Borderline Personality Disorder and Childhood Trauma: Why BPD Makes Complete Sense When Viewed Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

by Sofia Malik

Borderline Personality Is it nature or nurture?

A pervasive fear of abandonment, impulsive behaviors, patterns of self-harm, and a constantly shifting sense of self. With so many life-impacting symptoms, it’s not surprising that many people with BPD—and the people who care for them—focus solely on “solutions.” But how can we treat that which we do not understand?

Did you know that a whopping 40% of people with BPD are initially misdiagnosed? This indicates a gross misunderstanding of the condition as a whole, how it presents, and most importantly, the underlying factors that impact the effectiveness of various treatment options.

Inside Borderline Personality Disorder and Childhood Trauma, you’ll The truth of BPD’s many presentations, including common positive characteristics of people with BPDHow and why people with BPD are commonly misdiagnosedThe circumstances that can cause trauma and how that trauma impacts a child’s brainThe ways childhood mechanisms of seeking safety and wellness can be linked with adult hardship and illnessThe importance of healing through the power of love and supportAlong with much, much more!

Packed with the personal stories of people with BPD, this is more than just a wealth of information, it is an empathy-packed deep-dive into the root system of this largely misunderstood condition. Borderline Personality Disorder and Childhood Trauma offers real-life insight and advice for individuals with BPD, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals alike.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

143 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading books about my mental illness when I’m going through a really difficult time always helps me to feel less alone, more understood, and not to blame myself for everything so much that I end falling up in a hellish mental spiral of doom 💖

The only part I didn’t really agree with is that the author spoke more about how neurodivergent people (Autistic/ADHD) are misdiagnosed with BPD, and not how you can have it as well as being Neurodivergent. I have been professionally diagnosed with all three, and had it broken down and explained to me by my psychiatrist which of my traits are from each, and how they all affect me.

Personal Mental Illness Vent Here:
My BPD apparently developed during my teenage years, as a direct effect of my Nana passing away suddenly at the age of 64, when I was 11 years old and just gone into high school. I lived with my Nana too, and my Mother is also seriously mentally ill, so she basically raised me and looked after me when my Mum was poorly. All those changes in such a short period of time was too much for my brain to handle and I basically shut down during high school. No help, no support. Horrendous bullying not only from other students but teachers as well. Blocked most of it out. I am incredibly surprised I survived it. BPD is caused by the fear of abandonment and I self sabotage relationships with so many people, simply because I feel like I don’t deserve them. Self-sabotage my own successes in life too for the same reason. Battling this illness every single day is difficult. To anyone else out there with BPD, whether you know you have it or not, we are warriors.
I lost one of my closest friends to an apparent suicide in July, she had bipolar disorder. Which isn’t the same as BPD, but has similar traits but only for somebody with Bipolar, they last longer! Am certain that Jess struggled with both Bipolar and BPD though, and had been diagnosed with both in hospital. She was very outspoken about these conditions, in an effort to help other people. She was one of the only people in the world who understood me. No judgement. Could message her about anything. I’m going to work extra hard to get my BPD into remission in her memory. Even though I know it’s hard, and I have been doing so well these past few years that I don’t even feel like the same person !? But have to remember to be kind to myself when I have slip ups. Like anger outbursts and psychosis/paranoia/delusions episodes.

[Sophie Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful insights to prepare me for my new job! Nothing groundbreaking but found some of the personal stories helpful & interesting learning more about the neuroscience links to trauma etc. Overall a good read!

[Velvet Whim · Rating 5 out of 5]

₊ ‧⠀︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵⠀‧ ₊“Borderline Personality Disorder and Childhood Trauma” ₊ ‧⠀︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵⠀‧ ₊
by Sofia Malik

★★★★★
“This book felt like a hug from someone who truly understands.”

Sofia Malik’s book is more than just information — it’s healing. It’s soft, clean, and intentional. I was stunned by how safe and spiritually respectful it felt. So many psychology books carry heavy philosophical or ideological baggage that makes me uncomfortable as a Muslim — this book? Not a single harmful idea from cover to cover.♡

It’s as if Sofia meant to write this for people like us — people who are hurting, searching, and trying to understand themselves without losing their values.

Note: This review is spoiler-free and focuses mainly on how the book made me feel and what I took from it personally.

⸻

She made me feel understood

One of the passages that struck me deeply was her description of the emptiness in BPD:

“Much like someone who is hungry will not only satisfy their appetites by eating a large meal but gorge themself to the point of nausea or vomiting, people with impulsive BPD seek safety in the attention of others, even when gained through an unhealthy methodology.”

This metaphor didn’t just explain a symptom — it explained me.
As someone who struggles with addiction and a constant sense of inner void, this line hit hard. It reminded me of something I once read — how people try to fill their emotional emptiness with the wrong things, only to end up feeling even more lost.
The way Sofia captured that same feeling, with such precision and empathy, made me feel seen and validated.


⸻

She gave us hope

Instead of just diagnosing the pain, she offered hope.
She acknowledged how hard it is to get treatment — the costs, the access, the stigma. And she promised that her next book will contain practical exercises to help those who can’t afford therapy. That’s not just kind — that’s real advocacy. She even made this book available on Kindle Unlimited and priced it at only one dollar.
It’s clear she’s not writing for money. She’s writing because she cares.

⸻

She corrected the narrative

One of the most powerful parts was how she addressed the misconceptions surrounding BPD.
She bravely challenged the outdated belief that it’s “untreatable” or that adolescents “can’t be diagnosed.” This delay in diagnosis leads to years of suffering that could’ve been avoided. As someone who was misunderstood for so long, I felt a kind of justice in her words.

She also clarified how BPD is often misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder, ADHD, or PTSD — and laid out the clear differences. That clarity lifted a huge weight off my chest.

⸻

She reminded us of our worth

Most people only see the chaos in BPD.
But Sofia took a different lens. She wrote a full chapter about the strengths of people with BPD — the parts of us that are good, even if hidden under trauma.

Here are just a few of the traits she highlighted:
• Resilience: “Many people with BPD have battled struggles with drug and alcohol addictions, self-harm, suicidal behavior, and eating disorders… and yet they keep going. This is nothing short of being warriors.”
• Empathy and emotional sensitivity
• Curiosity and mental awareness
• Appreciation for the little things in life:
“My surroundings and my emotions are intensified because of my BPD. This means I can see and appreciate the little things in life — the soft texture of a rose petal, the feelings behind a painting in a museum, and the taste of something as small as a chocolate chip.”
• Creativity, boldness, loyalty, and deep passion

And the quote that moved me the most:

“Yes, many of us struggle with attachment and fears of abandonment, but these are ultimately unskilled manifestations of our love. On our good days, we are lively, funny, and intelligent. The more skilled we become, the more these qualities tend to dominate our personalities.”

Reading this felt like she wasn’t just describing BPD — she was describing me at my best.

⸻

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ Final Thoughts ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅

This is the kind of book that doesn’t leave you once you close it.
It stays with you. It speaks to the parts of you that no one else saw.
I truly believe every young woman struggling with BPD, trauma, or even just confusion about herself needs this book. And I can’t wait for Sofia’s next one.

She’s not just an author. She’s a lifeline.

⸻

[Tracey Curtis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have BPD and had to stop reading halfway thru bc it upset me so much. I saw nothing about the intense pain that we experience, literally like there is a knife in your heart. If you Google What is the most painful mental illness? The answer is BPD. Where is that in this book? Also, we DO NOT attempt suicide to try to manipulate people. We are trying to stop the pain and that's the only thing that we think will. I have attempted several times. The only reason I'm still here is my grandson. People with BPD should be warned NOT TO READ this book!

[Andalin Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short read

I really enjoyed this book. The first half really teaches about the disorder, trauma, the brain and how the brain is affected. The second half focuses on positive parenting, which I also enjoyed.

[Angela Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to teach you about the origins of how BPD develops

[Emma Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Getting on an unskilled borderline’s bad side can cause a world of problems, but when someone with BPD loves you, they love you deeply."

[Elaina Breaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insightful book. I have nothing bad to say!

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative, opens up your eyes to BPD. gave me a new look to what I was dealing with.