives of general psychiatry, 48(12), 1060-1064. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1991.01810360024003
Linehan, M. M., Comtois, K. A., Murray, A. M., Brown, M. Z., Gallop, R. J., Heard, H. L., ... & Lindenboim, N. (2006). Two-year randomized controlled trial and follow-up of dialectical behavior therapy vs therapy by experts for suicidal behaviors and borderline personality disorder. Archives of general psychiatry, 63(7), 757-766. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.7.757
Schnell, K., & Herpertz, S. C. (2007). Effects of dialectic-behavioral-therapy on the neural correlates of affective hyperarousal in borderline personality disorder. Journal of psychiatric research, 41(10), 837-847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2006.08.011
Stoffers-Winterling, J. M., Storebø, O. J., Kongerslev, M. T., Faltinsen, E., Todorovac, A., Jørgensen, M. S., ... & Simonsen, E. (2022). Psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder: a focused systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 221(3), 538-552. Doi:10.1192/bjp.2021.204
Vonderlin, R., Boritz, T., Claus, C., Senyüz, B., Mahalingam, S., Schmelz, J., ... & Bohus, M. (2025). Trauma-focused dialectical behavior therapy: study protocol for a randomized controlled multi-center trial in online and face-to-face formats. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 12(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-025-00294-3
Ever wondered if ADHD and BPD are connected?
These two are often confused because they share similar symptoms. But behind the labels, there are important differences in how they affect the brain, behavior, and relationships. In this episode, we explore where they overlap, where they differ, and what actually helps when you’re living with both.
Trigger Warning: We mention sensitive topics. 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.
🎧 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’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
*If you or someone you care about is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Ditrich, I., Philipsen, A., & Matthies, S. (2021). Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) revisited–a review-update on common grounds and subtle distinctions. Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation, 8(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-021-00162-w
Kenézlői, E., Balogh, L., Somogyi, S., Lévay, E. E., Halmai, Z., Nemoda, Z., ... & Réthelyi, J. M. (2025). Emotion dysregulation and impulsivity as overlapping symptoms in adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder: severity profiles and associations with childhood traumatization and personality functioning. Annals of General Psychiatry, 24(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-024-00540-y
Pan, N., Wang, S., Qin, K., Li, L., Chen, Y., Zhang, X., ... & Gong, Q. (2023). Common and distinct neural patterns of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and borderline personality disorder: A multimodal functional and structural meta-analysis. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 8(6), 640-650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.06.003
Richard-Lepouriel, H., Kung, A. L., Hasler, R., Bellivier, F., Prada, P., Gard, S., ... & Etain, B. (2019). Impulsivity and its association with childhood trauma experiences across bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and borderline personality disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 244, 33-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.060
Rüfenacht, E., Euler, S., Prada, P., Nicastro, R., Dieben, K., Hasler, R., ... & Weibel, S. (2019). Emotion dysregulation in adults suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a comparison with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation, 6(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-019-0108-1
Weiner, L., Perroud, N., & Weibel, S. (2019). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and borderline personality disorder in adults: a review of their links and risks. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 3115-3129. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S192871
In this episode, we unpack the ongoing debate about the relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD).
Are they truly distinct conditions, or two sides of the same coin? With so many overlapping symptoms, many clinicians and survivors wonder if BPD is better understood as a trauma disorder.
Trigger Warning: We mention sensitive topics. 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.
🎧 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’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, I offer 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email me for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org
*If you or someone you care about is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Barnicot, K., (2020). Who falls through the gaps BPD. Journal of Psychological Therapies [online], 5(2), pp. 148–167. Available at: https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/24556/
Brewer-Smyth, K. and Burgess, A.W., (2021). Neurobiology of Female Homicide Perpetrators. Journal of Interpersonal Violence [online], 36(19–20), pp. 8915–8938. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519860078.
Cavelti, M., Thompson, K., Betts, J., Fowler, C., Luebbers, S., Cotton, S.M. and Chanen, A.M., (2021). Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis And Symptoms In Outpatient Youth As Risk Factors For Criminal Offenses And Interpersonal Violence. Journal of Personality Disorders [online], 23-37. Available at: doi: 10.1521/pedi_2021_35_503.
Chapman, J., Jamil, R.T. and Fleisher, C., (2022). Borderline Personality Disorder. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430883/
Cloitre, M., Garvert, D. W., Weiss, B., Carlson, E. B., & Bryant, R. A. (2014). Distinguishing PTSD, complex PTSD, and borderline personality disorder: A latent class analysis. European journal of psychotraumatology, 5(1), 25097. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.25097
Cyr, G., Godbout, N., Cloitre, M., & Bélanger, C. (2022). Distinguishing among symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, complex posttraumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder in a community sample of women. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 35(1), 186-196. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22719
Felding, S. U., Mikkelsen, L. B., & Bach, B. (2021). Complex PTSD and personality disorder in ICD-11: when to assign one or two diagnoses?. Australasian Psychiatry, 29(6), 590-594. https://doi.org/10.1177/10398562211014212
Ford, J. D., & Courtois, C. A. (2021). Complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation, 8(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-021-00155-9
Kulkarni, J. (2017). Complex PTSD–a better description for borderline personality disorder?. Australasian Psychiatry, 25(4), 333-335.https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856217700284
Newburn, T. (2017) Criminology. 3rd Edition. Oxon: Routledge.
Rooms, O. M. (2025). Complex Trauma (CPTSD) vs. BPD: Similarities, Differences & Treatment. Therapy.
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/on-the-reality-of-borderline-personality-disorder
From Aileen Wuornos to Ted Bundy, are people with BPD criminals or misunderstood? And why do so many inmates have BPD?
Are people with Borderline Personality Disorder* more likely to commit crimes, or more likely to be criminalized for trauma-driven behavior? In this episode, we dig into research, stats, and explore infamous cases like Eileen Wuornos, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer. From impulsivity to injustice, we explore how trauma, stigma, and the justice system collide, and how compassion and accountability can coexist.
Trigger Warning: We mention sensitive topics. 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.
🎧 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.
📩 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
*If you or someone you care about is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Arola, R., Antila, H., Riipinen, P., Hakko, H., Riala, K., & Kantojärvi, L. (2016). Borderline personality disorder associates with violent criminality in women: a population based follow-up study of adolescent psychiatric inpatients in Northern Finland. Forensic science international, 266, 389-395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.06.028
Barnicot, K., (2020). Who falls through the gaps BPD. Journal of Psychological Therapies [online], 5(2), pp. 148–167. Available at: https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/24556/
Brewer-Smyth, K. and Burgess, A.W., (2021). Neurobiology of Female Homicide Perpetrators. Journal of Interpersonal Violence [online], 36(19–20), pp. 8915–8938. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519860078.
Cavelti, M., Thompson, K., Betts, J., Fowler, C., Luebbers, S., Cotton, S.M. and Chanen, A.M., (2021). Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis And Symptoms In Outpatient Youth As Risk Factors For Criminal Offenses And Interpersonal Violence. Journal of Personality Disorders [online], 23-37. Available at: doi: 10.1521/pedi_2021_35_503.
Chapman, J., Jamil, R.T. and Fleisher, C., (2022). Borderline Personality Disorder. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430883/
Evershed, S., Tennant, A., Boomer, D., Rees, A., Barkham, M., & Watson, A. (2003). Practice‐based outcomes of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) targeting anger and violence, with male forensic patients: A pragmatic and non‐contemporaneous comparison. Criminal behaviour and mental health, 13(3), 198-213. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.542
Karlsson, M. E., & Zielinski, M. J. (2020). Sexual victimization and mental illness prevalence rates among incarcerated women: A literature review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(2), 326-349. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018767933
Newburn, T. (2017) Criminology. 3rd Edition. Oxon: Routledge.Black, D. W., Gunter, T., Allen, J., Blum, N., Arndt, S., Wenman, G., & Sieleni, B. (2007). Borderline personality disorder in male and female offenders newly committed to prison. Comprehensive psychiatry, 48(5), 400-405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.04.006
Robitaille, MP., Checknita, D., Vitaro, F. et al. A prospective, longitudinal, study of men with borderline personality disorder with and without comorbid antisocial personality disorder. bord personal disord emot dysregul 4, 25 (2017).
Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2009). Borderline personality and criminality. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 6(10), 16.
What does it really mean to love someone with Borderline Personality Disorder*? In this powerful episode, we flip the lens, not just on living with BPD, but on loving someone who does.
BPD is often misunderstood, and so are the relationships surrounding it. Partners, friends, and family are sometimes labeled as "enablers," or warned that people with BPD are “toxic” or “manipulative.” But what’s the reality behind the stigma?
🌱 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.
🎧 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.
📩 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
*If you or someone you care about is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Bouchard, S., Sabourin, S., Lussier, Y., & Villeneuve, E. (2009). Relationship quality and stability in couples when one partner suffers from borderline personality disorder. Journal of marital and family therapy, 35(4), 446-455. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00151.x
Daley, S. E., Burge, D., & Hammen, C. (2000). Borderline personality disorder symptoms as predictors of 4-year romantic relationship dysfunction in young women: addressing issues of specificity. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109(3), 451. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.109.3.451
Gunderson, J. G., Weinberg, I., & Choi-Kain, L. (2013). Borderline personality disorder. Focus, 11(2), 129-145. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.11.2.129
Fitzpatrick, S., Liebman, R. E., & Monson, C. M. (2021). The borderline interpersonal-affective systems (BIAS) model: Extending understanding of the interpersonal context of borderline personality disorder. Clinical psychology review, 84, 101983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.101983
Lavner, J. A., Lamkin, J., & Miller, J. D. (2015). Borderline personality disorder symptoms and newlyweds’ observed communication, partner characteristics, and longitudinal marital outcomes. Journal of abnormal psychology, 124(4), 975. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000095
Miano, A., Grosselli, L., Roepke, S., & Dziobek, I. (2017). Emotional dysregulation in borderline personality disorder and its influence on communication behavior and feelings in romantic relationships. Behaviour research and therapy, 95, 148-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2017.06.002
Navarro-Gómez, S., Frías, Á., & Palma, C. (2017). Romantic relationships of people with borderline personality: A narrative review. Psychopathology, 50(3), 175-187. https://doi.org/10.1159/000474950
Why is Borderline Personality Disorder still so misunderstood?
In this episode we explore the stigma surrounding BPD, from the media, to the police force, to mental health professionals. We look at structural stigma, public stigma, and self-stigma, exploring real stories, real harm, and how validation and awareness can lead to healing.
🌱 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.
🎧 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.
📩 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
*If you or someone you care about is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Aviram, R. B., Brodsky, B. S., & Stanley, B. (2006). Borderline personality disorder, stigma, and treatment implications. Harvard review of psychiatry, 14(5), 249-256. https://doi.org/10.1080/10673220600975121
Black, D. W., Pfohl, B., Blum, N., McCormick, B., Allen, J., North, C. S., ... & Zimmerman, M. (2011). Attitudes toward borderline personality disorder: a survey of 706 mental health clinicians. CNS spectrums, 16(3), 67-74. Doi:10.1017/C109285291200020X
Blascovich, J., Mendes, W. B., Hunter, S. B., Lickel, B., & Kowai-Bell, N. (2001). Perceiver threat in social interactions with stigmatized others. Journal of personality and social psychology, 80(2), 253. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.80.2.253
Brown, M. Z., Comtois, K. A., & Linehan, M. M. (2002). Reasons for suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury in women with borderline personality disorder. Journal of abnormal psychology, 111(1), 198. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.111.1.198
Choi-Kain, L. W., Reich, D. B., Masland, S. R., Iliakis, E. A., & Ilagan, G. S. (2020). Longitudinal course of borderline personality disorder: What every clinician needs to know. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry, 7(3), 429-445.
Corrigan, P. W. (2000). Mental health stigma as social attribution: Implications for research methods and attitude change. Clinical psychology: science and practice, 7(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.7.1.48
Corrigan, P. W., & Penn, D. L. (1999). Lessons from social psychology on discrediting psychiatric stigma. American psychologist, 54(9), 765. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.54.9.765
Corrigan, P. W., River, L. P., Lundin, R. K., Penn, D. L., Uphoff-Wasowski, K., Campion, J.,.. & Kubiak, M. A. (2001). Three strategies for changing attributions about severe mental illness. Schizophrenia bulletin, 27(2), 187-195. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a006865
Couture, S., & Penn, D. (2003). Interpersonal contact and the stigma of mental illness: A review of the literature. Journal of mental health, 12(3), 291-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638231000118276
Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2008). How does intergroup contact reduce prejudice?
Watson, A. C., Otey, E., Westbrook, A. L., Gardner, A. L., Lamb, T. A., Corrigan, P. W., & Fenton, W. S. (2004). Changing middle schoolers' attitudes about mental illness through education. Schizophrenia bulletin, 30(3), 563-572. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a007100
Why are so many celebrities labeled as “crazy,” “unstable,” or “too emotional”, and how often is that linked to Borderline Personality Disorder*?
We’re not here to gossip or diagnose, but we explore how public figures have either disclosed or been linked to BPD, and what that means for public awareness and stigma.
From the courtroom controversy of Amber Heard to the tragic loss of Amy Winehouse, we talk about how media portrayal shapes how the world sees (and misunderstands) BPD, and why representation, especially honest, messy, human stories, matters so much.
🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at bpddiariesstoriesandscience1@gmail.com
🎧 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.
📩 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
*If you or someone you care about is struggling with BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is possible.
Recommended books on BPD:
I Hate You - Don’t Leave Me by Hal Straus and Jerold J. Kreisman
The Way She Feels by Courtney Cook
This Is Not the End: Conversations on Borderline Personality Disorder Tabetha Martin (Editor)
Sometimes I Act Crazy: Living with Borderline Personality Disorder by Jerold J. Kreisman and Hal Straus
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Arendt, F., & Northup, T. (2015). Effects of Long-Term Exposure to News Stereotypes on Implicit and Explicit Attitudes. In International Journal of Communication (Vol. 9). http://ijoc.org.
Aviram, R. B., Brodsky, B. S., & Stanley, B. (2006). Borderline personality disorder, stigma, and treatment implications. Harvard review of psychiatry, 14(5), 249-256. https://doi.org/10.1080/10673220600975121
Blascovich, J., Mendes, W. B., Hunter, S. B., Lickel, B., & Kowai-Bell, N. (2001). Perceiver threat in social interactions with stigmatized others. Journal of personality and social psychology, 80(2), 253. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.80.2.253
Corrigan, P. W. (2000). Mental health stigma as social attribution: Implications for research methods and attitude change. Clinical psychology: science and practice, 7(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.7.1.48
Corrigan, P. W., & Penn, D. L. (1999). Lessons from social psychology on discrediting psychiatric stigma. American psychologist, 54(9), 765. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.54.9.765
Corrigan, P. W., River, L. P., Lundin, R. K., Penn, D. L., Uphoff-Wasowski, K., Campion, J.,.. & Kubiak, M. A. (2001). Three strategies for changing attributions about severe mental illness. Schizophrenia bulletin, 27(2), 187-195. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a006865
Couture, S., & Penn, D. (2003). Interpersonal contact and the stigma of mental illness: A review of the literature. Journal of mental health, 12(3), 291-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638231000118276
Knoll, J., & Matthes, J. (2017). The effectiveness of celebrity endorsements: a meta-analysis. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 45(1), 55–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-016-0503-8
Marshall, P. D. (2015). Celebrity and Public Persona. In Communication. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199756841-0159
Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2008). How does intergroup contact reduce prejudice?
Watson, A. C., Otey, E., Westbrook, A. L., Gardner, A. L., Lamb, T. A., Corrigan, P. W., & Fenton, W. S. (2004). Changing middle schoolers' attitudes about mental illness through education. Schizophrenia bulletin, 30(3), 563-572. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a007100
In this episode we explore the disorienting symptoms of transient paranoia and dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder*.
You'll hear personal stories, learn what the latest research says, and most importantly, we dive into real strategies for grounding yourself, challenging paranoid thoughts, and reconnecting with reality.
🌱 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.
🎧 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.
📩 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
*If you or someone you care about is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Fertuck, E. A., Jekal, A., Song, I., Wyman, B., Morris, M. C., Wilson, S. T., ... & Stanley, B. (2009). Enhanced ‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes’ in borderline personality disorder compared to healthy controls. Psychological medicine, 39(12), 1979-1988. Doi:10.1017/S003329170900600X
Lyssenko, L., Schmahl, C., Bockhacker, L., Vonderlin, R., Bohus, M., & Kleindienst, N. (2018). Dissociation in psychiatric disorders: A meta-analysis of studies using the dissociative experiences scale. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(1), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17010025
Fonagy, P., & Luyten, P. (2009). A developmental, mentalization-based approach to the understanding and treatment of borderline personality disorder. Development and psychopathology, 21(4), 1355-1381. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579409990198
Schore, A. N. (2001). The effects of early relational trauma on right brain development, affect regulation, and infant mental health. Infant Mental Health Journal: Official Publication of The World Association for Infant Mental Health, 22(1‐2), 201-269. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0355(200101/04)22:1<201::AID-IMHJ8>3.0.CO;2-9
Sieswerda, S., Arntz, A., Mertens, I., & Vertommen, S. (2007). Hypervigilance in patients with borderline personality disorder: specificity, automaticity, and predictors. Behaviour research and therapy, 45(5), 1011-1024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2006.07.012
Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Reich, D. B., Silk, K. R., Hudson, J. I., & McSweeney, L. B. (2007). The subsyndromal phenomenology of borderline personality disorder: a 10-year follow-up study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(6), 929-935.
https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2007.164.6.929
Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Wedig, M. M., & Fitzmaurice, G. M. (2013). Cognitive experiences reported by borderline patients and Axis II comparison subjects: A 16-year prospective follow-up study. The American journal of psychiatry, 170(6), 671.
In this deeply important episode of BPD Diaries: Stories and Science, we discuss the difficult yet important topic of self-harm and suicidal behavior in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). We offer a space for understanding and healing, and show that these actions are not necessarily about seeking attention, they are survival responses to unbearable pain. If you or someone you know is struggling, this episode offers hope and a reminder that recovery is possible, one step at a time.
⛔ Trigger Warning: We will be discussing sensitive topics, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Please take care of yourself and reach out for support if needed.
🌱 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 is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
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
Chapman AL, Gratz KL, Brown MZ (2006): Solving the puzzle of deliber-
ate self-harm: The experiential avoidance model. Behav Res Ther 44:371–
394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.03.005
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), 495–510. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015616
Hooley, J. M., Ho, D. T., Slater, J., & Lockshin, A. (2020). Pain perception and nonsuicidal self-injury: A laboratory investigation. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 11(2), 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1037/per0000376
Kleindienst, N., Bohus, M., Ludäscher, P., Limberger, M. F., Kuenkele, K., Ebner-Priemer, U. W., ... & Schmahl, C. (2008). Motives for nonsuicidal self-injury among women with borderline personality disorder. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 196(3), 230-236.
Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2007). Borderline personality and the pain paradox. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 4(4), 40.
In this episode, we dive into the explosive, uncontrollable anger symptom of BPD. From internal rage, snapping over small triggers to full-blown rage that leaves guilt and shame in its wake, we explore where this anger comes from, how it ties into trauma, and what can actually help.
⛔ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses violence, and partner violence. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed.
🌱 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 is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Bertsch K, Back S, Flechsenhar A, et al. Don’t make me angry: Frustration-induced anger and its link to aggression in women with borderline personality disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.695062
Cackowski S, Krause-Utz A, Van Eijk J, et al. Anger and aggression in borderline personality disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - does stress matter?. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2017;4:6. doi:10.1186/s40479-017-0057-5
Hilt LM, Pollak SD. Getting out of rumination: comparison of three brief interventions in a sample of youth. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2012;40(7):1157-1165. doi:10.1007/s10802-012-9638-3
Linehan, M. (2014). DBT? Skills training manual. Guilford Publications.
Munro, O. E., & Sellbom, M. (2020). Elucidating the relationship between borderline personality disorder and intimate partner violence. Personality and mental health, 14(3), 284-303.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pmh.1480
Schoenleber, M., & Berenbaum, H. (2012). Shame regulation in personality pathology. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 121(2), 433. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025281
In this episode, we dive into the silent crisis of chronic feelings of emptiness. We explore what this inner void really is (spoiler: it’s not just loneliness, depression, or boredom), how it impacts identity, and why it often leads to impulsive or self-harming behavior.
We explore it through lived experience and the latest research, sharing evidence-based strategies from mindfulness to meaning-making that can help gently rebuild connection and a sense of purpose, one step at a time.
⛔ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses emotional numbness, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Please take care while listening and pause if needed.
🌱 We’d love to hear from you. Questions, thoughts, or a story you want to share? 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 meditations to support emotional regulation, BPD recovery, and more? Visit our YouTube channel Empowered Heroes for free guided practices made with care: https://www.youtube.com/@Empoweredheroes
Also on Spotify at Empowered Heroes Meditations.
💛 If you or someone you love is struggling with symptoms of BPD, you are not alone. Help is out there. Healing takes time, but it is possible, and you deserve support.
📚 Referenced Research Includes:
Hein, K. E., et al. (2025). Emptiness in patients with BPD: Severity and predictors of outcome over 24 years. Journal of Affective Disorders, 372, 234–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.075
Herron, S. J., & Sani, F. (2022). Understanding the typical presentation of emptiness: A study of lived experience. Journal of Mental Health, 31(2), 188–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2021.1922645
Klonsky, E. D. (2008). What is emptiness? Clarifying the 7th criterion for BPD. Journal of Personality Disorders, 22(4), 418–426. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2008.22.4.418
Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.
Miller, C. E., et al. (2018). A 1-year follow-up study of capacity to love and work in BPD. Personality and Mental Health, 12(4), 334–344. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmh.1432
Miller, C. E., et al. (2021). Understanding chronic feelings of emptiness in BPD: A qualitative study. BPD and Emotion Dysregulation, 8, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-021-00164-8
Ntshingila, N., et al. (2016). Experiences of women living with borderline personality disorder. Health SA Gesondheid, 21, 110–119.
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.
Ever looked in the mirror and felt like a stranger? Or changed your personality, hobbies, or even values depending on who you’re with? If your sense of self feels like a moving target, you’re not alone.
Hear how BPD* turns life into a series of reinventions, how relationships shape identity, and how neuroscience, trauma research, and therapy offer a path toward a more stable sense of self.
Trigger Warning: We mention suicide and early trauma. 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.
🎧 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.
📩 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
*If you or someone you care about is struggling with symptoms of BPD, know that you’re not alone. Support is out there, and healing is absolutely possible.
📚 Referenced Research Includes
Bendstrup, G., Simonsen, E., Kongerslev, M. T., Jørgensen, M. S., Petersen, L. S., Thomsen, M. S., & Vestergaard, M. (2021). Narrative coherence of autobiographical memories in women with borderline personality disorder and associations with childhood adversity. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 8(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-021-00159-5
Fonagy, P., & Luyten, P. (2009). A developmental, mentalization-based approach to the understanding and treatment of borderline personality disorder. Development and psychopathology, 21(4), 1355-1381.
Mohana, & Moon, C. (2024). Towards understanding the direct and indirect effects of borderline personality features on identity disturbance. Mental Health Science, 2(2), e60. https://doi.org/10.1002/mhs2.60
Roepke, S., Schröder‐Abé, M., Schütz, A., Jacob, G., Dams, A., Vater, A., ... & Lammers, C. H. (2011). Dialectic behavioural therapy has an impact on self‐concept clarity and facets of self‐esteem in women with borderline personality disorder. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 18(2), 148-158. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.684
Salgado-Pineda, P., Ferrer, M., Calvo, N., Duque-Yemail, J. D., Costa, X., Rué, À., ... & Pomarol-Clotet, E. (2025). Brain functional abnormality in drug naïve adolescents with borderline personality disorder during self-and other-reflection. Translational psychiatry, 15(1), 157. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03368-6
Yen, S., Shea, M. T., Sanislow, C. A., Grilo, C. M., Skodol, A. E., Gunderson, J. G., ... & Morey, L. C. (2004). Borderline personality disorder criteria associated with prospectively observed suicidal behavior. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161(7), 1296-1298.
