What to Do When You're Feeling Empty Inside

"According to a new study by Bar Ilan University's Leeav Sheena-Peer and colleagues (2025), emptiness isn't unique to BPD-but, unlike the form it takes in other disorders, it tends to be more chronic. Even so, as the authors note, "the high prevalence does not necessarily imply that it is static over time" (p. 404). Maybe, they proposed, by tracking emptiness on a daily basis, these fluctuations could be captured and better understood."

"It's important to study feelings of emptiness in BPD, Sheena-Peer et al. go on to note, because there are important clinical implications. In this disorder, emptiness can be predictive of impulsive behaviors that can cause harm. It's possible that these impulsive behaviors are an effort by the individual to fill the void. Emptiness isn't unique to BPD; in fact, the authors suggest, it's also part and parcel of avoidant personality disorder (APD). However, rather than act out impulsively, people with APD try to cope by withdrawing from situations, turning even more inward and isolated."

Emptiness can appear as a draining absence of emotion and can vary across and within individuals. In borderline personality disorder (BPD), emptiness tends to be chronic yet shows day-to-day fluctuations that can be tracked to understand patterns. In BPD, emptiness can predict impulsive, self-destructive behaviors that may function to fill the void. Emptiness also appears in avoidant personality disorder (APD), where coping more often involves withdrawal and increased isolation rather than impulsive acting out. Mentalization capacity likely affects how individuals respond to emptiness. Identifying moments of emptiness matters because anyone can react impulsively to those feelings.

Read at Psychology Today