In honor of "BPD Awareness Month", we’re taking a critical and eye-opening journey through time to deeply understand the history of the borderline personality disorder diagnostic label, tracing its disturbing roots back to the ancient concept of 'hysteria.'
Together, we’ll explore the pathologization of women's emotions and behaviors from the times of Plato and Hippocrates, through the 19th-century diagnosis of hysteria, to the contemporary label of BPD. We delve into the controversial legacy of Jean-Martin Charcot, whose exploitative and later debunked experiments on "hysterical" women laid the groundwork for modern psychiatry and influenced figures like Sigmund Freud. You’ll also discover how Freud's initial recognition of the trauma and sexual abuse suffered by his female patients morphed into the infamous oedipus complex blaming women for their own distress.
This episode also shines a light on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), another modern label that pathologizes the natural cyclical changes in women, reinforcing outdated notions of female instability. Drawing from historical accounts and modern critiques, this episode will reveal how the diagnostic criteria for hysteria were simply repackaged into histrionic personality disorder, and later, BPD. The result is a powerful critique of the psychiatric model, showing how little has changed in the medical gaze on women’s mental health.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the gender biases that persist in psychiatry and how the stigmatization of women’s experiences continues to echo through time. This episode challenges the liberating narrative of mental health labels, urging us to reconsider the origins and implications of these diagnoses. BPD is not just a modern label—it is hysteria in sheep's clothing. By the end of this episode, you'll view BPD and the entire psychiatric model through a new lens, questioning the narratives that have been accepted for centuries.
 RESOURCES: 
✧ Ussher, J. M. (2013). Diagnosing difficult women and pathologising femininity: Gender bias in psychiatric nosology. Feminism & Psychology, 23(1), 63-69. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353512467968  ✧ BPD = Hysteria? By Amanda Robins via https://www.amandarobinspsychotherapy.com.au/  (October, 2017)  ✧ Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – The New Hysteria by Joy Eidse MSW, RSW (November, 2017) ✧In Search of Hysteria: The Man Who Thought He Could Define Madness (On Jean-Martin Charcot, Dark Star of 19th-Century Neurology) by By Allan H. Ropper and Brian Burrell via LitHub (September, 2019) 
UNLOCK THE FULL VERSION OF THIS EPISODE: visit https://www.patreon.com/backfromtheborderline to join the community on Patreon. From here, you'll be able to access all full-length (and ad free!) episodes of BFTB.   CONTACT ME CHECK OUT MORE OF MY WORK: To read my Substack articles, access my Amazon book recommendation list, submit a voicemail, or contact me for collaborations, visit backfromtheborderline.com. acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.

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BPD as hysteria in sheep’s clothing: the persistent myth of female instability from ancient greece to modern psychiatry [preview]

You can perform emotional alchemy and I will show you how.

 The idea of alchemy is to reduce something with fire – burning it down so that something new can rise from the ashes. You can do this with your personality, too. You’ve always had the power; you just didn’t know that. Now you do.
&nbsp; Highly sensitive, emotional, and intuitive children are often impacted most severely by dysfunctional family dynamics, childhood emotional neglect, sexual abuse, grooming, generational trauma, and inherited toxic shame. As adults, these same children often find themselves with a disorder or dysfunction label, as mainstream psychiatry tries to convince them that the root of their suffering is due to a disordered personality or chemical imbalance. 

 Our current medical model of mental health is quick to pathologize. Psychiatrists and therapists operating within this model often ask, “What’s wrong with you?” but rarely, “What *happened* to you?” Personalities are not cancerous tumors; psychological suffering cannot be accurately understood or treated through the lens of a purely medical model. We have to go deeper. And that's exactly what we do here on Back from the Borderline. 

 A path toward healing exists, even though I know it can feel impossible when you’re looking up from rock bottom. 

 Through working with and integrating the concepts we explore in each episode together, you’ll learn to:

 ✧ Better regulate, name and process your emotions ✧ Understand and reduce chronic feelings of emptiness ✧ Confront and uproot your toxic shame ✧ Put an end to recurring patterns of self-sabotage ✧ Connect with your Higher Self ✧ Break the cycle of generational family trauma ✧ Set healthier boundaries with yourself and others ✧ Recognize the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships ✧ Heal from a chronic need to please and seek validation from others

 Tune in and prepare yourself to be standing in the ashes of the person you used to be. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
&nbsp; As for me? I'm Mollie Adler. A disillusioned millennial, podcaster, writer, creative, existential thinker, obsessive researcher (huge nerd), and fellow f*cked up human desperately trying to find meaning in a society and culture that seems to be devoid of it.&nbsp;To read my Substack articles, access my Amazon book recommendation list, submit a voicemail, or contact me for collaborations, visit https://linktr.ee/backfromtheborderline.&nbsp;

 Anyone – even you – can come Back From the Borderline. 

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In this episode, we're uncovering the reasons behind our modern Western society's spiritual starvation and lack of meaning. We'll explore how the Age of Enlightenment birthed Cartesian thought, driving a wedge between us and a sense of sacredness, leaving us to believe only what we can see, touch, taste, and smell is real. What have we lost by succumbing to this dualistic worldview? Many from cultures that still hold deep spiritual significance argue that the West's mental health crisis stems from our separation from our spiritual nature.
We'll delve into how Abrahamic and Judeo-Christian organized religions and other cult-like institutions have ingrained toxic shame in their followers, judging them for who they are or whom they love. Practices meant to embody love, forgiveness, and connectedness have instead become ways to control, make money, and instill fear and judgment. Additionally, the rise of new-age spirituality has seen influencers profiting off various spiritual and healing courses, prioritizing financial gain over genuine spiritual connection. This has left many people feeling burned out and disillusioned, struggling with deep feelings of emptiness and disconnection.
In this episode, we'll dive into these issues and provide you with various tools for your spiritual toolbox. You'll discover rituals and practices to incorporate into your daily life, free from religious dogma or expensive courses with false promises. This journey requires you to open your mind, forget everything you know about religion and spirituality, and turn within, learning to trust yourself. 
By the end of this episode, you'll have everything you need to create a truly integrated and grounded spiritual practice. The rituals and concept I share can help you connect to something greater than yourself and reconnect your body, mind, and spirit—essential elements for anyone on a path to recovery from childhood trauma or any form of abuse.
UNLOCK THE FULL VERSION OF THIS EPISODE: visit https://www.patreon.com/backfromtheborderline to join the community on Patreon. From here, you'll be able to access all full-length (and ad free!) episodes of BFTB, opening up hundreds of hours of additional bonus content.
CONTACT ME CHECK OUT MORE OF MY WORK: To read my Substack articles, access my Amazon book recommendation list, submit a voicemail, or contact me for collaborations, visit backfromtheborderline.com. acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.

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reclaiming your spiritual path after religious trauma and commercialized spirituality [preview]

Join me as we conclude our multi-episode series on childhood emotional neglect. Over the course of episodes 1-9, you’ve delved deep into what childhood emotional neglect is, explored the dysfunctional parenting styles that contribute to its development, and identified how it manifests in our adult lives through various symptoms and coping mechanisms that erode our sense of self and hinder our ability to form deep emotional connections. In the final two episodes, you’ll dive into the path forward—how you can truly heal. Healing is an ever-evolving process, not a linear journey with a definitive finish line. It involves becoming aware of the deeper root causes of your suffering and learning to navigate life's challenges with greater resilience.
I’ll introduce you to the Power Threat Meaning (PTM) Framework, developed by clinical psychologists Dr. Mary Boyle and Dr. Lucy Johnstone. This framework offers a compassionate and holistic approach to mental health, moving away from conventional biomedical models. It emphasizes understanding the power dynamics in your life, the threats you've faced, and the meanings you’ve constructed from your experiences. This approach validates your experiences as understandable responses to life's challenges rather than symptoms of a disordered personality.
In this episode, we’ll explore the first two steps of the PTM Framework as it relates to healing from childhood emotional neglect. First, we’ll examine how different forms of power—biological, social, cultural, economic, and more—have impacted your life. You’ll be prompted to ask yourself: “What happened to me?” “How has power operated in my life?” Next, we’ll delve into the second step of the framework, asking you to consider how the use or misuse of power in your childhood has shaped your thoughts, body, and relationships today. Instead of asking, "What's wrong with me?" we’ll reframe it to, "What did I have to do to survive?" This shift in perspective can help you understand that your behaviors and responses make perfect sense given your circumstances.
This episode will provide practical tools and insights to help you reframe your narrative, validate your experiences, and embark on a deeply personal and transformative healing journey. By embracing this new perspective, you can move beyond conventional mental health labels and gain a richer understanding of your experiences. Together, we'll move toward concluding our exploration into the complex legacy of childhood emotional neglect, forging a path toward healing, emotional resilience, and psychological integration. Next week, we'll wrap up our series with Episode 11, where I'll tie everything together and guide you through the final step of the PTM Framework. You’ll learn how to craft a new narrative, making meaning of your suffering so you're no longer defined by your past.   Recommended Resources:
✧ Full information on the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) via the British Psychological Society
CONTACT ME + UNLOCK PREMIUM: To join the Premium Submarines on Patreon (unlocking full + ad-free episodes), check out my sponsors and book recommendations, or contact me directly, visit backfromtheborderline.com.   Disclaimer: 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.

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childhood emotional neglect part 10: healing (reclaiming your power and understanding threat responses)

In this explosive episode, we peel back the glitzy veneer of the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants to reveal a world riddled with scandal, misogyny, and exploitation. From Caite Upton's unforgettable "everywhere like such as" answer in 2007 to the shocking resignations of Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, you'll dive deep into the systemic issues plaguing these competitions.
As someone who witnessed Caite Upton's infamous moment firsthand from backstage as a contestant in the 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant, I offer a unique insider's perspective on the toxic culture within the pageant industry. Watching Caite deliver her answer, I saw the immediate reactions and felt the collective shock. This was one of the first viral events on the internet, back when YouTube was still in its infancy. We all laughed, but what impact does being publicly shamed on such a massive scale have on someone? In this episode, we'll discuss this and the profound effect it had on Caite, who was just a teenage girl at the time. She became a spectacle, an early guinea pig of internet public shaming during the wild west era of social media.
You'll get an in-depth analysis of the current drama surrounding UmaSofia Srivastava and Noelia Voigt's resignations. Their PR-friendly and somewhat cryptic statements reveal the darker side of these 'empowering' platforms, which often reduce young women to their physical appearance and silence their voices through ironclad NDAs. We’ll explore how these resignations expose systemic exploitation and control within the pageant industry.
Trace the history of beauty pageants, from their rise in the 1950s to their recent fall, marred by scandals and allegations of harassment. Discover the shocking stories of abuse and exploitation during Donald Trump's controversial ownership, and dive into the ongoing chaos within the Miss Universe Organization marked by financial instability, rigging accusations, and toxic leadership.
Uncover how powerful men like Trump have weaponized the law to silence victims, and delve into the broader cultural implications of a society obsessed with hyper-sexualized and unattainable beauty standards. This episode is a call to action. Imagine the impact if every contestant walked away, just like Noelia and UmaSofia. Such a bold stand could force the Miss USA organization to confront its deep-seated issues. Real change won't come from performative Instagram posts; it requires bold, revolutionary steps. 
Tune in to hear the real stories behind the headlines, the dark underbelly of the pageant world, and how we can collectively demand better for future generations of young women. Are we ready to end this exploitative circus, or will we continue to prop up a system that degrades and silences women? The choice is ours.
CONTACT ME + UNLOCK THE EXTENDED EPISODE: To join the Premium Submarines on Patreon (unlocking full + ad-free episodes), check out my sponsors, or contact me, visit backfromtheborderline.com.    Disclaimer: 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.

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exposing miss USA’s dark secrets: title holder resignations, misogyny, corruption, and 'everywhere like such as’

In Episode 9 of our ongoing series on Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN), we delve into the final three in our list of symptoms that shape the adult lives of those affected by early emotional neglect: internalized anger, lack of self-discipline, and alexithymia. Each of these symptoms reveals a unique aspect of the long-term effects of neglect that continue to challenge individuals into adulthood.
We begin by exploring internalized anger and self-blame, often hidden beneath the surface but profoundly influencing one’s self-image and interactions. This anger is typically directed inward as a misguided form of control and self-protection, originating from the false belief during childhood that one is inherently at fault for the neglect they experienced. This episode will dissect the origins and impacts of this self-directed anger, helping listeners recognize and address these often destructive patterns.
Next, we address the lack of self-discipline, a less obvious but equally significant consequence of CEN. This symptom, often referred to as “executive dysfunction,” manifests as struggles with daily responsibilities and self-care, rooted in the absence of early life structure and emotional guidance. Listeners will gain insights into how emotional neglect disrupts the development of self-regulation skills and learn strategies to cultivate these essential aspects of adult life.
Lastly, we cover alexithymia—the inability to identify and express emotions, a common but perplexing outcome of CEN. This condition can lead to significant challenges in personal relationships and overall emotional health. We'll explore how a childhood devoid of emotional validation can lead to this emotional blindness, and discuss ways to begin reconnecting with one's emotional self.
This episode aims not only to shed light on these symptoms but also to offer paths toward healing and understanding. By recognizing the roots of these issues, listeners can start to transform their internal narrative from one of blame and confusion to one of recovery and clarity. Join me as we continue to unravel the complex legacy of childhood emotional neglect and forge a path towards emotional resilience and self-discovery.
Recommended Resources: ✧ Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect by Jonice Webb, PhD ✧ My full episode exploring executive dysfunction (overcoming executive dysfunction: "why can't i just do the thing?!”) Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts or here to listen on Spotify. ✧ Click here for a full depiction of the “feelings wheel” or visit https://feelingswheel.com/
CONTACT ME + UNLOCK PREMIUM: To join the Premium Submarines on Patreon (unlocking full + ad-free episodes), check out my sponsors, or contact me, visit backfromtheborderline.com   Disclaimer: 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.

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BPD as hysteria in sheep’s clothing: the persistent myth of female instability from ancient greece to modern psychiatry [preview]

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