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I don’t want to talk to your personality; I want to talk to your soul. Imagine if your most painful and debilitating mental health symptoms and self-sabotaging behaviors aren’t evidence of disorder or dysfunction, but adaptive strategies that once kept you safe. My goal is to help you shift from asking ‘What’s wrong with me?’ to ‘What happened to me?’</p><br>Many highly sensitive people who identify with the seemingly never-ending list of diagnostic mental health labels contained within the DSM share the same underlying sense of being irreparably broken, disconnected from their intuition, and overwhelmed by life’s existential questions. I believe the resulting—and perfectly understandable—chronic feelings of emptiness and spiritual starvation are the TRUE causes of our current collective ‘mental health crisis.’ Together, we’ll dive into depth psychology, mythology, human consciousness, critical psychiatry, and the impact of trauma to help you begin the process of emotional alchemy. This exploration will help you get to the root cause of your suffering and free yourself from the toxic shame, limiting beliefs, and mental programming that have kept you locked in the chains of your past.</p><br>In an era where mental health and spirituality are too often commercialized, I’m not here as a guru with a quick fix to sell you. I don’t believe anyone is ever truly ‘healed’ or ‘cured.’ There is no return to some mythical state of pre-trauma purity, but rather a continuous spiral of unbecoming, unlearning, and transformation. As a fellow seeker, I will be there in your ear, walking alongside you on your path toward wholeness as a sort of parasocial big sister. That, I CAN promise. By integrating the concepts we explore together, you’ll begin to see that anyone—even you—can come back from the borderline.</p><br>Overwhelmed about where to start? Visit <a href="https://open.acast.com/networks/60e8deaefb090f0013116d6a/shows/60e8deaefb090f0013116d69/backfromtheborderline.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">backfromtheborderline.com</a> today to access my introductory episode and dive straight into my most transformational series.</p> acast+ <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline">https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline</a>.</p> <br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Do you find yourself constantly questioning your feelings in a relationship, or feel the need to check your partner’s phone to ease your doubts? Maybe you seek reassurance from friends whenever something feels “off.” These patterns can be exhausting and isolating, but they’re more common than you might realize—and they often have deeply rooted origins.
In this episode, we’re exploring behaviors commonly labeled as Relationship OCD, or ROCD. But instead of viewing these as disorders, we’ll reframe them as adaptive responses—patterns we developed in past environments where we may have felt insecure or abandoned. These behaviors, while once protective, may now stand in the way of genuine connection and trust.
We’ll dive into the roots of these relationship anxieties, tracing how early experiences shape our attachment styles and influence how we love and connect. This episode isn’t about diagnosing yourself; it’s about recognizing shared patterns and finding new ways to relate. I’ll walk you through the ROCD cycle, offering insights from depth psychology to help you understand why these behaviors arise and, most importantly, how to interrupt them.
Alongside these insights, you’ll gain practical tools to break free from cycles of doubt, build self-awareness, and create space for trust and intimacy. By tuning in, you’re taking a step toward more secure, fulfilling relationships and moving away from self-sabotage. This is a journey to understanding your emotions and behaviors on a deeper level, with the aim of building relationships rooted in clarity and confidence.
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Drama doesn’t just happen to us—we unknowingly play a part in it. Living in a cycle of constant conflict can feel like being stuck in quicksand—every move seems to pull you deeper. It’s exhausting, isolating, and can erode your relationships over time. In this episode, we break down Dr. Stephen Karpman’s Drama Triangle, a framework developed in the 1960s that reveals how we get trapped in recurring cycles of conflict. Whether as the Victim, Rescuer, or Persecutor, these roles shape our interactions and fuel the chaos that can leave us feeling exhausted, ashamed, and isolated.
We’ll dive deep into Karpman’s work, exploring how the rise of humanistic and group therapy in the 1960s gave birth to this powerful concept. You’ll learn how the Drama Triangle plays out in your relationships—whether with family, friends, or even in your own self-talk. More importantly, I’ll guide you through strategies to break free from these roles, offering actionable steps to help you unlock a more peaceful, drama-free life. Imagine what it would feel like to live without constant conflict—a life where you no longer feel trapped in toxic cycles. That freedom is within reach, and in this episode, we’ll explore how you can take the first steps toward it.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 – 35:31.51: PART 1 (Introduction to the Drama Triangle; Development and psychological insights by Dr. Stephen Karpman; Overview of the 1960s' psychological landscape; Detailed roles analysis and their interactions within the triangle)
35:36.70 – 01:18:56.59: PART 2 (Exploration of the Drama Triangle in family dynamics through a detailed fictional scenario; Comparison between the Drama and Codependency Triangles and their implications; Strategies for escaping the Drama Triangle; Building healthier interpersonal dynamics and emphasizing personal responsibility)
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Do you ever feel like you're walking on eggshells during conversations, afraid that one wrong word could ignite a firestorm of judgment? Have you ever silenced your own voice out of fear of being labeled or called out in the throes of cancel culture? In this episode, we dive into what we're calling "Secular Puritanism." It’s a curious trend where today's drive for moral righteousness sometimes resembles the old, strict Puritan ways—think less about the religious overtones and more about being quick to judge and shut down conversations in the name of political correctness. We'll explore how this well-meaning quest for moral purity can actually prevent us from talking openly, leaving everyone feeling on edge, no matter what side of social justice issues they stand on.
We’ll also examine why we often hold back what we truly want to say, how we might be unknowingly contributing to a modern kind of witch hunt, and the inner conflict that arises when our public views don’t align with our private lives. This episode tackles these tough questions and offers actionable advice to help you recognize these patterns in yourself and break free from the fear of judgment. By tuning in, you'll learn how to speak your mind more freely and handle complicated issues with confidence, fostering both personal and systemic change. Join me as we arm ourselves with strategies for navigating this complex issue, transforming fear-driven interactions into opportunities for profound personal insight and real community progress. This journey is more than just changing how you speak—it’s about revolutionizing how you think, connect, and uphold your values in a world full of contradictions.
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What is it about women in horror that both fascinates and frightens us? This Halloween, we dig into the roots of the "Monstrous Feminine," exploring why these unsettling portrayals linger in our minds. In this episode, we examine the link between fear and femininity, looking at how Freud and Lacan’s theories laid the groundwork for horror’s portrayal of women as both alluring and repellent.
We’ll break down how The Witch, Midsommar, and Black Swan expose cultural pressures around female identity, while Jennifer’s Body challenges horror norms by centering female friendship and agency. And with Promising Young Woman, we confront society’s unease with women’s anger and desire for revenge. Drawing on Laura Mulvey’s concept of the male gaze, we’ll discuss how cinema often turns women into objects of both desire and fear, reflecting deeper societal anxieties. We also explore how historical stigmas around women’s mental health have pathologized natural emotions, often with damaging effects.
Tune in to see how horror films both mirror and distort our ideas of gender, madness, and power. This episode invites you to rethink what horror tells us about the world’s fear—and fascination—with the “monstrous” feminine.
✧ Click here to buy “The Monstrous-Feminine” by Barbara Creed
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 – 33:15.73: Part 1 (Unpacking Psychoanalytic Roots and Mythological Origins of the Monstrous Feminine)
33:15.72 – 01:08:52.49: Part 2 (Exploring Barbara Creed’s Monstrous Feminine, Lacan’s “Other,” and the Male Gaze through Films)
01:08:52.49 – end: Part 3 (Connecting the Monstrous Feminine to Female Madness, BPD, Hysteria, and Modern Implications)
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Do you find yourself lying awake at night, terrified of death, paralyzed by the concept of forever, and gripped by the fear of losing the people you love? Many of us do everything in our power to distract ourselves from life’s big existential realities and questions. But what if this very denial contributes to our most painful mental health symptoms?
In this episode, we’ll explore the wisdom of 'The Five Remembrances' from Buddhist philosophy, revealing the inescapable truths of human existence that we often avoid. We'll uncover how embracing these truths can lead us from existential terror to a grounded acceptance of life's impermanence. Together, we'll confront these fears and discover how facing life’s scariest truths can bring about the lasting inner peace and transformative change you’ve been longing for. If you're ready to move beyond superficial distractions and engage with the deeper questions of life but struggle to find anyone to talk to, this episode is for you. So, get comfy, settle in, and prepare to journey together toward understanding, acceptance, and a more meaningful existence through an exploration of life’s big questions.
Click here to read my original Substack article “laying awake at night wondering wtf the point is: how accepting life's hardest realities can transform your mental health."
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever felt like your mental health struggles are being dismissed as just part of a 'mental health crisis' without anyone addressing the root causes? Do you sense there's a deeper story behind the psychological suffering of Millennials and Gen Z than what pharmaceutical ads and social media influencers are telling you? In this episode, I dive deep into these questions, exploring whether we're glorifying, glamorizing, and commercializing our psychological suffering to the point where we've lost our ability to overcome it.
In the first part of our discussion, I trace the evolution of mental health perceptions and treatments over the past century. We highlight key cultural and historical shifts that have shaped our current understanding, examine the impact of significant events like economic recessions, technological booms, and cultural revolutions, and discuss how economic pressures, academic demands, and the rise of social media have created a perfect storm of mental health challenges for younger generations.
The second part of the episode delves into the dynamics of resilience and parental influence. We explore how modern parenting styles, such as helicopter parenting, have influenced the perceived fragility of today’s youth. I unpack the irony of older generations labeling Millennials and Gen Z as 'snowflakes,' while their overprotective approaches may have contributed to this perceived lack of resilience. Additionally, we analyze how educational systems and the extension of adolescence impact maturity and mental health. We then turn a critical eye to the industrial-complex of mental health, examining the complicity of psychiatric institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance providers. I highlight how these entities have commercialized mental distress and how recent criticisms of the serotonin hypothesis and other accepted 'scientific' bases reveal a crumbling legitimacy in our current mental health practices.
Finally, I encourage you to have a 'Neo' moment—awakening from the matrix of misleading labels and rediscovering your personal and collective power. I show you how to see beyond labels as fixed identities, using them instead as tools for navigating your mental health. With actionable insights, you’ll learn how to dismantle these limiting narratives and advocate for systemic changes, creating a path to genuine resilience and well-being.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 – 43:57.57: Part 1 (Explores the cultural, historical, and socioeconomic factors impacting mental health among Millennials and Gen Z.)
44:02:96 – 01:29:48.75: Part 2 (Examines the dynamics of resilience, parental influence, and critiques the industrial-complex of mental health.)
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever felt like parts of your own story were out of your control? Did you know that you can use myths and fairy tales, along with their characters and symbols, to understand and transform your own recovery journey? In this episode, you’ll enter a world where ancient tales reveal modern truths, and the myths of old illuminate paths to healing and self-discovery. We’ll explore a timeless fairy tale that holds deep psychological insights: the Handless Maiden, with the adaptation of the story told in the episode inspired by Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ book ‘Women Who Run with the Wolves.’
We'll dissect the Handless Maiden's journey from innocence through betrayal to ultimate renewal. This tale is not just a narrative of hardship but a roadmap to recovery, especially for those dealing with the aftermath of childhood emotional neglect and trauma. We'll explore how the symbolic loss of the maiden's hands mirrors our own feelings of powerlessness and how her path to regaining them can inspire our personal healing journeys. By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to harness the power of myths and fairy tales to frame your own experiences of loss and recovery. I’ll provide practical tips on how to use these stories as tools for deep psychological insight, helping you externalize internal struggles and see your challenges through a transformative lens. Discover how embracing your narrative can be a powerful pathway to recovery and self-discovery. Don’t just hear a story—find your story within the story, and turn your life’s challenges into chapters of resilience and triumph.
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Spoiler alert: understanding your attachment style (and everyone else’s for that matter) is not the magical key to solving all your relationship woes. In today’s episode, we’re diving headfirst into the world of attachment theory—a concept that’s taken over TikTok, Instagram, and even dating apps. But is it really the answer we think it is, or just another way to overthink our love lives into obsessive neurosis?
Attachment theory started in the 1950s with researchers John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, but lately, it feels like every creator under the sun is capitalizing on it to create short-form content that promises to decode our emotional baggage. We’ll explore why this theory has become the go-to for understanding relationships and whether it’s actually helping or just adding to our confusion. Are we really anxiously or avoidantly attached, or are we just in the wrong relationships? We’ll unpack the hype, reveal the potential pitfalls, and ask the tough questions: Are we pathologizing messy, complicated human experiences and masking real issues with these labels? How do we balance self-reflection with real-world actions to find healthier relationships? Get ready for a raw and real journey into the heart of attachment theory. We’re cutting through the noise to find out if this trend is a genuine breakthrough or just another way to complicate our love lives.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 – 35:09.07: PART 1 (Introduction to attachment theory, its origins, key attachment styles – secure, anxious, avoidant, disorganized – and the shift from child-caregiver relationships to adult relationships.)
35:09.07 – 01:04:14.71: PART 2 (Exploration of the popularity and commercialization of attachment theory, potential issues such as self-deception and misdiagnosis, and practical advice for balancing self-reflection with real-world actions and gut feelings.)
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Are you stuck in a cycle of self-reflection that seems to circle back rather than propel you forward? When does introspection stop being helpful? It's not uncommon to reach a point where you understand the contours of your past traumas and the gaps in your childhood, yet find yourself at a loss for how to step beyond this knowledge and truly transform your life. This episode is for those who are ready to break free from the endless loop of introspection and start crafting a new narrative—one that moves beyond past pains to a future filled with new possibilities. In this episode, we’ll explore the fine line between helpful self-examination and the kind that leads to isolation and inaction. We'll dissect how today's self-care-centric culture can inadvertently dampen our ability to engage fully with life and meaningfully connect with others. We'll also discuss how excessive introspection, whether pursued in therapy or through self-directed healing, can hinder our personal growth.
Gear up to learn how to recognize when you're over-indulging in introspection, discover strategies to harmonize internal reflection with active engagement in the world, and find practical ways to ensure your self-improvement efforts genuinely enhance your life and spur real, impactful change. This episode is essential listening for anyone on a quest for self-awareness, offering fresh insights that promise to transform your approach to personal development and recovery.
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often should you and your partner be having sex? Is there a magic number that signifies a healthy relationship? It’s easy to obsess over these questions, and sometimes, this fixation can even harm stable, loving partnerships. These concerns are amplified not only by idealized media portrayals but also by the underlying fear that we might not be living up to some invisible standard of a successful relationship. In this episode, I’m moving away from the perfect, passion-filled narratives that often dominate our screens and digital spaces. Instead, I'll delve into the true essence of intimacy—how it’s expressed, experienced, and nurtured in diverse relationships. I'll challenge the myths about how often couples 'should' be having sex and broaden the discussion to include a deeper, more nuanced understanding of desire, one that’s often glossed over by social media influencers and alarmist magazine articles warning that you’re not keeping things spicy enough in the bedroom.
This conversation is about breaking down the pressures and expectations that cloud our perceptions of intimacy and can sabotage perfectly healthy relationships. I'm here to empower you to communicate openly with your partner and redefine intimacy in ways that resonate with both your needs and desires, free from societal myths that falsely equate constant physical intimacy with relationship quality. By exploring different types of desire, you'll learn how to foster a connection that’s based not on frequency but on mutual satisfaction and deeper emotional bonds. Let’s throw those random stats and the so-called 'rules' about relationships in the trash where they belong. Settle in and get ready to redefine intimacy on your own terms.
✧ Click here to follow Shan Boodram on Instagram (@shanboodram) [source for the reel at the beginning of this episode]
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 – 40:37.45: Part 1 (Exploring societal pressures, media influences, empirical studies, medicalization of desire, and generational differences affecting perceptions of intimacy and sexual health.)
40:37.45 – 01:14:07.42: Part 2 (Delving into types of sexual desire, the reality of long-term intimacy, and the importance of aligning values and libido levels in relationships.)
Enjoyed this episode? Explore more as a Premium Submarine. Dive deep into hundreds of hours of ad-free exclusive content and full-length episodes on Patreon, including my original BPD recovery series, guided meditations, and much more. Click here to preview the premium collections you’ll unlock access to for as little as a couple of cups of coffee a month. Learn more and join at backfromtheborderline.com.
The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Amanda is a wife. A mother. A blogger. A Christian.
A charming, beautiful, bubbly, young woman who lives life to the fullest.
But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know.
She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration, touching and
captivating her local community as well as followers all over the world.
Until one day investigative producer Nancy gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s
blog, setting Nancy on an unimaginable road to uncover Amanda’s secret.
Award winning journalist Charlie Webster explores this unbelievable and bizarre, but
all-too-real tale, of a woman from San Jose, California whose secret ripped a family apart and
left a community in shock.
Scamanda is the true story of a woman whose own words held the key to her secret.
New episodes every Monday.
Follow Scamanda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Amanda’s blog posts are read by actor Kendall Horn.
