the evolution of melancholia: from ancient narratives to modern depression [preview]

What if everything we think we know about depression is wrong? What if the very framework we've built around the concept of depression has been shaped, not by the inherent nature of the experience, but by changing cultural narratives and evolving medical perspectives? In today's episode, we’ll trace depression’s origins back to ancient times, where it was known as melancholia—a term that encompassed a broader and perhaps more human understanding of the experience. Unlike the clinical, often pathologizing perspective we hold today, melancholia was viewed as a natural response to life's inevitable sorrows and hardships. Fast forward to the modern era, and we see a shift—one that frames depression as a medical condition, a disorder to be treated and cured. This transformation didn't just happen overnight. It was the result of centuries of evolving thought, influenced by cultural changes, medical advancements, and societal expectations. As we navigate through this historical tapestry, we'll uncover how these shifts have impacted the way we experience and talk about depression today. You'll learn about the ancient notion of melancholia, how it was perceived by thinkers like Freud and the ancient Greeks, and how modern psychiatry has redefined it. We'll discuss the implications of viewing depression as a disorder versus a natural human experience and explore how language and culture shape our understanding of mental health. But more importantly, we’ll reflect on what these insights mean for us today. Are we, perhaps, pathologizing what might be a normal aspect of the human condition? Could our modern approach to depression be limiting our understanding and empathy towards those who suffer from it? By the end of our journey today, you’ll have gained a new perspective on depression and melancholia. Perhaps you will see these experiences not just as conditions to be treated but as essential parts of what it means to be human. So settle in and prepare to uncover the rich history and evolving narrative of these deeply human experiences, and consider how we can move forward with a more compassionate and nuanced understanding of psychological suffering.UNLOCK THE FULL 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, or contact me for collaborations, visit backfromtheborderline.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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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?’The word ‘borderline’ in this podcast has nothing to do with psychiatric labels. It has everything to do with 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.