Chronic feeling of emptiness is a distressing experience often reported by individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This sense of inner void or lack of fulfilment can feel persistent. While it is a core symptom and diagnostic criteria of BPD, it is often intertwined with other experiences, such as hopelessness or loneliness, making it complex to understand. Many people describe the feeling of emptiness as a profound sense of disconnection or a feeling that something vital is missing, even when their external circumstances appear stable. This experience can be difficult to articulate, which adds to the challenge of addressing it effectively in therapeutic settings.
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Feelings of Emptiness is not Just Boredom
Understanding and working with chronic feelings of emptiness is difficult for clinicians as it is often misunderstood. It is important to recognise that this experience is not simply about boredom or a lack of activity but rather a deeper emotional state that can feel all-encompassing. Therapeutic interventions often focus on helping individuals explore the roots of this emptiness, develop a stronger sense of self, and build meaningful connections with others. While progress can take time, creating a safe space to explore these feelings is a necessary step toward healing and a sense of purpose.
Chronic feelings of emptiness remain a challenging symptom to fully understand, particularly within the context of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Defining this experience is inherently difficult, as it involves capturing an absence, the sense of inner void or lack of fulfilment, that is deeply personal and subjective. This complexity has led to reliance on simple measures, which may not fully capture the depth and nuances of this experience. Without a clear and shared understanding of what chronic emptiness truly means, it becomes harder to integrate it meaningfully into broader discussions about BPD.
The gap in understanding or even defining what emptiness really is, makes it hard to understand how central this symptom is to the diagnosis or conceptualisation of the disorder.
Individual experience of Chronic emptiness
Another issue is the limited representation of individual experiences in the conversation about chronic feelings of emptiness. Most discussions are shaped by clinicians or researchers, with few opportunities for people with BPD to share their own accounts in detail. This can create a disconnect between how emptiness is described in professional settings and how it is actually experienced by those living with it. Without more direct input from individuals with BPD, there is a risk of oversimplifying or misinterpreting this symptom. Addressing this gap requires a more inclusive approach that prioritises personal narratives and fosters a deeper, more empathetic understanding of chronic emptiness.
Our current, clinical, understanding is that chronic feeling of emptiness stems from a profound disconnection, both from oneself and from others. This disconnection is theorised to arise from early experiences, such as inconsistent caregiving, which can lead to difficulties in forming a stable sense of self and maintaining secure relationships. Over time, this may result in feelings of inner hollowness, detachment, and a lack of fulfilment. While the exact mechanisms remain uncertain, therapeutic approaches that focus on creating a more coherent identity, such as mentalisation-based therapy or mindfulness practices, have shown promise in reducing the severity of these feelings. This suggests that psychologists could focus on strengthening self-awareness and emotional connection may play a key role in addressing chronic emptiness.
How feelings of emptiness affect people
The impact of chronic emptiness on individuals with BPD can be profound and far-reaching. It is often associated with significant challenges in social and work settings, as well as an increased risk of impulsive or self-destructive behaviours, including self-harm and suicidal actions. Many individuals describe deliberate self-harm as attempts to cope with or temporarily alleviate the overwhelming sense of inner void.
Chronic emptiness is closely linked to depressive experiences in BPD, though this “borderline depression” may differ from typical depressive disorders. It is characterised by feelings of isolation, anger, and a fragile self-concept, rather than the guilt or worthlessness often seen in major depressive disorder.
Understanding these nuances is vital, as they highlight the need for tailored interventions that address the unique emotional landscape of individuals with BPD.
Emptiness and its Closely Related Feelings
Chronic feelings of emptiness are often closely related to other emotional experiences such as hopelessness, loneliness, and intolerance of aloneness, yet they appear to be distinct in meaningful ways. While these constructs share a common thread of disconnection, they manifest differently. Emptiness is often characterised by a sense of detachment from both oneself and others, creating a pervasive feeling of inner void. In contrast, hopelessness tends to reflect a disconnection from meaning or purpose in life, often associated with a belief that things will not improve. Loneliness, meanwhile, is more about a perceived disconnection from the world or others, even when physical company is present. Intolerance of aloneness, on the other hand, describes an inability to be alone without experiencing significant distress. While these experiences overlap, they each represent unique facets of disconnection that warrant individual attention.
Efforts to distinguish these constructs are still in their early stages, but initial findings suggest that understanding their differences could help tailor more effective interventions. For example, loneliness in BPD has been linked to difficulties in social interactions, such as recognising facial emotions or engaging in behavioural mimicry, which may perpetuate feelings of isolation. Hopelessness, with its ties to a lack of meaning in life, has been shown to increase the risk of suicidal behaviours, while gratitude and a sense of purpose can act as protective factors. Although the distinctions between chronic emptiness and these related experiences are not yet fully clarified, exploring them could deepen our understanding of the emotional landscape of BPD and inform more targeted therapeutic approaches.
Therapy and the feelings of emptiness
Addressing chronic feelings of emptiness in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) requires a thoughtful and targeted approach, given its persistent and deeply rooted nature. Current therapeutic frameworks, such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and mentalisation-based therapy, offer some evidence-based interventions. These approaches emphasise skills like mindfulness, which can help individuals develop a stronger sense of self and a more grounded awareness of their internal experiences. Mentalisation-based therapy, in particular, focuses on understanding one’s own thoughts and emotions, as well as those of others, which may help bridge the disconnection often associated with chronic emptiness. Additionally, the role of validation from clinicians cannot be overlooked, as it can foster a sense of belonging and safety, which may counteract feelings of isolation and detachment.
A potential treatment focus could involve integrating work on self-identity and personal history. Helping individuals explore their autobiographical narratives, personal preferences, and unique sense of self may contribute to a more cohesive and stable identity. This, in turn, could reduce the intensity of chronic emptiness. Strengthening the ability to hold others in mind, and maintaining a sense of connection even when physically apart, may also be beneficial. While these ideas still need further research and validation in clinical settings, they highlight the importance of addressing both the internal and relational aspects of chronic emptiness.
Please note that this blog post by Personal Psychology, psychologists in North Sydney, and is not intended to provide professional advice. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health difficulties, it is important to seek help from a qualified healthcare professional.
