Back From The Borderline

You’ve been taught that vulnerability is the path to intimacy. That the more you reveal, the closer you become. But does sharing everything really bring you closer? Or does it just leave you more exposed, more drained, more empty?In this episode, we’re pulling apart the myth of oversharing and exposing the unconscious drive behind it. The need to be seen, to be validated, to offload your pain onto someone else in the hope that they will carry it for you.We’ll dive into the Wounded Oracle, the part of you that mistakes your pain for your identity, that believes being vulnerable is the only way to prove you’re real. We’ll explore the Shadow’s Bargain — how oversharing becomes a transaction, where you exchange your secrets for the illusion of connection. And we’ll unpack the hidden cost of being so open, so raw, too soon. The way it creates unspoken power imbalances, how it can distance us instead of drawing us closer, and how sometimes the most vulnerable parts of us are meant to be kept sacred.So, what happens when we start sharing consciously? Not because we need someone to heal us, but because we trust ourselves enough to know what belongs to others and what doesn’t? Press play, and let the truth sink in.🔓 UNLOCK THE FULL EPISODE + BONUS CONTENT: Want to keep listening? Get full access to this episode, ad-free listening, and my entire archive — plus exclusive Patreon-exclusive podcasts like The Consciousness Stream and The Deep Cut and access to Pathwork, my digital mystery school. Pro Tip: iPhone users should sign up through a browser (Safari or Chrome) to avoid Apple’s extra fees.🔗 CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODEMy full archive is available at patreon.com/backfromtheborderline 

Ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of longing, obsession, and emotional chaos? A constant craving for validation, attention, or affection from someone who never quite gives you what you need? If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. What if this “love” you’re chasing isn’t love at all? What if it’s just a distraction, a survival mechanism to keep you from facing the real emotional work?In this episode, we’re shattering the myth of limerence. The obsessive longing that feels like love but is really just a projection of unmet needs. We’ll dive into why limerence isn’t about the other person — it’s about what’s missing inside of you. It’s about the unresolved emotional wounds you’ve been running from, wrapped up in a fantasy of someone else being the solution.Limerence is rooted in dependency. A desperate need to feel validated, to feel whole, by someone outside of yourself. But here’s the truth: no one can give you what you’re not willing to give yourself. The real work starts when you stop blaming them for not meeting your needs and start meeting them yourself. This episode is a deep dive into the self-healing process, where we’ll unravel how limerence keeps you stuck in emotional dependency and teach you how to break free.What if the obsession isn’t about them? What if it’s about you? What if you could finally stop chasing and start reclaiming your emotional independence? Press play, and let’s begin the transformation together. 

Ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of longing, obsession, and emotional chaos? A constant craving for validation, attention, or affection from someone who never quite gives you what you need? If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. What if this “love” you’re chasing isn’t love at all? What if it’s just a distraction, a survival mechanism to keep you from facing the real emotional work?In this episode, we’re shattering the myth of limerence. The obsessive longing that feels like love but is really just a projection of unmet needs. We’ll dive into why limerence isn’t about the other person — it’s about what’s missing inside of you. It’s about the unresolved emotional wounds you’ve been running from, wrapped up in a fantasy of someone else being the solution.Limerence is rooted in dependency. A desperate need to feel validated, to feel whole, by someone outside of yourself. But here’s the truth: no one can give you what you’re not willing to give yourself. The real work starts when you stop blaming them for not meeting your needs and start meeting them yourself. This episode is a deep dive into the self-healing process, where we’ll unravel how limerence keeps you stuck in emotional dependency and teach you how to break free.\What if the obsession isn’t about them? What if it’s about you? What if you could finally stop chasing and start reclaiming your emotional independence? Press play, and let’s begin the transformation together. Unlock my FULL ARCHIVE of members-only content + Patreon exclusives:GO DEEPER WITH HUNDREDS OF BONUS EPISODES + WEEKLY PATHWORK PROMPTS. PATHWORK → Weekly self-inquiry prompts to turn insight into transformation.THE CONSCIOUSNESS STREAM → Raw, unfiltered deep dives.THE DEEP CUT → Structured breakdowns of esoteric + psychological themes.BONUS EPISODES + RESOURCES → Hundreds of hours of hidden gems.Start exploring right now for FREE and see everything waiting for you at backfromtheborderline.com. 

AI isn’t coming for your job. It’s coming for your mind.Psychiatry and artificial intelligence are merging faster than anyone is paying attention to. Not to help people, not to bring depth or insight into the human experience, but to categorize, control, and optimize. Mental health isn’t being reimagined. It’s being automated.What happens when AI decides your diagnosis before you ever step into a doctor’s office? When machine learning models scan your text messages, search history, and medical records and quietly assign you a psychiatric risk score that determines what access you have to therapy, medication, or even basic life opportunities? This is where we’re headed. The algorithms are being trained right now, absorbing decades of psychiatric frameworks that were never built for healing. Only classification.But this episode isn't just about exposing the dystopian path we’re on. It’s about choosing another one. There is a way AI could be used to help people wake up instead of shutting them down. It could be built as a tool for individuation, for shadow work, for shining a light into the blind spots of the unconscious. It could be the initiation modern psychiatry has denied people for decades.The inflection point is here. Do we let AI become the ultimate psychiatric gatekeeper? Or do we reclaim it before the machine starts rewriting our stories for us? Press play.GO DEEPER WITH HUNDREDS OF BONUS EPISODES + WEEKLY PATHWORK PROMPTS. Unlock my FULL ARCHIVE of members-only content + Patreon exclusives:PATHWORK → Weekly self-inquiry prompts to turn insight into transformation.THE CONSCIOUSNESS STREAM → Raw, unfiltered deep dives.THE DEEP CUT → Structured breakdowns of esoteric + psychological themes.BONUS EPISODES + RESOURCES → Hundreds of hours of hidden gems.Start exploring right now for FREE and see everything waiting for you at backfromtheborderline.com. 

AI isn’t coming for your job—it’s coming for your mind.Psychiatry and artificial intelligence are merging faster than anyone is paying attention to. Not to help people, not to bring depth or insight into the human experience, but to categorize, control, and optimize. Mental health isn’t being reimagined—it’s being automated.What happens when AI decides your diagnosis before you ever step into a doctor’s office? When machine learning models scan your text messages, search history, and medical records and quietly assign you a psychiatric risk score that determines what access you have to therapy, medication, or even basic life opportunities?This is where we’re headed. The algorithms are being trained right now, absorbing decades of psychiatric frameworks that were never built for healing—just classification.But this isn’t just about exposing the dystopian path we’re on. It’s about choosing another one.There is a way AI could be used to help people wake up instead of shutting them down. It could be built as a tool for individuation, for shadow work, for shining a light into the blind spots of the unconscious. It could be the initiation modern psychiatry has denied people for decades.The inflection point is here. Do we let AI become the ultimate psychiatric gatekeeper? Or do we reclaim it—before the machine starts rewriting our stories for us?Press play.

It’s time to get real about the stories you tell yourself and how they shape your emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. If you've ever felt trapped in an endless loop of self-help content, desperately searching for the magic fix to heal your inner wounds, this episode is for you. I've been there too, and I've learned that there's no magical algorithm that can fix us. In this episode, I'm going to share my own journey through the overwhelming sea of content and the core truths I've discovered. We'll explore how the narratives you create about your past can either imprison you in cycles of suffering or empower you to become resilient and whole. Whether you silently endure your pain or express your distress outwardly, this episode will offer you insights into reclaiming the power to write a new chapter in your life, free from the shackles of your past. Join me as we transform trauma-worlds into narratives of resilience and redemption. Let's embark on this journey together and start crafting the next compelling chapter of your life.Click here to read the full piece on my Substack.  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.

It’s time to get real about the stories you tell yourself and how they shape your emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. If you've ever felt trapped in an endless loop of self-help content, desperately searching for the magic fix to heal your inner wounds, this episode is for you. I've been there too, and I've learned that there's no magical algorithm that can fix us.In this episode, I'm going to share my own journey through the overwhelming sea of content and the core truths I've discovered. We'll explore how the narratives you create about your past can either imprison you in cycles of suffering or empower you to become resilient and whole. Whether you silently endure your pain or express your distress outwardly, this episode will offer you insights into reclaiming the power to write a new chapter in your life, free from the shackles of your past.Join me as we transform trauma-worlds into narratives of resilience and redemption. Let's embark on this journey together and start crafting the next compelling chapter of your life.Click here to read the full piece on my Substack.  

Welcome back to our deep dive into the heart of dysfunctional family dynamics. This is the final episode of our series where each segment builds upon the last, further unraveling the complex roles that shape not just family life but our individual paths. If this is your first time joining us, consider starting with Episode 1, "Dysfunctional Family Roles – Part 1: Decoding the Dynamics of Dysfunction," to catch the full scope of our exploration. In this episode, we're capping off our series by examining two pivotal roles in the dance of family dynamics: The Peacemaker/Mediator and those with Narcissistic Traits. In this episode, we delve deep into these roles and their intricate interrelations—exploring how peacemakers often find themselves entangled with narcissistic behaviors, both overt and covert, and the profound impact these dynamics have on family systems. Why do some individuals take on the role of the peacekeeper, and how might this well-intentioned behavior enable narcissistic manipulation? How does covert narcissism mask itself as peacemaking, complicating the detection and understanding of these traits within familial relationships? We'll dissect these roles to understand the toll they take on those who bear them and the broader implications for the family. Drawing from real-life narratives, including personal accounts from Reddit, we explore the challenges and coping mechanisms of those enmeshed in these roles. From the overt displays of narcissism to the hidden agendas of the covert narcissist, we unpack how these dynamics play out in real-world settings, shaping everything from personal development to family equilibrium. Join me as we conclude our exploration, aiming not only to unveil the complex layers of these roles but also to provide insights and strategies for recognizing and breaking free from the dysfunctional patterns they often sustain. Let's peel back the final layers of family myths to reveal the stark realities that lie beneath, offering pathways to understanding and healing. TIME STAMPS: 04:34.69 – 41:32.16: PART 1 (Introducing the Peacemaker/Mediator role, its characteristics, impact on family dynamics, emotional and psychological toll, and common signs to identify peacemakers. Disclaimer on diagnosing personality disorders, understanding narcissistic traits, and discussion on overt narcissism.) 41:32.16 – 01:21:40.41: PART 2 (Exploration of covert and malignant narcissism, their characteristics, impact on relationships, covert narcissism deception, distinguishing between true peacemakers and covert narcissists, interaction dynamics, real-world implications, strategies for recognition and adaptation, cultural variations, and the impact on family dynamics. Concluding with a segment on healing and breaking free from dysfunctional family roles.) 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.

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to become your most authentic self? To integrate all aspects of your being—both conscious and unconscious—and embark on a profound journey of self-realization? Welcome to the final episode of our 'Mind Unveiled' series, where we explore the transformative process of individuation, as envisioned by Carl Jung.In this episode, I'll guide you through the concept of individuation, defining it as the journey toward becoming a complete, self-realized individual. We’ll delve into how this holistic and spiritual approach differs from traditional models of healing in mainstream biomedical mental health. Discover why individuation is crucial for personal growth and psychological well-being, and learn about the balance and harmony it aims to achieve between the conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche.We’ll also explore the role of outer psychology and personality types in individuation. You'll learn how Jung distinguished between introverted and extroverted personality types and how this distinction plays into the individuation process. We'll break down the organization of personality types according to Jung’s model, focusing on the four faculties: sensing, thinking, feeling, and intuition, and illustrate how these faculties interact and contribute to your journey of self-discovery.Furthermore, we’ll dive into the spiritual dimensions of individuation, discussing how Jung viewed it as a spiritual journey and the significance of his use of spiritual terminology. We'll explore how Jung’s system of individuation complements the mystical Qabalah, highlighting parallels like the Tree of Life and the process of spiritual ascent. By integrating psychological and spiritual growth, you’ll understand how to achieve a more holistic and enriched life. Finally, I'll provide practical advice to help you embark on your own individuation journey, encouraging self-reflection, mindfulness, and the exploration of dreams and fantasies as tools for self-discovery.Join me for this transformative conclusion to our series, and take the next step on your path to becoming your true self. Don’t miss out on this comprehensive exploration of the individuation process and its profound impact on your personal and spiritual growth. Tune in and discover how to integrate all facets of your being for a richer, more fulfilling life.