In our second episode of the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) series, we discuss how this condition manifests in relationships and clinical practice. We explore the pervasive patterns of instability, fear of abandonment, and the role of attachment theory in understanding BPD, while also touching on psychosis and dissociation. Our conversation highlights the challenges faced by individuals with BPD in their relationships and the dynamics that arise in therapeutic settings. We further emphasize the importance of understanding the multifaceted nature of BPD and the need for compassionate approaches in treatment.

Chapters

00:00 Borderline DSM Symptoms Overview 04:09 First Signs and Symptoms in Treatment 07:45 Fear of Abandonment and Its Impact 09:56 Attachment Theory and BPD 16:58 Fear of Abandonment and the Dynamics of Therapy 24:39 Episodes of Psychosis and Dissociation in BPD 30:43 Conclusion

Book Referenced:

• 1984 Borderline Book- John Gunderson, M.D.: https://www.amazon.com/Borderline-Personality-Disorder-John-Gunderson/dp/0880480203

Other Resources:

• BPD: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml
• BPD: https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/borderline-personality-disorder
• BPD: https://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.org/

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we delve into the complexities of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). We discuss the stigma and misinformation surrounding BPD, the media's misrepresentation of the disorder, and the need for a more nuanced understanding of its symptoms and diagnosis. The conversation highlights the emotional experiences of individuals with BPD, the criteria for diagnosis, and the importance of recognizing the spectrum of presentations within the disorder. We advocate for a reboot in the classification of personality disorders to better reflect the lived experiences of those affected by BPD.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Borderline Personality Disorder 01:16 Media Misrepresentation of BPD 05:39 Borderline as a Movement, Not a Category 11:20 The Need for a Reboot in BPD Classification 15:09 Emptiness and Vague Symptoms in BPD 17:16 BPD and No Emotional Skin 18:37 Diagnosing BPD 20:12 Impulsivity in BPD 22:59 Instability in Sense of Self 26:50 Unstable Relationships 32:55 Unstable Moods 37:16 Symptoms in Quiet BPD 39:49 Summary and Closing

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we discuss common myths surrounding therapy and therapists. We debunk misconceptions about therapists being perfect, the necessity of shared experiences for effective therapy, and the idea that therapists are always analyzing everyone. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empathy, the reality of therapists' personal struggles, and the motivations behind choosing a career in therapy. We also address the financial aspects of being a therapist and encourage listeners to seek help without being deterred by myths.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Therapy Myths
• 01:02 Therapists Are Perfect and Have No Problems
• 05:02 Therapists Have to Experience the Same Problems to be Helpful
• 09:52 Therapists Are Always Analyzing Everyone
• 15:46 Therapists Have Favorite and Least Favorites
• 18:22 My Therapist Thinks I'm Crazy/a Burden
• 21:42 Therapists Get into this Profession to Work through Personal Issues
• 29:01 Therapists Are All About the Money
• 33:29 Conclusion and Encouragement for Therapy Seekers

In this episode, we dive into the concept of the drama triangle, a psychological model that explains interpersonal conflict through three roles: the victim, the persecutor, and the rescuer. We explore the historical context of the drama triangle, its origins in transactional analysis, and how these roles manifest in relationships, particularly in the context of personality disorders. Our conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing these dynamics to disrupt unhealthy patterns and foster healthier interactions.

00:00 Introduction to the Drama Triangle 01:16 Historical Context of the Drama Triangle 07:59 The Purpose of the Drama Triangle 10:44 Roles in the Drama Triangle 10:57 The Victim 15:43 The Persecutor 20:44 The Rescuer 27:24 Childhood's Influence on the Drama Triangle 30:50 Being Cast In a Role 35:21 Disrupting the Drama Triangle 36:07 Drama as Smoke to the Personality Fire 37:00 Stop, Drop, and Roll 43:16 Conclusion and Future Discussions

In this episode, we discuss how we diagnose personality disorders as licensed professionals in clinical practice. Personality data is often observed as early as the initial contact for treatment. Once treatment begins, we engage in a "meta process" of observing what's going on inside ourselves as professionals, as well as the dynamic in the room. Because of the nuances and complexities of diagnosing personality disorders, psychological testing is an important tool to peel back the layers of the psyche. We end by discussing what psychological testing involves and point listeners to resources if they are interested in an evaluation.

Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:58 Indicators of Personality Dynamics Before Treatment Starts 06:21 The Referral Question and the Alphabet Soup 08:36 Unsuccessful Medication Trials 10:34 First Appointment: Interpersonal Dynamics 15:18 Ruptures in Relationships and Social Difficulties 17:16 The Unspoken Dynamics of Personality Disorders 24:33 Using Psychological Testing to Diagnose Personality Disorders 37:41 Resources and Conclusion

Resources

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/
• https://www.nami.org/
• https://www.questpsych.org/ (Offering Deep Dive Psychological Evaluations In Virginia)

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we discuss four trends we have observed in the post-pandemic world: collective trauma, mental health diagnoses as identity labels, over-identification with neurodivergence, and self-diagnosing. We explore the impact of the pandemic on mental health, including increased anxiety and hostility. We also discuss how mental health diagnoses have become identity labels, providing a sense of validation and belonging. We delve into the over-identification with neurodivergence, particularly autism, and the challenges of diagnosing this condition. Lastly, we address the issue of self-diagnosing and the proliferation of misleading information on social media platforms.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:46 Chapter 1: The Impact of Collective Trauma on Mental Health 10:43 Chapter 2: Mental Health Diagnoses as Identity Labels 18:40 Chapter 3: The Over-Identification with Neurodivergence 27:13 Chapter 4: The Proliferation of Self-Diagnosing and Misinformation 37:16 Conclusion

Articles Referenced:

On Healthcare Workers' Mental Health Symptoms: -https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2023/02/06/phw-violence/

On TikTok Mental Health Misinformation: -https://www.mmm-online.com/home/channel/nearly-84-of-mental-health-videos-on-tiktok-are-misleading-study/ -https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/psychiatry-on-tiktok-providing-education-to-teens-in-an-ethical-manner -https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-media-mental-health-self-diagnosis/ -https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-study-information-on-youtube-tiktok-on-did -https://www.salon.com/2022/04/09/why-teens-are-self-diagnosing-on-tiktok/

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we provide an overview of the Enneagram personality typology as a growth tool instead of a personality "box" or label. We discuss our personal journeys with the Enneagram, our typologies, and how we use this non-diagnostic tool in clinical practice. By exploring the different centers of intelligence (body, head, and heart) and the three types within each center, we highlight the key characteristics and tendencies of each of the 9 types, including their strengths and challenges.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Enneagram 01:00 - Our Enneagram Journeys 07:30 - Enneagram as a Growth Tool, Not a Box 10:15 - Enneagram Overview 12:02 - The Heart Center: Type 2s 15:48 - The Heart Center: Type 3s 19:47 - The Heart Center: Type 4s 25:04 - The Head Center: Type 5s 30:32 - The Head Center: Type 6s 34:08 - The Head Center: Type 7s 36:43 - The Body Center: Type 8s 41:36 - The Body Center: Type 9s 44:20 - The Body Center: Type 1s 48:36 - The One - Five Dynamic of Doc Bok and Doc Fish

A Few of Our Favorite Enneagram resources: * https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/ * https://sleepingatlast.podbean.com/ * https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-enneagram-an-introduction/ (Richard Rohr)

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we discuss personality darkness and specifically focus on personalities that are prone to violence and extreme behavior. We also discuss two important research studies, the Milgram study and the Stanford prison experiment, that shed light on the capacity for humans to engage in harmful acts. We then delve into the different personality types within Cluster A (schizoid, schizotypal, and paranoid); Cluster B (borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic); and Cluster C (avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive) and discuss their risk levels for violence and murder. In this conversation, we also explore sadistic personalities, a category not included in the DSM, but included in multiple other personality theories. We highlight the characteristics and behaviors associated with each type and discuss the potential for violence and destructive behavior. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding these personalities and their potential risks in order to promote awareness and better understanding of human behavior.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Personality Darkness and Violence 02:43 The Influence of Authority: Milgram’s Study 05:03 The Influence of Situational Factors: Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment

Cluster A: 08:01 Schizoid 10:18 Schizotypal 12:27 Paranoid - 18:45 Paranoid Subtypes: Querulously, Insular, Malignant

Cluster B: 23:01 Borderline 27:05 Histrionic 28:58 Narcissistic - 31:26 Narcissistic Subtypes: Elitist, Exploitative, Unprincipled 35:00 Antisocial - 37:17 Antisocial Subtypes: Reputation-Defending and Malevolent

41:44 Sadistic Personalities

Cluster C: 46:22 Avoidant 47:43 Dependent 50:32 Obsessive-Compulsive Personality

55:54 Summary and Closing