Hi beautifulfreak


I'm sure you will find many supportive, understanding people here (I sure have). Welcome to our big dysfunctional (yet loving) family.

As far as your question is concerned:
"Does anyone else experience this gut-wrenching emotional pain? I feel it so intensely. "

YES! Definitely...It feels as if nothing could be worse, this is the worst I've ever felt, it's unbearable and I'm stuck this way. I think because we BPDs have a harder time 'integrating' than others, we can't see the impermanence of feelings. It feels as if the pain will never cease, we don't know how to cope or even process it!
What many people don't understand is that we can't just 'knock it off' (I've heard that many times) and every time I get just as annoyed as the last. Perhaps because we've never learned HOW. Either way, I understand beautifulfreak.

I have found distracting is helpful, yet very hard to do at first...try to do an activity if you can. Doesn't have to be particularly productive either: watch tv, read a book, take a walk, take a hot bath, cook some food...anything to distract from the pain. Self-soothing is helpful if you can do it. (sometimes I feel crippled by emotional pain) Some examples of self-soothing include: hugging yourself, holding your teddybear, telling yourself it will be okay, using the sensate to help relax and comfort yourself (light a scented candle, eat an orange and REALLY taste it, feel it, experience it, get in your coziest sweatpants and warmest blanket and curl up in a ball).

It feels as if it wont but this too shall pass. We are here for you.