The BPD Empathy Trap Nobody Talks About

Can someone with BPD feel other people’s emotions so intensely that it actually starts getting in the way of empathy?

In this episode of The BPD Bunch, Xannie, Georgette, André, Solène, and Katja continue their conversation about BPD and empathy by exploring the difference between emotionally feeling with someone and actually understanding what they need. They share their top tips, lessons and skills they use to navigate empathy more effectively.

In case you're new here, this season, we’re discussing BPD through the lens of the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD). Under the AMPD, difficulties with empathy are considered part of impairments in interpersonal functioning, alongside intimacy. To meet criteria for BPD in this model, a person must have difficulties in at least two areas of personality functioning: identity, self direction, empathy, or intimacy, along with four or more pathological personality traits, which we’ll be discussing in more detail later this season.

In this episode:

* BPD and empathy

* Cognitive vs affective empathy

* Emotional mirroring

* Rejection sensitivity

* Social paranoia

* Problem solving vs listening

* Emotion regulation and empathy

* “Feeling everything” with BPD

* The empathy trap

* Learning to ask what people need

If you’ve ever absorbed other people’s emotions, assumed you knew what someone needed, taken neutrality personally, or felt emotionally overwhelmed in relationships, this episode is for you.In the first two episodes of the season, Dr. Carla Sharp, Dr. Frank Yeomans, and Dr. Alex Stein explain what the AMPD is, how it changes from the current categorical model, and how the BPD diagnosis is changing. In case you missed it, here are the links:Watch part 1 hereWatch part 2 here⸻ 🌟 Love what we do? Your support fuels these important conversations on BPD and mental health. Consider joining our Patreon community to help us continue this valuable work and unlock exclusive content. Every contribution makes a difference! 🌈✨ 🔗 Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebpdbunch ________About Us: The BPD bunch is a YouTube talk show, featuring a panel of people who are in functional recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder. Each week we discuss BPD-related topics to help give you insights into the different ways BPD can be expressed in someone’s life. We also cover the different paths we followed on our recovery journeys to give you hope and direction for your own ❤️ Thank you for being on this journey of healing with us!________Disclaimer:This video is for education only and is not meant to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.