You and Me and BPD

In this episode, I talk about why I choose to identify as a disabled person and how my disabilities affect my everyday life. July is Disability Pride Month, a time for disabled individuals to speak only about how they are thriving (or surviving) in a world where they have historically been treated as less than. In my personal experience, living with both BPD and Autism, as well as my chronic pain condition, is disabling. My life is made up of accommodations I have put in place that help me to not feel as overwhelmed as I am and I am not afraid to embrace the identity of being disabled because that's the reality I live in. Some people might not agree that autism or BPD can be disabling but I hope that this episode serves as a reminder that many disabilities are hidden; many times, we have been forced to push ourselves so hard to fit into the world that we can't even begin to understand what accommodations we need or how we are struggling. It doesn't have to be this way. Thank you so much for listening to my words and giving me the space to process my thoughts. Sending you all my love 💕 if you want to talk further, feel free to message me on my Instagram @journeh.bound

In this episode, I sat down with Sara from the Bold Beautiful Borderline podcast to talk about her work as a therapy provider while living with BPD (and other co-morbid diagnosis'). Sara joined me virtually and we chatted about why she chose the field of Social Work, how her lived experiences influence the work she does, and how we can handle the balance of taking care of our mental health while also working in a helping profession. Towards the end of our conversation, Sara mentioned a group that she facilitates called Super Feelers that might interest some of you who need support in a group setting (more information can be found on the website for her podcast boldbeautifulborderline.com) 💗 If you want to reach out to Sara, she can be found on instagram @saraswellnessway or on the page for her podcast @boldbeautifulborderline 🖤

In this episode, I explain some of the things I've learned about living with panic attacks and how to manage their aftermath. The first part of this episode details some core DBT Skills that I've begun to incorporate into my daily routines to help with my understanding of where anxiety exists in my body, and how to manage my anxiety levels. I am a sensory seeking individual so many of these tips have to do with touching parts of your body or using cold water to facilitate a deeper sense of calm within my being. My therapist has suggested the use of TIPP skills to ease my anxious thoughts so I tried to share a couple that I've found to be beneficial. After a quick discussion about how I experience anxiety attacks, I speak on what things I need after I have experienced these intense emotional outbursts. Every person who lives with anxiety will experience it differently so please take this episode as a conversation starter for you to begin to understand how you can better support yourself or others. As always, my Instagram DMs are open for discussions or simply to say hi so please do not hesitate to reach out @journey.bound 💗 Anxiety is a very common symptom of mental illness but not everyone feels comfortable talking so openly about how it manifests for them. You do not need to struggle alone my friends.

In this episode, Jay and I sat down to talk openly about what sex and intimacy mean in our marriage. While this episode doesn't directly cover topics pertaining to BPD, I hope that this type of honest conversation about my panic attacks and how we navigate engaging in sex can open the door for you to talk more openly to your partner(s) about how you view your own sexual needs. Consent should always be the foundation of any healthy relationship and communication about what you enjoy or how things have changed for you is an integral part of building an intimate partnership. I know it can be hard to talk openly about sex so if you are struggling to know what to say or how to ask for what you want, please know you are not alone in that. It's taken many years for me to even begin to be comfortable speaking about my sex life and I hope this episode serves as a reminder that there is no one-way-fits-all when it comes to engaging in sex with your partner(s). As always, if you have any recommendations for episode suggestions please reach out on my Instagram @journey.bound and we can talk.

Hello and welcome back to the podcast! I can't believe this has been going on since 2020 and people still want to hear what I have to say but I am so thankful for every person who has given me the space to express myself through this medium. This season will definitely be more real and raw, more authentic to where I am in life and how I am navigating the world. I hope you join me on this next season and maybe learn a thing or two about how to manage your own mental health. If you want to reach out to talk or be a guest on the podcast, please contact me through Instagram @journey.bound ✨ I say this every time but I truly love you and think you have so much to offer to this world just by being who you are. See you in the next episode.

Thank you for every bit of support and love that you have shown me and this podcast. I hope that my experiences and sharing has helped you to feel less alone and find more self compassion on this healing path. This episode is an end to Season Four and encapsulates some of the lessons I've been learning throughout this year. I truly never expected this podcast to be something that I would continue to create past the first season so to get to the end of season four is truly remarkable to me. As I enter my time of rest for the winter, I am sending you all positive thoughts and loving kindness to carry you into the new year. If you have any suggestions for new episodes for next season, or just want to reach out to chat, feel free to connect with me over on my Instagram @journeh.bound 💞 May you accept change in every way it manifests in your life. See you in 2024.

Today, October 10th, is World Mental Health Day. I decided to record this episode to share some things I've learned about living with BPD, mainly targeted towards those who are just beginning to explore their own mental health, i.e teens/early 20s folks, and might need some encouragement. I asked people on my Instagram stories @journey.bound for things they'd want to tell their younger self and formed this episode out of those replies. If you walk away with anything from this talk, I hope it is to remember to be kind to yourself and know that you are not alone. Sometimes when we are struggling, we think that no one else can possibly understand what is going on with us but that isn't true; so many people are feeling overwhelmed with life and the more we open up about our struggles, the more we can lean on each other for support. You are TRULY not alone. I love you for all that you are and all you will be 💕

*TRIGGER WARNING : Talk of Religious Ideology & Childhood Religious Teachings*

In today's episode, I sat down with Becca to discuss the way that religious ideologies - specifically from a Christian perspective - can impact our mental health journeys. This topic was requested from a listener of the podcast and although it is not specifically related to BPD, the religious trauma that many of us live with can impact the way we heal and understand the role of mental health in our lives. Religious Trauma is a very nuanced topic so I approached Becca with the hope that her lived experiences, combined with her psychotherapy background, would provide a solid ground on how to speak about ways people can learn to rewrite the narratives they were told for most of their lives. Although we do critique the Christian religion, this episode is not meant to sway your opinion or make you feel like you have to step away from your faith; if anything, I hope this episode will show you that healing comes in many forms and sometimes the religious teachings we heard when we were younger might impede our healing process. If you have any more ideas for episodes or simply want to share your own experiences, please reach out on my Instagram @journey.bound 🌸 Thank you again to Becca for being a part of this discussion, you can reach her directly at [email protected] if you want any more resources or to check in with what she offers. One Final Note : You & Me & BPD just reached 70k listens and I hope you know I truly appreciate all the love and support that you have brought my way. This community is resilient and strong and so worthwhile so Thank you deeply 🖤🖤🖤