back from the borderline: emotional alchemy

By: mollie adler
  • Summary

  • 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?’


    The word ‘borderline’ in this podcast isn’t about psychiatric labels. It’s about coming back from the inner psychological brink we all experience. Everyone has found themselves on the edge, in that liminal space where the old self falls apart and the new Self emerges. Here, we explore what it means to undergo true emotional alchemy: that ancient and primordial process of falling apart, confronting the underworld of our psyche, and falling back together into someone stronger, wiser, and more whole.


    Many highly sensitive people who identify with the seemingly never-ending list of diagnostic mental health labels contained within ‘the bible of psychiatry’ (the DSM) share the same underlying sense of being irreparably broken, disconnected from their intuition, and paralyzed 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.


    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.


    CRAVING MORE? Visit backfromtheborderline.com to dive into my universe, connect with me, access my Patreon, and discover more about my journey and work. Don’t forget to follow Back from the Borderline so new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays automatically drop into your podcast feed.

    acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/back-from-the-borderline.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    mollie adler
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Episodes
  • anatomy of evil: britney spears (from pop princess to public prisoner – a story of exploitation and control) [preview]
    Jan 16 2025

    Britney Spears has been both a symbol of the dazzling heights of pop stardom and a stark reflection of the exploitation that fame often conceals. Her story invites us to look beyond the glittering façade and into the machinery that constructs—and consumes—our cultural icons.From the beginning, Britney’s rise was meticulously crafted, her image curated to entertain, seduce, and sell. But the glamour came at a cost, turning her life into a commodity to be managed, controlled, and profited from. The conservatorship that dominated her life for over a decade is more than a legal arrangement—it’s a chilling example of how systems can strip autonomy under the guise of protection.


    This episode delves into the forces that shaped Britney’s life: the media frenzy that feasted on her pain, a legal structure that prioritized control over care, and a society that seems addicted to watching its stars fall. Her story raises uncomfortable questions about the way we consume celebrity, how we justify surveillance and restriction, and what happens when humanity is eclipsed by spectacle.


    What does Britney’s narrative reveal about the structures we trust and the roles we play in sustaining them? As we unravel the threads of her story, we’re forced to confront the deeper implications for all of us—the ways we allow systems of power to thrive and the cost of our collective complicity. Britney’s story isn’t merely about fame—it’s a mirror reflecting a culture enthralled by control and captivated by its consequences.

    TIME STAMPS:

    03:55.20 – 48:58.07: PART 1 (Britney's childhood, family dynamics, rise to stardom, early sexualization, and media exploitation)

    48:58.07 – 01:43:32.80: PART 2 (The conservatorship's origins, legal battles, forced medications, public resistance, Free Britney movement, and final reflections on societal complicity)


    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.

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    52 mins
  • mind unveiled part 1: the birth of psychotherapy and the theories of sigmund freud
    Jan 14 2025

    Welcome to part one of Mind Unveiled, a six-part series exploring the origins and evolution of depth psychology. To understand how modern psychology impacts us today, we need to go back to its roots: the controversial theories of Sigmund Freud. This series traces the journey from Freud’s psychoanalysis to Carl Jung’s analytical psychology, uncovering how these ideas influence the way we think about the mind and ourselves.


    Freud’s theories about the unconscious, defense mechanisms, and inner conflict changed the way we see the human mind. But his work wasn’t without flaws. Freud presented himself as a scientist, but much of what he did was based on personal observation rather than scientific evidence. He was a deeply mystical and critical thinker, but was also shaped by his own habits, cultural biases, and obsessions. From his experimentation with cocaine to the way he embedded his own struggles into his theories,


    Freud’s legacy is as fascinating as it is flawed. In this episode, we critically explore his contributions, exposing both his brilliance and the cracks in his ideas. Freud’s work remains a starting point for understanding the psyche. Let’s dig into where it all began.


    What’s Next: In Part Two, we’ll turn to Carl Jung, who expanded on Freud’s ideas and took them into bold new territory, from archetypes to the collective unconscious. Each step of this series builds a deeper understanding of psychology’s foundation, showing how these early thinkers shaped the tools we use to navigate our own minds today.


    Craving more? Become a Premium Submarine. Join an exclusive community and unlock hundreds of hours of members-only content: full-length episodes, deep-dive series, guided meditations, and more—all for the cost of a couple of coffees a month. Start exploring 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.

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • from hashtag to holy: reclaiming the mystical art of manifestation from the clutches of social media [preview]
    Jan 9 2025

    What if everything you’ve been told about manifesting your ideal reality isn’t just oversimplified but fundamentally misguided? In a world where the art of manifestation is often sold as a quick fix for acquiring your dream life, the perfect partner, or material success, it’s time we peel back the layers of this digital deception. The unsettling reality is that the vast majority of digital manifesters are far removed from the profound, transformative practices they believe they are participating in. Together, we’ll uncover the true essence of manifestation—a practice rooted in millennia-old traditions, where the focus was never about 'me' but about dissolving the 'me' into the greater cosmic order. We’ll trace how this sacred philosophy has been co-opted and corrupted by modern notions of self-centered spirituality, where the deep, integral message of non-duality and unity with the universe has been overshadowed by a rush for personal gain and social media validation.

    Join me as we navigate through the history and hijacking of manifestation, from its reverent origins in mystical traditions to its current incarnation on your TikTok feed. By the end of our journey, you’ll have the knowledge to discern true spiritual empowerment from the ego-driven noise, bringing you closer to the authentic practices that can truly transform your life and connect you with the deeper rhythms of the universe. Prepare to challenge everything you thought you knew about manifestation. It’s time to strip away the illusions and return to the roots of real spiritual power.

    TIME STAMPS:


    00:00 – 45:54.03: PART 1 (Introduction to digital manifestation, exploring its contrast with traditional spiritual practices like Islamic tajallī, historical shifts from the Protestant Reformation to the New Age movement, and the impact of psychoanalysis and technology on individual spiritual autonomy.)

    45:54.03 – 01:17:44.00: PART 2 (Analysis of TikTok manifestation methods versus traditional intentions like niyyah, discussion on how digital spirituality often amplifies ego, exploration of reality shifting and its critiques from various mystics, and strategies for identifying genuine versus problematic spiritual content online.)


    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.

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    49 mins

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No longer a fan

I waited weeks before deciding to write a review, and even then I decided to be kind and give some constructive feedback on the instagram page instead of hurting the brand. It didn’t work. The problem is it became abundantly clear she just wants to talk, just her. She brings on a multitude of experts in the field yet doesn’t give them the time to say anything and cuts them of most of the time. It’s abundantly clear as time goes by that this is a way to get free therapy for her and if you want to hear a snippet of advise from an expert you will have to compromise and listen to the exact same repeated story of her life beforehand. As a fellow BPD’er I thought long and hard about how to broach the subject as I know how everything can feel like an attack when challenged. My feedback was fair, not attacking in any way and really constructive as it was truly for the benefit of potentially bettering the podcast for the future. I know there are more of us with the view having discussed it with my partner and a friend I had referred it on to so I really just wanted to keep listening. I was met with extreme defensive measures, being gaslit by giving me figures to try to disprove my claims and even going as far as to give anecdotes on the extremely positive things people had said in response to the episodes to try and invalidate or minimalize my view. This is nothing less than narcissistic behaviour. I kept my cool and remained nice, however the conversation was deleted as was I from her page. This is not the way to treat people, fans no less. People want to see you succeed yet your attacks keep them from trying to help. This will likely come as no surprise to the people around you, you just need to start seeing it yourself. You’re clearly bright, but can’t quite seem to put your awareness into actions. And you’re right, there are more podcasts out there, thanks for the tip.

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great podcast on the topic of a complex issue

I've listened to this for years and have had some really useful information imparted on me. i like the host and find it has validated a lot of experiences ive gone through.

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