Well it's officially our final episode of the BPD Symptoms Series! In this episode we technically aren't talking about DSM criteria for borderline personality disorder but instead we're talking about the different diagnostic model that is used primarily outside of North America. 

We specifically talk about the concept of having a severity scale/continuum for personality disorders and the potential pros and cons for people living with BPD. 

We also dive into three symptoms that aren't in the DSM that we find particularly interesting: 

1. A view of self as bad, inadequate, guilty and contemptible

2. A sense of alienation and loneliness

3. Rejection sensitivity, problems with trust, misinterpretation of social signals.

And of course as we wrap up the series we get all mushy about how much fun we've had and how much we love each other. 

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

Gwen's story is one that many Super Feelers can relate to. With many generations of complex trauma that impacted each generation in different ways, she came to the realization that the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) go back at least as far as her maternal grandmother, her mother and now herself. 

BPD isn't an excuse for behaviours, it's an explanation - something that Gwen has had to come to terms with while learning more about the disorder, herself, and what it means to live as a Super Feeler with BPD. 

Gwen was recently featured on a brand new documentary style podcast all about mental health called Brain Stories. Listen to her episode there to get even more about her story in a really beautiful storytelling format on your favorite podcast platforms or by clicking here. Be sure to follow their show to hear first person stories about a variety of mental illnesses - not just BPD!

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

Self-harm is something that the majority of people with BPD experience at some point in their lives (prevalence estimates range from 50-80+%).

We decided to separate suicide and self-harm for the purposes of this mini series because the two things are often conflated and are actually super distinct phenomena. 

Together we explore our personal experiences with self-harm, how they different from suicidality, and how we've learned healthier coping mechanisms. 

Throughout our discussion we emphasizes the importance of harm reduction  and the need for understanding and compassion in addressing self-harm (aka don't freak out if someone is self-harming. That doesn't help).

Please listen to this episode with care. While we usually don't talk about self-harm methods on the podcast we did briefly in this conversation. 

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

Christina joins Super Feeler to talk about her experiences navigating borderline personality disorder (BPD) in the workplace and relationships. We discuss her experiences with advocating for her needs at work, the importance of skills and sobriety, and finding her perfect partner. 

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

Dissociation is one of the hardest to explain BPD symptoms. It looks different for everyone and sometimes we don't even know when we are in a dissociated state.

In this episode Laurie, Shane, Shannon and Kat discuss the complexities of dissociation by sharing our personal experiences and insights on how dissociation manifests and impacts us. We also explore how dissociation is often times a coping mechanism stemming from complex traumatic experiences and the fine line between it being a helpful protective factor and a "symptom" to be a target of change. 

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

Kat (they/them) joins to explore their journey of understanding their multiple alters/parts and how their suspected Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) works alongside their Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). 

Dissociative Identity Disorder is what was formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder. The name actually changed in 1994 but tons of people don't know that! 

Kat shares their experiences of feeling different from others, the impact of  significant childhood trauma, and the complexities of their internal world, including the presence of as many as 12 distinct parts.. 

Together we explore the significance of understanding inner child parts, validation, and the challenges of navigating relationships while living with significant trauma.  

We touch on various treatment approaches, the ongoing debate within the mental health community regarding the existence of DID, and the importance of mindfulness and grounding techniques in healing.

We also discuss the significance of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) research in understanding long-term effects of trauma on physical and mental health. 

You can find Kat on Instagram @gratitudeandtruth

Some of the resources Kat discussed are:

• Trauma and Dissociation in Complex Systems book that Kat referenced in the episode here.
• Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation book can be found here.  
• Complex Trauma and Dissociative Disorders by Emma Sunshaw on Audible

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

In part 2 of the suicide symptom episode we give more into our personal stories with suicide ideation, attempts and survival. 

We discuss the longstanding impacts on ourselves and our loved ones and the importance of connection, planning for crisis and recognizing our reasons to stay alive. 

Of course this is a sensitive topic. Please listen with care or don't listen at all! 

If you are in an immediate crisis please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you need someone to talk to about your suicidal thoughts please call 988 if you are in the US or Canada or find your local crisis line number. 

You are loved and we want you to keep living. We promise life gets better and the emotions you are going through will pass. 

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

We're talking suicide - something that impacts almost everyone with borderline personality disorder in some way. A vast majority of us have experienced suicidal thoughts and as many as 10% of us will die by suicide at some point. 

Naturally this episode gets deep and you should listen with care. 

In part 1 (of 2) we talk language around suicide, stigma, shame, and start to get into our personal experiences with suicide.  

Suicide is a real thing and it's important we talk about it openly. It may be hard, but it's the truth. 

Relevant links to this episode: 

• Laurie and Aaron's episode about her suicide crisis in 2024. Part 1 and Part 2
• Kat's poetry book
• Suicide training SafeTALK and ASIST 

If you are in an immediate crisis please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you need someone to talk to about your suicidal thoughts please call 988 if you are in the US or Canada. 

You are loved and we want you to keep living. We promise life gets better and the emotions you are going through will pass. 

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

Molly has experienced plenty of her own BPD stigma including as part of the legal system following a rape.  

We also discuss the importance of therapy, the challenges of finding her biological family, and her discovering  that she was Indigenous as an adult. 

Molly's story highlights the complexities of mental health, drug use, trauma, and the search for self-acceptance. 

This episode discuses rape and sexual assault in detail - please listen with caution and take care of yourself while you listen. 

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!

Dr. Elsa Ronningstam is an expert in narcissistic personality disorders, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and the former president of the International Society of the Study of Personality Disorders (ISSPD).  She joins the podcast to discuss the history and evolution of the International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ISSPD) and the importance of international collaboration in research and advocacy. 

Dr. Ronningstam emphasizes the significance of psychoeducation and the various treatment modalities available for individuals with personality disorders, particularly focusing on narcissistic personality disorder. The conversation highlights the importance of empathy and understanding in supporting those affected by these conditions.

Dr. Ronningstam will be speaking at the presenting 2025 International Congress for the Study of Personality Disorders in Boston November 9th-11th. 

Her presentation topics include:

• Psychoeducation promoting destigmatization and change in NPD 
• Changes in narcissistic personality disorder in the context of co-morbid conditions 
• A dimensional perspective on the NPD core feature grandiosity

There are still tickets available to attend the Congress, including a brand-new option to attend virtually! PLUS there is a flash sale on for a limited time. You can find all of the information and register at ISSPD Registration

Come join Elsa, Laurie and hundreds of others passionate about personality disorders learn and connect together this fall!

Find the NPD Basics 5th Edition here. 

Support the show

If you want to support the show, dive deeper into the world of super feeling and for tons of bonus content please consider subscribing to the Super Feeler patreon page.

Click here to register for The Super Feelers Club (the peer support group)

If you are needing mental health support or someone to talk to, please connect with your local crisis line or call or text 988 in Canada or the US or find a local line

Don't forget to follow us on social media (@thesuperfeeler) and subscribe to our podcast for new episodes and updates. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews mean the world to us!

Thank you for listening!