Am I the Narcissist? | BPD vs Narcissism | Victim or Perpetrator

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 bpddiariespodcast@gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and let’s keep the conversation going.

🎧 Looking for meditations made for emotional regulation, BPD, and more? Check out Empowered Heroes Meditations on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.

If you’d like more support in your journey toward BPD recovery, Steff offers 1:1 sessions using evidence-based tools from DBT and Mindfulness to help you heal. Email for a free 30-Minute Consultation:

📩 steff@bpdsupport.org or check out the website: www.bpdsupport.org

📚 Referenced Research Includes:

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 Incorporated

Caligor, 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.2014.1406072

Lis, S., & Bohus, M. (2013). Social interaction in borderline personality disorder. Current psychiatry reports, 15(2), 338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-012-0338-z

Ronningstam, 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