Personality Couch

Ep 14: BPD Part 2: Fear of Abandonment, Psychosis, and Dissociation

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 Treatment07:45 Fear of Abandonment and Its Impact09:56 Attachment Theory and BPD16:58 Fear of Abandonment and the Dynamics of Therapy24:39 Episodes of Psychosis and Dissociation in BPD30:43 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/

Ep 13: BPD Part 1: History, the Media, and the DSM Symptoms

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 Disorder01:16 Media Misrepresentation of BPD05:39 Borderline as a Movement, Not a Category11:20 The Need for a Reboot in BPD Classification15:09 Emptiness and Vague Symptoms in BPD17:16 BPD and No Emotional Skin18:37 Diagnosing BPD20:12 Impulsivity in BPD22:59 Instability in Sense of Self26:50 Unstable Relationships32:55 Unstable Moods37:16 Symptoms in Quiet BPD39:49 Summary and Closing

Ep 12: Myths About Being a Mental Health Professional

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

Ep 11: The Drama Triangle in Every Personality Disorder

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 Triangle01:16 Historical Context of the Drama Triangle07:59 The Purpose of the Drama Triangle10:44 Roles in the Drama Triangle10:57 The Victim15:43 The Persecutor20:44 The Rescuer27:24 Childhood's Influence on the Drama Triangle30:50 Being Cast In a Role35:21 Disrupting the Drama Triangle36:07 Drama as Smoke to the Personality Fire37:00 Stop, Drop, and Roll43:16 Conclusion and Future Discussions

Ep 10: How We Diagnose Personality Disorders as Professionals

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.
Chapters00:00 Intro03:58 Indicators of Personality Dynamics Before Treatment Starts06:21 The Referral Question and the Alphabet Soup08:36 Unsuccessful Medication Trials10:34 First Appointment: Interpersonal Dynamics15:18 Ruptures in Relationships and Social Difficulties17:16 The Unspoken Dynamics of Personality Disorders24:33 Using Psychological Testing to Diagnose Personality Disorders37:41 Resources and Conclusion
Resources
https://www.psychologytoday.com/
https://www.nami.org/
https://www.questpsych.org/ (Offering Deep Dive Psychological Evaluations In Virginia)

Ep 09: Cultural Trends & Mental Health

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 Overview01:46 Chapter 1: The Impact of Collective Trauma on Mental Health10:43 Chapter 2: Mental Health Diagnoses as Identity Labels18:40 Chapter 3: The Over-Identification with Neurodivergence27:13 Chapter 4: The Proliferation of Self-Diagnosing and Misinformation37:16 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/

Ep 08: Enneagram Personality Classifications

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 Enneagram01:00 - Our Enneagram Journeys07:30 - Enneagram as a Growth Tool, Not a Box10:15 - Enneagram Overview12:02 - The Heart Center: Type 2s15:48 - The Heart Center: Type 3s19:47 - The Heart Center: Type 4s25:04 - The Head Center: Type 5s30:32 - The Head Center: Type 6s34:08 - The Head Center: Type 7s36:43 - The Body Center: Type 8s41:36 - The Body Center: Type 9s44:20 - The Body Center: Type 1s48:36 - 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)

Ep 07: Personalities That Kill

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 Violence02:43 The Influence of Authority: Milgram’s Study05:03 The Influence of Situational Factors: Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment
Cluster A:08:01 Schizoid10:18 Schizotypal12:27 Paranoid - 18:45 Paranoid Subtypes: Querulously, Insular, Malignant
Cluster B:23:01 Borderline27:05 Histrionic28:58 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 Avoidant47:43 Dependent50:32 Obsessive-Compulsive Personality
55:54 Summary and Closing

Ep 06: Psychodynamic Personality Classifications (as Ice Cream)

In this episode of the Personality Couch, we discuss personality flavors and typologies from a psychodynamic lens, using ice cream as our metaphor. Unique to the psychodynamic perspective is the multi-dimensional way it captures personality. We explore psychodynamic’s three personality axes throughout the episode: the severity axis (ranging from personality style to disorder level); the organizational axis (representing movement and disintegration within personality structures); and the character axis (representing distinct personality names and characteristics). We further explore psychopathic, schizoid, depressive and manic, self-defeating, borderline/cyclophrenic, and dissociative personality structures within this framework. A note to our audience: this is a complex and deep topic, and we recommend tuning in to episodes 04 and 05 first: Personality Disorders as Ice Cream Flavors and Millon’s Personality Types (as Ice Cream flavors) first before diving in. Alternatively, you can check out our blogs with visual aides here to guide you: https://www.personalitycouch.com/blog/psychodynamic-personality-classification-as-ice-cream/
00:00 Introduction to Psychodynamic Tradition01:46 The Multidimensional Approach to Personality02:45 The Severity Axis: From Style to Disorder05:17 The Organizational Axis: State Change in Personality    6:46 Neurotic as Freezer Burned Ice Cream    7:03 Psychotic as Melted Ice Cream    7:23 Borderline as Melting Ice Cream 10:40 The Character Axis: Personality Categories11:05 Psychopathic (Antisocial) Personality11:40 Schizoid Personality17:36 Self-Defeating (Masochistic) Personality18:50 Manic and Depressive Personality    20:58 Cyclophrenic/Borderline Personality    24:39 The Complexities of the Name “Borderline”    26:59 Introjective and Anaclitic Depressive Personality    29:32 Quiet Borderline31:55 Dissociative Personality36:32 Summary

Ep 05: Millon's Personality Types (as Ice Cream Flavors)

In this episode, we continue discussing personality typologies, focusing on Dr. Theodore Millon's classifications. We explore six unique types in terms of their characteristics, behaviors, and potential co-occurring disorders. Speculating on what ice cream flavor each type would be, we use creative and humorous descriptions to bring levity to an otherwise complex topic!
Chapters00:00 - Intro01:50 - Melancholic Personality: The Gloomy Type07:02 - Turbulent Personality: The Energetic Type17:09 - Sadistic Personality: The Pain Inflicting Type21:56 - Masochistic Personality: The Willing Victim Type27:20 - Negativistic Personality: The Grouchy and Skeptical Type32:28 - Compulsive Personality: The Perfectionistic Type41:14 - Conclusion