BPD Diaries: Stories and Science

99% of people with BPD who die by suicide sought help in the year before their death. 88% in the last six weeks.They were going to the right places - emergency departments, GPs, crisis services. The system failed them.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jillian Broadbear, researcher at Spectrum, Australia's leading personality disorder service, to ask the hard questions.She talks about why men are being left behind, what the suicide data actually says, and why self-compassion might be the unexpected key to recovery. Plus, Dr. Broadbear shares an exclusive: Spectrum's new trial using MDMA-assisted therapy for people with BPD and complex trauma - a world-first that could change everything.For anyone who's ever felt invisible, misunderstood, or like giving up. This one's for you."There are a lot of people who care. Don't give up. You are worth it." - Dr. Jillian Broadbear  🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Broadbear, J. H., Bhagwandas, M. G., Crowley, S., Cheney, L., & Rao, S. (2025). Exploring the pathways to diagnosis for men with borderline personality disorder: A qualitative study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 34(1), e13413. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13413Digital Object Identifier (DOI)⁠Broadbear, J. H., Dwyer, J., Bugeja, L., & Rao, S. (2020). Coroners’ investigations of suicide in Australia: The hidden toll of borderline personality disorder. Journal of psychiatric research, 129, 241-249.⁠10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.07.007⁠Donald, F., Lawrence, K. A., Broadbear, J. H., & Rao, S. (2019). An exploration of self-compassion and self-criticism in the context of personal recovery from borderline personality disorder. Australasian Psychiatry, 27(1), 56-59.🔗 Links: Spectrum Personality Disorder Service:  ⁠⁠spectrumbpd.com.au⁠⁠Spectrum Annual Research Forum - November 6th, free and virtual

You love someone with BPD. But some nights, you lie awake wondering:• Do they actually love me?• Am I codependent or just a caring person?• Is this BPD or emotional abuse?• Should I stay or should I leave?• Why do they threaten suicide when I try to leave, and what do I actually do?These are some the questions partners, parents, and friends of people with BPD ask. Often with guilt. Often with exhaustion. Often without anyone giving them a straight answer.This episode answers some of the most common questions from loved ones. Not with easy answers, but with honesty and compassion for both sides.If you've ever felt like you're losing yourself while loving someone with BPD, this one is for you.[This is the second episode in my BPD Awareness Month series. You don't need to have heard Episode 1 to understand this one.]Family Connections: https://sashbear.org/family-connections/🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org

It's BPD Awareness Month. So I am doing something different.I keep seeing the same questions. Asked at 2am. Asked through tears. Asked by people who are exhausted, confused, and just want an honest answer.This episode answers 10 of the most common questions people with BPD actually ask, including:• Is it BPD or bipolar?• Why do I react so intensely even when I know better?• Am I a bad person because of what I've done during episodes?• Are people with BPD manipulative?• Why do I lie even about small things?• Why do I feel empty even when things are going okay?• What is a 'favorite person' and why does it hurt so much?• Why do I keep splitting on people I love and how do I stop?• Can I ever have a normal relationship?• Can I recover without DBT?I'm not just answering them. I'm showing you how to ask them better, because the way you ask a question changes what you can find.And at the end: a bonus question that almost no one is asking. The one that might matter more than all the others.This is for anyone with BPD who is tired of feeling like a problem to be solved and is ready to start building something worth living for.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org

In this episode, we explore what it means to receive a BPD diagnosis later in life. Why it happens so often, what the latest research tells us about BPD across the lifespan, and why healing is never too late.Whether you're newly diagnosed, still searching for answers, or supporting someone you love, this one's for you.It's never too late to be understood.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Broadbear, J. H., Bhagwandas, M. G., Crowley, S., Cheney, L., & Rao, S. (2025). Exploring the Pathways to Diagnosis for Men With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13413 Ekiz, E., van Alphen, S. P., Ouwens, M. A., & Videler, A. C. (2026). Managing Emotional Intensity Difficulties in Older Adults With Personality Disorders: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Journal of Clinical Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.70090Hill, R. (2005). End-of-life care for the patient with borderline personality disorder. Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 7(3), 150–161.Jo, R., Broadbear, J. H., Hope, J., & Rao, S. (2023). Late manifestation of borderline personality disorder: Characterization of an under-recognized phenomenon. Personality and Mental Health, 17(2), 165–175. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmh.1571Khasho, D. A., Van Alphen, S. P. J., Heijnen-Kohl, S. M. J., Ouwens, M. A., Arntz, A., & Videler, A. C. (2019). The effectiveness of individual schema therapy in older adults with borderline personality disorder: Protocol of a multiple-baseline study. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 14, 100330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100330Kjaer, J. N., Biskin, R., Vestergaard, C. H., & Munk-Jorgensen, P. (2015). A nationwide study of mortality in patients with borderline personality disorder. European Psychiatry, 30(S1), 1–1. doi:10.1016/S0924-9338(15)30162-0Lynch, T. R., et al. (2007). Dialectical behavior therapy for depressed older adults: A randomized pilot study. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 15(5), 383–393.Rexand-Galais, F., Pithon, L., & Le Goff, J. (2021). Assessment of borderline personality disorder in geriatric institutions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 629571. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.629571Stiles, C., Batchelor, R., Gumley, A., & Gajwani, R. (2023). Experiences of stigma and discrimination in borderline personality disorder: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. Journal of Personality Disorders, 37(2), 177–194. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2023.37.2.177Videler, A. C., et al. (2020). Schema therapy for personality disorders in older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 24(1), 119–126.Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Hennen, J., Reich, D. B., & Silk, K. R. (2005). The McLean Study of Adult Development (MSAD): Overview and implications of the first six years of prospective follow-up. Journal of Personality Disorders, 19(5), 505–523. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2005.19.5.505C0MCs5181rD1oysF4PfM

What if your emotional pain was invisible , even to the people closest to you?In this episode, we explore Quiet BPD: the presentation of Borderline Personality Disorder where the storm rages entirely on the inside. No outbursts. No visible chaos. Just a carefully maintained exterior while everything underneath is burning.We cover what Quiet BPD actually is (and what the research says), why it's so often misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety, or even autism, and what daily life looks like for people who've learned to turn their pain inward rather than outward.If you've ever felt like you were performing "fine" while privately falling apart, this episode was made for you.Topics covered: internalizing vs. externalizing BPD, shame & self-blame, misdiagnosis, treatment options including DBT & IFS, advice for loved onesYour struggle is valid , whether it's loud or quiet.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes: Book:⁠The Complete Guide to Quiet BPD by Paul Fabunni Meredith⁠Centres for Health and Healing Ontario. (2025). Living with Quiet BPD: Signs, Triggers, and Coping Strategies. Retrieved from: https://cfhh.ca/blog/living-with-quiet-bpd-signs-triggers-coping-strategies/Higgins, H. M. (2025). The Quiet Borderline Personality Disorder: Understanding and Thriving with Internalized EUPD/BPD. Lenzenweger, M. F., Lane, M. C., Loranger, A. W., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). DSM-IV personality disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological psychiatry, 62(6), 553-564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.09.019 Lo, I. (2021). The struggles of quiet BPD. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-emotional-intensity/202107/the-struggles-quiet-bpd Millon, T. (2011). Disorders of personality: Introducing a DSM/ICD spectrum from normal to abnormal. John Wiley & Sons.  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 Wolf, K., Scharoba, J., Noack, R., Keller, A., & Weidner, K. (2023). Subtypes of borderline personality disorder in a day-clinic setting—Clinical and therapeutic differences. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 14(5), 555.

Nearly 1 in 3 people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) will also experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives. But this connection goes far deeper than food, weight, or appearance.In this episode, we explore the powerful and often misunderstood relationship between BPD and eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.Why do these conditions so often occur together? What role do emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, identity disturbance, and chronic emptiness play in disordered eating? And what does current research say about the most effective ways to support recovery?🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Cassioli, E., Rossi, E., D'Anna, G., Martelli, M., Hazzard, V. M., Crosby, R. D., ... & Castellini, G. (2022). A 1‐year follow‐up study of the longitudinal interplay between emotion dysregulation and childhood trauma in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 55(1), 98-107. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23647 Chen, E. Y., Brown, M. Z., Harned, M. S., & Linehan, M. M. (2009). A comparison of borderline personality disorder with and without eating disorders. Psychiatry research, 170(1), 86-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2009.03.006 Fairburn, C. G. (2008). Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. Guilford Press. Federici, A., & Wisniewski, L. (2013). An intensive DBT program for patients with multidiagnostic eating disorder presentations: A case series analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46(4), 322-331. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22112Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Khosravi, M. (2020). Eating disorders among patients with borderline personality disorder: understanding the prevalence and psychopathology. Journal of Eating Disorders, 8(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-020-00314-3 Racine, S. E., & Wildes, J. E. (2015). Emotion dysregulation and anorexia nervosa: An exploration of the role of childhood abuse. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(1), 55-58.  https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22364Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2010). Borderline personality and eating disorders: A chaotic crossroads. In Treatment of eating disorders (pp. 217-232). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-375668-8.10013-0Crisis & Support Resources:National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline: 1-800-931-2237Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

For many people with Borderline Personality Disorder, night isn’t peaceful.It’s when the abandonment dreams start.When shame replays.When the nervous system refuses to power down.Sleep isn’t just rest, it’s emotional regulation, impulse control, and survival.In this episode, we talk about sleep and BPD, from vivid nightmares and insomnia to the emotional hangover that lingers the next day, and how to be better at sleep.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:George, K. C., Kebejian, L., Ruth, L. J., Miller, C. W., & Himelhoch, S. (2016). Meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of prazosin versus placebo for the treatment of nightmares and sleep disturbances in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 17(4), 494-510. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2016.1141150Gieselmann, A., Ait Aoudia, M., Carr, M., Germain, A., Gorzka, R., Holzinger, B., ... & Pietrowsky, R. (2019). Aetiology and treatment of nightmare disorder: State of the art and future perspectives. Journal of sleep research, 28(4), e12820.  https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12820Selby, E. A. (2013). Chronic sleep disturbances and borderline personality disorder symptoms. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 81(5), 941. van Trigt, S., van der Zweerde, T., van Someren, E. J., van Straten, A., & van Marle, H. J. (2025). A theoretical perspective on the role of sleep in borderline personality disorder: From causative factor to treatment target. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 81, 102089. 10.1016/j.smrv.2025.102089 https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033201Walker, M. (2017). Why we sleep: Unlocking the power of sleep and dreams. Simon and Schuster.Winsper, C., Lereya, S. T., Marwaha, S., Thompson, A., Eyden, J., & Singh, S. P. (2016). The aetiological and psychopathological validity of borderline personality disorder in youth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical psychology review, 44, 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.12.001

What does recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder actually look like?For years, Borderline Personality Disorder was considered chronic and untreatable.And if you've ever searched for "BPD recovery," you've probably seen two extreme narratives: the hopeless one that says you'll never change, and the oversimplified one that says DBT will fix everything overnight. Neither tells the full storyIn this episode, we dive into the messy, non-linear, and deeply human reality of recovery. We explore what the research actually says, and what recovery feels like from the inside.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2009). Randomized controlled trial of outpatient mentalization-based treatment versus structured clinical management for borderline personality disorder. American journal of Psychiatry, 166(12), 1355-1364.https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.0904053Davidson, R. J., & McEwen, B. S. (2012). Social influences on neuroplasticity: stress and interventions to promote well-being. Nature neuroscience, 15(5), 689-695. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3093Gunderson, J. G., Stout, R. L., McGlashan, T. H., Shea, M. T., Morey, L. C., Grilo, C. M., ... & Skodol, A. E. (2011). Ten-year course of borderline personality disorder: psychopathology and function from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders study. Archives of general psychiatry, 68(8), 827-837. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.37Linehan, M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford press.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. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.7.757Ng, F. Y., Bourke, M. E., & Grenyer, B. F. (2016). Recovery from borderline personality disorder: A systematic review of the perspectives of consumers, clinicians, family and carers. PloS one, 11(8), e0160515. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160515Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Reich, D. B., & Fitzmaurice, G. (2010). The 10‐year course of psychosocial functioning among patients with borderline personality disorder and axis II comparison subjects. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 122(2), 103-109. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2010.01543.x

Have you spent years stabilizing your BPD, only to feel like you're unraveling again in your 40s or 50s? What if it's not your therapy failing, it's your hormones? In a medical blind spot affecting so many, perimenopause and menopause can dramatically amplify BPD symptoms, yet almost no one is talking about it.In this episode, we look into one of the most critical and overlooked intersections in women's mental health: Borderline Personality Disorder through perimenopause and menopause. This isn't about hot flashes, this is about your brain chemistry undergoing its most significant shift since adolescence, colliding with the emotional dysregulation at the heart of BPD.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Barth, C., Villringer, A., & Sacher, J. (2015). Sex hormones affect neurotransmitters and shape the adult female brain during hormonal transition periods. Frontiers in neuroscience, 9, 37. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2015.00037Behrman, S., & Crockett, C. (2024). Severe mental illness and the perimenopause. BJPsych Bulletin, 48(6), 364–370. doi:10.1192/bjb.2023.89Cohen, L. S., Soares, C. N., Vitonis, A. F., Otto, M. W., & Harlow, B. L. (2006). Risk for new onset of depression during the menopausal transition: the Harvard study of moods and cycles. Archives of general psychiatry, 63(4), 385-390. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.4.385 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/a0015616Gordon, J. L., Rubinow, D. R., Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., Xia, K., Schmidt, P. J., & Girdler, S. S. (2018). Efficacy of transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone in the prevention of depressive symptoms in the menopause transition: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA psychiatry, 75(2), 149-157.  Gunter, J. (2021). The menopause manifesto: own your health with facts and feminism.  Linehan, M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford press. Maki, P. M., Kornstein, S. G., Joffe, H., Bromberger, J. T., Freeman, E. W., Athappilly, G., ... & Soares, C. N. (2018). Guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal depression: summary and recommendations. Menopause, 25(10), 1069-1085.DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001174 Toffoletto, S., Lanzenberger, R., Gingnell, M., Sundström-Poromaa, I., & Comasco, E. (2014). Emotional and cognitive functional imaging of estrogen and progesterone effects in the female human brain: a systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 50, 28-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.07.025Resources: The North American Menopause Society (NAMS): www.menopause.org The International Menopause Society: www.imsociety.orgMenopause Mastery: https://mlrb.net/menopause-bpd/

Why does everything feel so much harder the week before your period? For many people with Borderline Personality Disorder, the days before menstruation feel brutal. But this isn’t “just PMS.”If your BPD symptoms seem to sync perfectly with your menstrual cycle, you're not imagining it. This is real, it's biological, and it has a name. In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked connection between BPD, the menstrual cycle, PMS, and Premenstrual Exacerbation (PME). We unpack the science and share personal stories.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Dubey, N., Hoffman, J. F., Schuebel, K., Yuan, Q., Martinez, P. E., Nieman, L. K., ... & Goldman, D. (2017). The ESC/E (Z) complex, an effector of response to ovarian steroids, manifests an intrinsic difference in cells from women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Molecular psychiatry, 22(8), 1172-1184. https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2016.229Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., Schmalenberger, K. M., Owens, S. A., Peters, J. R., Dawson, D. N., & Girdler, S. S. (2018). Perimenstrual exacerbation of symptoms in borderline personality disorder: evidence from multilevel models and the Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System. Psychological Medicine, 48(12), 2085-2095. doi:10.1017/S0033291718001253Hantsoo, L., & Epperson, C. N. (2015). Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: epidemiology and treatment. Current psychiatry reports, 17(11), 87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-015-0628-3Linehan, M. M. (2025). DBT skills training manual. Guilford Publications.Marjoribanks, J., Brown, J., O'Brien, P. M. S., & Wyatt, K. (2013). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for premenstrual syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001396.pub3Yen, J. Y., Wang, P. W., Su, C. H., Liu, T. L., Long, C. Y., & Ko, C. H. (2018). Estrogen levels, emotion regulation, and emotional symptoms of women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: The moderating effect of estrogen receptor 1α polymorphism. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 82, 216-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.11.013Yonkers, K. A., & White, K. (1992). Premenstrual exacerbation of depression: one process or two?. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 53(8), 289-292. PMID: 1500406.The International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) : https://www.iapmd.org/pmdd?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23263234694&gbraid=0AAAAADiCO_rEBChLKw_ciQ6FWaXXP7Hsk&gclid=Cj0KCQiAm9fLBhCQARIsAJoNOcsYFvNRS7luuwgBOogkT-se_5N3LA8F6xjAFeyhJ4A-nSf-xv-AXBIaAqy0EALw_wcB

Feeling empty, disconnected, or raw? You open Instagram, post something carefully crafted, and for a moment, the likes make you feel seen. Then, the algorithm shifts. An ex appears. A friend's post feels like a dig. Or worse: silence. Your post gets three likes. That piece of yourself vanishes into the digital void.What happens next? The chest tightness. The spiral. The urge to delete everything or post something even more raw to force a connection.If this cycle is your reality, you're not being "too sensitive." You're navigating a world not built for the BPD brain.In this episode, we break down why social media often feels like psychological warfare. We explore:The Digital Dopamine Trap: Why our brains are uniquely wired for this struggle and how platforms become our "interpersonal regulation machines."Research Deep Dives: How a single ignored message can trigger self-harm urges, and why we post/delete/edit in a cycle of emotional survival.The Specific Minefields: The agony of asynchronous texts, the catastrophic impact of ghosting, and the "block/unblock" spiral.Actionable Strategies: How to conduct a "digital symptom audit," engineer your environment, build "analog anchors," and create a crisis plan for online triggers.This isn't about deleting your apps. It’s about understanding the hooks and learning to build a digital life that serves you, not your symptoms. 🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Howard, K. P., & Cheavens, J. S. (2023). Interpersonal emotion regulation in the context of social networks: A focus on borderline personality disorder. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 14(2), 182.Ooi, J., Michael, J., Lemola, S., Butterfill, S., Siew, C. S., & Walasek, L. (2020). Interpersonal functioning in borderline personality disorder traits: a social media perspective. Scientific reports, 10(1), 1068. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58001-xGoreis, A., Chang, D., Klinger, D., Zesch, H. E., Pfeffer, B., Oehlke, S. M., ... & Kothgassner, O. D. (2025). Impact of social media on triggering nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents: a comparative ambulatory assessment study. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 12(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-025-00280-9Hu, A., Yuan, R., Chen, R., & Liu, M. J. (2024). A glamorous but highly stressful job: The role of social media-afforded status in micro-celebrity stress coping. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 209, 123791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123791The Center for Humane Technology (humanetech.com) for understanding app design.

Work can be a lifeline or a psychological minefield when you live with Borderline Personality Disorder.In this episode, we discuss what it’s really like to navigate career, ambition, burnout, and identity with BPD. We talk about why so many of us become high achievers at constant risk of implosion - overworking to outrun shame, masking emotional pain behind professionalism, and collapsing the moment we’re off the clock.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Comtois, K. A., Kerbrat, A. H., Atkins, D. C., Harned, M. S., & Elwood, L. (2010). Recovery from disability for individuals with borderline personality disorder: a feasibility trial of DBT-ACES. Psychiatric Services, 61(11), 1106-1111. doi: 10.1176/ps.2010.61.11.1106.Skodol, A. E., Gunderson, J. G., McGlashan, T. H., Dyck, I. R., Stout, R. L., Bender, D. S., ... & Oldham, J. M. (2002). Functional impairment in patients with schizotypal, borderline, avoidant, or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. American journal of psychiatry, 159(2), 276-283.

Are people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) "antisocial"? In this episode, we dive deep into the complex, often misunderstood relationship between BPD and Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).We go beyond the online stereotypes and fear-mongering to explore the science, the diagnostic lines, and the sobering overlaps. We break down the crucial differences and the emotional experience. We also tackle why these disorders are so frequently confused, the dangerous dynamics of BPD/ASPD relationships, and the painful reality of trauma bonding.This isn't about creating villains or victims. It's about compassion, critical thinking, and understanding the spectrum of human struggle. Whether you're challenging stigma, grappling with a difficult diagnosis, or simply seeking clarity, this episode provides the nuanced conversation this topic desperately needs.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Buchheim, A., Roth, G., Schiepek, G., Pogarell, O., & Karch, S. (2013). Neurobiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (APD). Swiss Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry, 164(4), 115-122.Chow, R. T. S., Yu, R., Geddes, J. R., & Fazel, S. (2025). Personality disorders, violence and antisocial behaviour: updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 227(1), 481–491. doi:10.1192/bjp.2024.226Chun, S., Harris, A., Carrion, M., Rojas, E., Stark, S., Lejuez, C., Lechner, W. V., & Bornovalova, M. A. (2017). A psychometric investigation of gender differences and common processes across borderline and antisocial personality disorders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 126(1), 76–88.Lieb, K., Zanarini, M. C., Schmahl, C., Linehan, M. M., & Bohus, M. (2004). Borderline personality disorder. The lancet, 364(9432), 453-461.Özel, B., Karakaya, E., Köksal, F. et al. Gender bias of antisocial and borderline personality disorders among psychiatrists. Arch Womens Ment Health 28, 563–571 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-024-01519-0Raine, A. (2018). Antisocial personality as a neurodevelopmental disorder. Annual review of clinical psychology, 14(1), 259-289. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050817-084819Stoffers-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.2021.204https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/10/work-offndrs-persnlty-disorder-oct15.pdfhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/619e6dbb8fa8f5037e8ccb2c/6.5151_HMPPS_Working_with_Offenders_with_Personality_Disorder_accessible_version_.pdfhttps://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/borderline-personality-disorder-and-crime#research-starter-title

To all the beautiful, complex hearts tuning in:Wherever you are, whatever this day looks like for you, we are so grateful to have you as part of the BPD Diaries family. Your presence, your courage, and your stories mean the world to us. Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your journey.We’re thinking of you, and we’re sending you so much warmth.From our hearts to yours, Merry Christmas. Be incredibly kind to yourselves today.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]  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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.orgMusic credit:We Wish You a Merry Christmas by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Have you ever been called “too dramatic,” “too emotional,” or “attention-seeking”? These labels are hurtful, oversimplified, and often point to a deeper, misunderstood struggle. In this episode, we explore the complex and often confused relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD).We go beyond the stereotypes to unpack the science and the stories. What’s the real difference between a core fear of abandonment and a desperate need to be seen? Is "histrionic" just a gendered, modern version of "hysteria"? How can two disorders look so similar on the outside yet feel so different on the inside?🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:DELİGÖZ, A., & KARAAZİZ, M. (2025). A Review of Common Therapeutic Approaches in the Clinical Intervention of Histrionic Personality Disorder. ISPEC International Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 9(2), 140–156. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15773941Hujing, C.L., Yalch, M.M. (2024). Histrionic Personality Disorder. In: Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_2502-1 Liu, Y., Chen, C., Zhou, Y., Zhang, N., & Liu, S. (2024). Twenty years of research on borderline personality disorder: a scientometric analysis of hotspots, bursts, and research trends. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1361535Novais, F., Araújo, A., & Godinho, P. (2015). Historical roots of histrionic personality disorder. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 1463.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01463

"Tis the season to be... triggered? If the "most wonderful time of the year" feels more like an emotional pressure cooker, you are not alone. In this episode, we break down exactly why the holidays are so dysregulating for those with BPD, from attachment activation to sensory overload, and arm you with a practical toolkit to not just survive, but find small moments of peace.You're not alone this Christmas. ❤️🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org

Have you ever wondered, "Do I have BPD or Bipolar Disorder?" You're not alone. This is one of the most common and consequential mix-ups in mental health, leading to years of wrong treatments and unnecessary suffering. In this episode, we're cutting through the confusion.We break down the science and the stories behind Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder, explaining why they look so similar but are fundamentally different.Quick note: we had some technical difficulties while recording, so a few parts of the audio aren’t as clear as usual. Thanks for your patience and understanding 🙏🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Baratta, L.G., Maibach, H. (eds) The Misdiagnosis Casebook in Clinical Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28296-6_62 https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/12476/ Paris, J., & Black, D. W. (2015). Borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder: what is the difference and why does it matter?. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 203(1), 3-7. DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000225Parker, G., Bayes, A., McClure, G., del Moral, Y. R. R., & Stevenson, J. (2016). Clinical status of comorbid bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry, 209(3), 209–215. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.115.177998Phillips, M. L., & Kupfer, D. J. (2013). Bipolar disorder diagnosis: challenges and future directions. The Lancet, 381(9878), 1663-1671.Ruggero, C. J., Zimmerman, M., Chelminski, I., & Young, D. (2010). Borderline personality disorder and the misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder. Journal of psychiatric research, 44(6), 405-408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2009.09.011Skodol, A. E., Gunderson, J. G., Shea, M. T., McGlashan, T. H., Morey, L. C., Sanislow, C. A., ... & Stout, R. L. (2005). The collaborative longitudinal personality disorders study (CLPS): Overview and implications. Journal of personality disorders, 19(5), 487-504. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2005.19.5.487Tickle, E.V. (2022) Borderline personality disorder among individuals with bipolar disorder: Prevalence, correlates, and experiences of the comorbid diagnosis. PhD thesis, University of Worcester. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/borderpolar-patients-borderline-personality-disorder-and-bipolar-disorderZimmerman, M., & Morgan, T. A. (2013). The relationship between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 15(2), 155-169. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/mzimmerman Zimmerman, M.D. (2019). Borderpolar: Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. Psychiatric Times, [online] 36(12). Available at: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/borderpolar-patients-borderline-personality-disorder-and-bipolar-disorder.https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/clinical-status-of-comorbid-bipolar-disorder-and-borderline-personality-disorder/B338C67D84E514C87949AEA6885E546E

On social media, ‘narcissist’ has become a slur for anyone who hurts us. But what happens when this label gets weaponized against people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a condition often defined by deep empathy, self-criticism, and a fear of abandonment?In this episode we dive into one of the most painful and misunderstood dynamics: the relationship between BPD and narcissism. We explore how someone can be both a victim of profound psychological abuse and be accused of being the perpetrator.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.).Carnes, P. (2019). The betrayal bond: Breaking free of exploitive relationships. Health Communications IncorporatedCaligor, E., Levy, K. N., & Yeomans, F. E. (2015). Narcissistic personality disorder: Diagnostic and clinical challenges. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172(5), 415-422. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.1406072Lis, S., & Bohus, M. (2013). Social interaction in borderline personality disorder. Current psychiatry reports, 15(2), 338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-012-0338-zRonningstam, E. (2016). Pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder: Recent research and clinical implications. Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports, 3(1), 34-42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-016-0060-y

When we talk about Borderline Personality Disorder, we talk about a checklist. But what happens when that checklist was written with a very specific person in mind? What happens when your culture teaches you to express pain in a way that medicine doesn't recognize?In this episode, we pull back the curtain on how BPD is shaped and perceived across different cultures.Whether you’re a clinician, someone living with BPD, or someone who loves them, this episode will challenge how you think about diagnosis, identity, and emotional suffering.Trigger Warning: This episode mentions 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Munson, K. A., Janney, C. A., Goodwin, K., & Nagalla, M. (2022). Cultural representations of borderline personality disorder. Frontiers in Sociology, 7, 832497. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2022.832497Venta, A., et al. (2024). Racial and ethnic differences in borderline personality disorder features in a high-risk sample of justice-involved young adults. Law and Human Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000557https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/5-types-people-who-can-ruin-your-life/202102/borderline-and-narcissistic-personalityhttps://www.verywellmind.com/narcissistic-personality-disorder-425426https://paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog/cross-cultural-manifestations-of-borderline-personality-disorder

Is it possible to be a good parent when you have Borderline Personality Disorder? Parenthood is hard enough, but what happens when you add Borderline Personality Disorder into the mix?We unpack what the research really says about parenting with BPD, from emotional dysregulation, shame, and attachment challenges, to the incredible empathy, protectiveness, and determination many parents with BPD bring to their families.Trigger Warning: This episode contains a frank discussion of addiction, substance abuse, and other 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Barnow, S., Spitzer, C., Grabe, H. J., Kessler, C., & Freyberger, H. J. (2006). Individual characteristics, familial experience, and psychopathology in children of mothers with borderline personality disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 45(8), 965-972. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.chi.0000222790.41853.b9Eyden, J., Winsper, C., Wolke, D., Broome, M. R., & MacCallum, F. (2016). A systematic review of the parenting and outcomes experienced by offspring of mothers with borderline personality pathology: Potential mechanisms and clinical implications. Clinical psychology review, 47, 85-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.04.002Fonagy, P., Luyten, P., & Strathearn, L. (2011). Borderline personality disorder, mentalization, and the neurobiology of attachment. Infant mental health journal, 32(1), 47-69. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20283Kasiviswanathan, K., Lee, J., Rao, S. et al. (2025). Navigating parenthood in people living with borderline personality disorder: a meta-ethnography. bord personal disord emot dysregul 12, 22 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-025-00291-6Lumsden, V., Kerr, S., & Feigenbaum, J. (2018). ‘It makes me not worthy to be a father from time to time’: the experiences of fathers with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Journal of Family Studies, 24(2), 109-125.https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2015.1108859Newman, L. K., Stevenson, C. S., Bergman, L. R., & Boyce, P. (2007). Borderline personality disorder, mother–infant interaction and parenting perceptions: preliminary findings. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(7), 598-605. https://doi.org/10.1080/00048670701392833Nijssens, L., Luyten, P., & Bales, D. L. (2013). Mentalization-based treatment for parents (MBT-P) with borderline personality disorder and their infants. In Minding the child (pp. 79-97). Routledge. Petfield, L., Startup, H., Droscher, H., & Cartwright-Hatton, S. (2015). Parenting in mothers with borderline personality disorder and impact on child outcomes. BMJ Ment Health, 18(3), 67-75. https://doi.org/10.1136/eb-2015-102163Stepp, S. D., Whalen, D. J., Pilkonis, P. A., Hipwell, A. E., & Levine, M. D. (2012). Children of mothers with borderline personality disorder: identifying parenting behaviors as potential targets for intervention. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 3(1), 76. doi:10.1037/a0023081.https://belongingnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Belonging-Network_Trauma_informed_parenting_guide.pdfhttps://nes.scot.nhs.uk/media/lonfkldb/its-all-about-relationships-trauma-informed-care-and-nes-parenting-sept-2024.pdfhttps://www.oneeducation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chapter-2.3-Attachment-and-trauma-aware-approaches.pdf

Your Addiction is a Solution (And That's the Problem)It’s not about partying, it’s about survival. For someone with BPD, substance use isn't the primary problem, it's a maladaptive solution to the problem of unbearable emotional pain. In this episode, we get real about the powerful link between BPD and addiction/substance use. If you've ever felt shame about your substance use, this episode offers a path to radical self-forgiveness and explains the integrated treatments (like DBT-SUD) that can help you build a life worth living, sober.Trigger Warning: This episode contains a frank discussion of addiction, substance abuse, and other 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Bornovalova, M. A., Lejuez, C. W., Daughters, S. B., Rosenthal, M. Z., & Lynch, T. R. (2005). Impulsivity as a common process across borderline personality and substance use disorders. Clinical psychology review, 25(6), 790-812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2005.05.005Kienast, T., Stoffers, J., Bermpohl, F., & Lieb, K. (2014). Borderline personality disorder and comorbid addiction: epidemiology and treatment. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 111(16), 280. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2014.0280Linehan, M. M., Schmidt, H., Dimeff, L. A., Craft, J. C., Kanter, J., & Comtois, K. A. (1999). Dialectical behavior therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder and drug-dependence. American Journal on Addictions, 8(4), 279-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/105504999305686Mattingley, S., Youssef, G. J., Graeme, L., Sloan, E., Manning, V., & Hall, K. (2024). Negative urgency, distress tolerance, and symptoms of substance use, eating, and borderline personality disorders in treatment‐seeking young people. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80(2), 261-278.  https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23579Nabel, J., Bertele, S., Stapel, B., Scharn, N., & Kahl, K. G. (2025). Unseen dualities: underdiagnosis of substance use disorders in borderline personality disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1539611. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1539611Trull, T. J., Freeman, L. K., Vebares, T. J., Choate, A. M., Helle, A. C., & Wycoff, A. M. (2018). Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders: an updated review. Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation, 5(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-018-0093-9Zanarini, M. C., Frankenbur, F. R., Weingeroff, J. L., Reich, D. B., Fitzmaurice, G. M., & Weiss, R. D. (2011). The course of substance use disorders in patients with borderline personality disorder and Axis II comparison subjects: A 10‐year follow‐up study. Addiction, 106(2), 342-348. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-

Psychedelics are being hailed as the next revolution in mental health. Psilocybin for depression, MDMA for PTSD, ayahuasca with DMT for trauma. But where does that leave people with Borderline Personality Disorder?In this episode we explore what the research actually shows, powerful, conflicting lived experiences, the potential risks for people with BPD, and the deep questions around ego, identity, and healing. Trigger Warning: This episode contains frank discussion of psychedelics, 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org📚 Referenced Research Includes:Brittain, N., Higgins, N., Barber, M. et al. Ethical Issues and Recommendations in Psychedelic Research and Practice: A Scoping Review. Bioethical Inquiry (2025). ⁠⁠https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-025-10454-3⁠⁠Carhart-Harris, R. L., Erritzoe, D., Williams, T., Stone, J. M., Reed, L. J., Colasanti, A., ... & Nutt, D. J. (2012). Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(6), 2138-2143. ⁠⁠https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1119598109⁠⁠Gordon, A. R., Carrithers, B. M., Pagni, B. A., Kettner, H., Marrocu, A., Nayak, S., ... & Zeifman, R. J. (2024). The effect of psychedelics on individuals with a personality disorder: results from two prospective cohort studies. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4203641/v2Martire, G., Sipple, D., Baron, D., Gold, M. S., Lewandowski, K. U., Dennen, C. A., ... & Blum, K. (2024). Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. Journal of addiction psychiatry, 8(2), 161.Mitchell, J. M., Bogenschutz, M., Lilienstein, A., Harrison, C., Kleiman, S., Parker-Guilbert, K., ... & Doblin, R. (2021). MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature medicine, 27(6), 1025-1033. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3Traynor, J. M., Roberts, D. E., Ross, S., Zeifman, R., & Choi-Kain, L. (2022). MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder. Focus, 20(4), 358-367. ⁠⁠https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20220056⁠⁠Walsh, Z., Mollaahmetoglu, O. M., Rootman, J., Golsof, S., Keeler, J., Marsh, B., ... & Morgan, C. J. (2022). Ketamine for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review. BJPsych open, 8(1), e19. doi:10.1192/bjo.2021.1061Zeifman, R. J., & Wagner, A. C. (2020). Exploring the case for research on incorporating psychedelics within interventions for borderline personality disorder. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 15, 1-11. ⁠⁠https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2019.11.001⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250603114816.htm⁠

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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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)00174-8Crawford, 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/hta22170Ingenhoven, 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.08r04526greLieb, 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.108.062984National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2009). Borderline personality disorder: recognition and management. Clinical guideline [CG78]. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg78Ripoll, 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.0b013e32834c3f19Stoffers-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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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.2016.06.012Grant, 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)00090-7Özel, 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/s00737-024-01519-0Sansone, 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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.156.10.1563Bateman, 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.2007.07040636Fonagy, 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.20241Oud, 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/10.1177/0004867418791257Storebø, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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/10.1177/1534650104271773Mosquera, 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: 10.1891/1933-3196.8.2.74Shapiro, 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)90025-6Valiente-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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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/10.1159/000538404Arntz, 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.2022.0010Arntz, 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.2009.01.002Giesen-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.63.6.649Taylor, 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.12112Young, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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.2010.08.006Kliem, 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.0000186598.66243.19Linehan, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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.2016.4287Goodman, 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/a0021015Linehan, 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.1991.01810360024003Linehan, 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.63.7.757Schnell, 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.2006.08.011Stoffers-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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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-wKenézlői, 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-yPan, 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.2022.06.003Richard-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.2018.07.060Rüfenacht, 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/s40479-019-0108-1Weiner, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: 📩 [email protected] 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.v5.25097Cyr, 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.22719Felding, 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/10.1177/10398562211014212Ford, 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/s40479-021-00155-9Kulkarni, J. (2017). Complex PTSD–a better description for borderline personality disorder?. Australasian Psychiatry, 25(4), 333-335.https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856217700284Newburn, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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.2016.06.028Barnicot, 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.542Karlsson, 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.2007.04.006Robitaille, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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.xDaley, 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.109.3.451Gunderson, J. G., Weinberg, I., & Choi-Kain, L. (2013). Borderline personality disorder. Focus, 11(2), 129-145. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.11.2.129Fitzpatrick, 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.2021.101983Lavner, 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/abn0000095Miano, 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.2017.06.002Navarro-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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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/C109285291200020XBlascovich, 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/10.1037/0022-3514.80.2.253Brown, 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.111.1.198Choi-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.7.1.48Corrigan, 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.54.9.765Corrigan, 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.a006865Couture, 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/10.1080/09638231000118276Pettigrew, 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 [email protected] 🎧 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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. KreismanThe Way She Feels by Courtney CookThis 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.7.1.48Corrigan, 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.54.9.765Corrigan, 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.a006865Couture, 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/10.1080/09638231000118276Knoll, 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/s11747-016-0503-8Marshall, P. D. (2015). Celebrity and Public Persona. In Communication. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199756841-0159Pettigrew, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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.2017.17010025Fonagy, 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/S0954579409990198Schore, 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;2-9Sieswerda, 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.2006.07.012Zanarini, 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.2007.164.6.929Zanarini, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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/10.1186/2051-6673-1-14Chapman 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.2005.03.005Crowell, 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/a0015616Hooley, 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/per0000376Kleindienst, 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 [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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/@Empoweredheroes⁠⁠⁠⁠Also 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.9780890425596Bertsch 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.2021.695062Cackowski 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/s40479-017-0057-5Hilt 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/s10802-012-9638-3Linehan, 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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/@Empoweredheroes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Also 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.2024.11.075Herron, 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/10.1080/09638237.2021.1922645Klonsky, 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.2008.22.4.418Linehan, 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.1432Miller, 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/s40479-021-00164-8Ntshingila, N., et al. (2016). Experiences of women living with borderline personality disorder. Health SA Gesondheid, 21, 110–119.

Feeling Everything, Everywhere, All at OnceIn 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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/@Empoweredheroes⁠⁠⁠⁠Also 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 IncludesBegemann, 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/S0033291721002087Brickman, 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/10.1186/2051-6673-1-14Cassiers, 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.2018.00329Crowell, 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/a0015616Linehan, 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 [email protected] 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/@Empoweredheroes⁠⁠⁠Also 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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 IncludesBendstrup, 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/mhs2.60Roepke, 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.684Salgado-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/s41398-025-03368-6Yen, 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.

Why did I say that? Why did I do that? Why couldn’t I stop?In this episode, we explore the whirlwind of impulsivity in Borderline Personality Disorder, from risky decisions and explosive reactions to the silent shame that follows. We break down what’s happening in the brain during those all-or-nothing moments, and how emotional dysregulation, a reactive amygdala, and underactive impulse-control systems make it hard to hit pause.Steff and Kerry share personal stories of impulsive choices (and the aftermath), along with practical tools that can help you slow down before spiraling out. Whatever your impulse, this episode is your reminder: there’s science behind the storm, and hope in the pause.Trigger Warning: We talk about emotional intensity, sex, suicide, and substance use. 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 [email protected] 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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/@Empoweredheroes⁠⁠Also 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 includesKrause-Utz et al. (2019). Impaired cognitive control in BPD: A review of functional neuroimaging findings. Borderline Pers Disord Emot Dysregul, 6, 1–14.Linehan et al. (2023). Efficacy of DBT in reducing impulsive behaviors in BPD: A 12-month longitudinal study. Behav Res Ther, 162, 104267.Richard-Lepouriel et al. (2019). Neurocognitive correlates of impulsivity in BPD: The role of inhibitory control. J Affect Disord, 244, 33–41Schulze, Schmahl, & Niedtfeld (2016). Neural correlates of disturbed emotion processing in BPD: A multimodal meta-analysis. Biol Psychiatry, 79(2), 97–106.Silbersweig et al. (2007). Neural dysfunction in amygdala-prefrontal systems during emotional processing in borderline personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry, 164(12), 1831–1841.

Why do our relationships start like soulmates and end in emotional wreckage? In this episode, we unpack the rollercoaster of unstable relationships, a core (and exhausting) symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder*.We explore how early attachment wounds, abandonment fears, and emotional dysregulation play out in love, friendship, and everything in between. We talk about everything from the favorite person, to splitting, to personal stories, discussing what really happens when connection feels like survival.Because when love feels like life or death... it’s not just dramatic. It’s BPD.Trigger Warning: We talk about emotional intensity, emotional and physical abuse, rejection, and attachment distress. 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 [email protected] 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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/@Empoweredheroes⁠Also 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 includesDaley, 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.Donegan, N. H., Sanislow, C. A., Blumberg, H. P., Fulbright, R. K., Lacadie, C., Skudlarski, P., ... & Wexler, B. E. (2003). Amygdala hyperreactivity in borderline personality disorder: implications for emotional dysregulation. Biological Psychiatry, 54(11), 1284–1293.Fonagy, P., Leigh, T., Steele, M., Steele, H., Kennedy, R., Mattoon, G., & Target, M. (2000). Attachment theory and borderline personality disorder. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 20(4), 828–859.Gunderson, J.G., & Lyons-Ruth, K. (2008). BPD and attachment: A developmental perspective. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 31(3), 457–471.Gunderson, J. G., Weinberg, I., & Choi-Kain, L. (2013). Borderline personality disorder. Focus, 11(2), 129-145.Kernberg, O. F. (1984). Severe personality disorders: Psychotherapeutic strategies. Yale University Press.South, S. C., Oltmanns, T. F., & Krueger, R. F. (2008). Relationship dysfunction in personality disorders: A meta-analysis of findings. Journal of Personality Disorders, 22(1), 89–104.

Why does it hurt so much when someone pulls away — even a little? In this episode, we dig into the fear of abandonment: one of the most painful and core symptoms of BPD. We explore how early attachment wounds, brain differences, and invalidating environments shape our deep fear of being left — and why even small changes in connection can feel like devastation.We balance the science with lived experience — sharing what it’s like from the inside, and what can actually help.Trigger Warning: Discusses BPD symptoms including intense emotional distress and relationship trauma; take care.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you'd like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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/@EmpoweredheroesAlso 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 includesDonegan et al. (2003). Amygdala hyperreactivity in borderline personality disorder: Implications for emotional dysregulation. Biol Psychiatry.Agrawal, Gunderson, Holmes, & Lyons-Ruth (2004). Attachment studies with borderline patients: A review. Harv Rev Psychiatry, 12(2), 94–104.Ainsworth et al. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Lawrence Erlbaum.Herpertz & Bertsch (2015). A new perspective on the pathophysiology of borderline personality disorder: A model of the role of oxytocin. Am J Psychiatry, 172(6), 460–468.Di Giacomo et al. (2024). Oxytocin and borderline personality disorder: A review of recent findings and clinical implications. J Affect Disord, 336, 231–243.Kendler (1996). Genetic influences on parental warmth: Evidence from twin studies.

Steff shares her personal journey with Borderline Personality Disorder*, touching on identity struggles, toxic relationships, and how mindfulness shaped her recovery. A deep dive into the heart of BPD through the lens of survival, reflection, and hope.Trigger Warning: Discusses suicide, emotional and physical abuse, and eating disorders; take care.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you'd like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] and let’s keep the conversation going.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:📩 [email protected] 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*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.

Kerry opens up about her lived experience with Borderline Personality Disorder*. From deep emotional highs and lows, to the diagnosis that changed everything, the lowest points, and the coping strategies that helped her reclaim her life. Vulnerable, raw, and powerful. This is a story of reclaiming her life and learning how to live with big emotions.Trigger Warning: Discusses suicide, emotional and physical abuse, and eating disorders; take care.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you'd like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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*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.

Let’s go deeper: Why does Borderline Personality Disorder* develop? We explore what’s going on in the body and brain (think amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hormones, and nervous system stuff) and how environment and trauma interact with biology - the Biosocial Theory according to Marsh Linehan. This is the “nature and nurture” episode, where the science gets personal. Trigger Warning: Discusses BPD causes; practice self-care.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you'd like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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*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.

What is BPD, really? In this episode, we break down what borderline personality disorder* is according to the DSM-5 and ICD-11. We unpack the core symptoms, how they can show up in everyday life, and what makes this condition so misunderstood, and so human.Trigger Warning: Discusses BPD symptoms including self harm; take care.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you'd like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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*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.

In our very first episode, we open the diary and share our motivations for starting BPD Diaries. Find out what to expect in this mix of science, lived experience, and unfiltered honesty about Borderline Personality Disorder*.🌱 Have questions, stories, or something you'd like us to cover?We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 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: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 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 *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.