The Narcissistic Abuse & Trauma Recovery Podcast – Borderline Personality Disorder Versus Complex PTSD

Intro

The Narcissistic Abuse and Trauma Recovery Podcast, hosted by Caroline Strossen, aims to raise awareness, promote understanding, and provide education about the effects of narcissistic abuse. Strossen’s goal is to help listeners transition from post-traumatic stress to post-traumatic growth after experiencing trauma.

Main Takeaways

Borderline Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Abuse

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is often misdiagnosed in individuals who have experienced narcissistic abuse.
• Strossen challenges the misconception that being in a narcissistic relationship is the fault of those with BPD.
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) provides the diagnostic criteria for BPD.
• BPD is characterized by nine traits, including unstable interpersonal relationships, identity disturbance, impulsivity, recurrent suicidal behavior, mood instability, feelings of emptiness, difficulty controlling anger, and paranoid ideation.
• These traits may be relatable to some listeners and seeking professional help is recommended if they significantly impact daily life.

Complex PTSD and Trauma

• Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is different from singular event PTSD and can be caused by multiple traumas over a period of time, including narcissistic abuse and childhood trauma.
• The DSM-5 only includes PTSD as a diagnosis, but many trauma experts believe that symptoms are often medicalized instead of addressing the underlying trauma.
• CPTSD symptoms include difficulty controlling emotions, negative self-view, difficulty with relationships, detachment from trauma, and loss of a system of meanings.
• Addressing the root cause of symptoms is more beneficial in the long run than just managing them with medication or therapy.
• Processing past events can help diminish or eliminate symptoms of CPTSD.

Labels and Healing

• Labels of personality disorders can bring up shame and hinder understanding.
• Focusing on symptoms without addressing trauma does not help people with CPTSD.
• Taking responsibility and working towards living one’s best life is key in healing from CPTSD and other diagnoses.
• Labels for mental health diagnoses may just be symptoms of trauma.
• More work needs to be done to understand and ask questions about complex PTSD.
• Complex PTSD can be healed and is not a life sentence.

Summary

The Misunderstanding of Borderline Personality Disorder and the Importance of Addressing Trauma

Caroline Strossen’s podcast episode explores the misdiagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in individuals who have experienced narcissistic abuse. She challenges the idea that being in a narcissistic relationship is the fault of those with BPD. Strossen explains the diagnostic criteria for BPD according to the DSM-5, emphasizing the importance of seeking professional help if the traits significantly impact daily life. Additionally, she delves into the concept of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), which can result from multiple traumas, including narcissistic abuse and childhood trauma. Strossen highlights the need to address the root cause of symptoms instead of solely managing them with medication or therapy. Processing past events can help diminish or eliminate CPTSD symptoms. The episode also emphasizes the limitations of labels and the importance of understanding and asking questions about complex PTSD.

Conclusion

This podcast episode sheds light on the misdiagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder and the significance of addressing trauma in individuals who have experienced narcissistic abuse. It encourages listeners to seek professional help, process past events, and focus on healing the root cause of symptoms. By understanding and addressing complex PTSD, individuals can move from surviving to thriving and reclaim their lives from the impact of narcissistic abuse.