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What exactly is borderline personality disorder, and how does it affect those who live with it? How can loved ones set healthy boundaries while still offering support? What do many therapists miss about BPD that’s not covered in grad school?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok speaks with Dr. Courtney Tracy about borderline personality disorder, how to recognize the signs, and find help.
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Meet Dr. Courtney Tracy
Dr. Courtney Tracy is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and media creator, widely known as The Truth Doctor. She is the founder of Truth Doctor Media, where she combines her clinical expertise with raw honesty to destigmatize mental health and bring therapy-informed education to millions worldwide. Her work is grounded in both her professional training and her lived experiences with trauma, neurodivergence, and resilience.
Dr. Tracy has earned recognition as a leading mental health voice online, receiving multiple awards for her digital content and advocacy. She is best known for her candid approach to complex mental health issues such as borderline personality disorder, addiction, and trauma, helping people feel less alone in their struggles. Through her therapy practice, writing, and global media presence, she continues to humanize the conversation around mental health and empower others to embrace both vulnerability and growth.
Visit Dr. Tracy’s website and connect on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
In This Podcast
- What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
- Criteria of BPD
- What to do if someone in your life has BPD
- What’s not taught in grad school about BPD
- Dr. Courtney Tracy’s advice to private practitioners
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
The reality is that it is a brutal emotional mental health disorder that causes extreme suffering in the individuals who have it, and in those around them. (Dr. Courtney Tracy)
There are a few common aspects that are similar to BPD, but alone aren’t enough to warrant a diagnosis. Some of these qualities may include:
- Mood swings
- Intense anger
- Attempts to control
- Reckless behavior
- Infidelity
The thing is, BPD really is like emotions on steroids. Of course, all humans have emotions, and sometimes those emotions can be negative and perceived to be within the diagnosis, but really, it’s this significantly out-of-proportion emotions, like anger, self-harm, infidelity, recklessness, that cause it to become a mental disorder. (Dr. Courtney Tracy)
It is important to see a qualified therapist to know for certain what you are feeling and experiencing.
Over the last five years of research, academics like Dr. Tracy have discovered that the BPD brain is highly sensitive to negative events and will perceive interpersonal workings as negative when they potentially are not.
This is the main aspect of BPD; it is a neurobiological brain structure issue.
Criteria of BPD
Apart from the common symptoms, some of the criteria of BPD include:
1 – A fear of abandonment, either due to misunderstanding or to being left alone with themselves
2 – An inability to experience joy or happiness, even if good things are happening in their life
3 – A strongly negative internal emotional experience and inner narrative
What to do if someone in your life has BPD
If you struggle with BPD or you have someone you love in your life who does, some of the things you need to be aware of are as follows:
- The importance of boundaries
Boundaries are so important. I really couldn’t handle boundaries when I was active in my disorder, and they are still absolutely required, because the pain that this emotion can cause other people is significant, so boundaries are crucial. (Dr. Courtney Tracy)
- Understanding what is happening on the neurobiological level, including knowing that facial expressions and tone of voice can strongly impact someone with BPD
It is important to know that healing is possible!
What’s not taught in grad school about BPD
Dr. Tracy wants people to understand that, with BPD, there is a real risk of suicidality, which is something mental health practitioners are often not taught in grad school.
I think a real and true understanding of what suicidality means for the person with BPD is something that you only really get to understand when you fully work with someone for a long time … What that understanding is is that suicidality itself is a baseline for individuals who have this level of sensitivity and impulsivity in their brain. (Dr. Courtney Tracy)
The helplessness state that many BPD sufferers find themselves in is like reverting to a state of childhood, where they feel wildly out of control in comparison with other adults.
To help someone going through this, Dr. Tracy recommends teaching this person how to notice and step into small moments of control.
Dr. Courtney Tracy’s advice to private practitioners
People with BPD need your help, and you can help them!
Books mentioned in this episode:
Dr. Courtney Tracy – Your Unconscious Is Showing: Take Control of Your Life with the 12 Steps of Consciousness
Sponsors Mentioned in this episode:
- Get your ticket today for the MHM conference in October! Use the discount code JOE to get 10% off any ticket!
- Trust me, don’t waste any more of your time, and try TherapyNotes.
Useful links mentioned in this episode:
- Visit Dr. Tracy’s website and connect on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
- Apply to work with us one-one-one!
Check out these additional resources:
Optimism Bias Explained: The Science of Hope and Resilience with Dr. Tali Sharot | POP 1250
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Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners who are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
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