Trauma Isn't the Event – What Actually Causes PTSD & How to Heal Complex Trauma

Trauma Isn't the Event – What Actually Causes PTSD & How to Heal Complex Trauma

What is trauma really? Why does the same event traumatize one person but not another? Dr. Mike Mah and trauma expert Sarah Burney, LCSW, CEDS-C break down PTSD vs Complex PTSD (CPTSD), big T vs little t trauma, emotional neglect, self-compassion, trauma responses, the window of tolerance, and practical healing strategies. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro – What Most People Get Wrong About Trauma 01:40 DSM vs ICD-11: PTSD vs Complex Trauma 04:50 Big T vs Little t Trauma + Emotional Neglect 09:20 Sponsor Message – Century City Psychiatry 10:40 Why the Same Event Affects People Differently (Resilience & Support) 22:15 Self-Compassion: How to Actually Develop It 35:40 Trauma Responses (Fight/Flight/Freeze/Dissociation) 48:00 Window of Tolerance & Self-Regulation Tools (Breathing, Grounding) 1:02:00 Is Healing from Trauma Possible? 1:15:40 CPTSD in Romantic Relationships & Dating Advice 1:28:00 Final Hope, Neuroplasticity & How to Get Help Sarah Burney, LCSW, CEDS-C Burney Therapy Group – Newport Beach, CA 📞 (949) 307-2112 🌐 BurneyTherapyGroup.com Dr. Michael Mahgerefteh, MD – Century City Psychiatry 📞 (424) 291-2382 🌐 www.centurycitypsychiatry.com | www.MahMD.com #TraumaHealing #CPTSD #ComplexPTSD #PTSD #TraumaRecovery #SelfCompassion #MentalHealth #RealMentalHealth #AttachmentTrauma #EmotionalNeglect #windowoftolerance  DSM-5 PTSD Criteria (VA National Center for PTSD) https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/dsm5_ptsd.asp Complex PTSD & ICD-11 (peer-reviewed) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5774423/ 9/11 PTSD Study (New England Journal of Medicine) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa013404 EMDR Therapy — Find a Therapist (EMDRIA) https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/ PTSD & the Brain: Neuroimaging Research (British Journal of Psychiatry) https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/neuroimaging-findings-in-posttraumatic-stress-disorder/156E2575B0C6B0132B4BCF95302A976B Prazosin & PTSD Nightmares — VA/DoD Clinical Guidelines https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/clinician_guide_meds.asp SSRIs for PTSD (NIMH) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd Window of Tolerance (NICABM) https://www.nicabm.com/trauma-how-to-help-your-clients-understand-their-window-of-tolerance/ Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Mike Mah offers expert psychiatric care in Century City, Los Angeles. Specializing in ADHD, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, OCD, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, and psychiatric medication management. Instagram: → @drmikemah - https://www.instagram.com/drmikemah/ → @centurycitypsych - https://www.instagram.com/centurycitypsych TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drmikemah Follow for clear, evidence-based mental health education from a practicing Los Angeles psychiatrist. Disclaimer: The content presented in Dr. Mike Mah’s videos is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Dr. Mike Mah’s videos do not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be relied upon for personalized medical guidance. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. For inquiries: Media@mahmd.com #PsychiatristLosAngeles #CenturyCityPsychiatrist #LosAngelesPsychiatrist #ADHDLosAngeles #AnxietyLosAngeles #BipolarLosAngeles #OCDLosAngeles #EatingDisorders #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #MentalHealthLosAngeles #PsychiatricMedicationManagement #CenturyCityPsychiatry

Borderline vs. Bipolar: The Misdiagnosis Problem No One Talks About | Dr. Michael Kanell

Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder are two of the most misunderstood — and most misdiagnosed — mental health conditions. In this episode of The Real Mental Health Podcast, psychiatrists Dr. Mike Mah and Dr. Michael Kanell break down the real differences, overlapping symptoms, how misdiagnosis happens, and what effective treatment actually looks like. If you or someone you love struggles with mood swings, emotional instability, or rapid shifts in thinking and behavior, this episode offers a clear, compassion-driven framework for understanding what’s really going on — and why getting the diagnosis right matters. 🔍 What We Cover: • The true differences between Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder • Why these two conditions get confused so often • How mood episodes differ from emotional dysregulation • Effective medications vs. treatments that don’t work • Evidence-based therapies that help (DBT, schema, ACT, psychodynamic, etc.) • What recovery looks like from both disorders • How clinicians actually diagnose these conditions • Compassionate strategies for supporting loved ones 0:00 | Introduction: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Bipolar Disorder Overlap 1:29 | Defining Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) 4:17 | The Unstable Sense of Self in BPD (and Narcissism) 8:45 | BPD and Fear of Abandonment; DSM-5 Criteria for BPD 10:47 | History of the Term "Borderline" 11:29 | Development of BPD and Childhood Trauma (ACE Scores) 13:28 | Maladaptive Childhood Survival Templates 16:35 | Origin of the Term "Borderline" (Neurotic vs. Psychotic) 21:11 | Defenses in BPD: Splitting and Projection 25:57 | Why BPD Patients Split: Fear and Control 33:29 | Unconscious Nature of Splitting/Projection 37:50 | Projective Identification: Eliciting Feelings in Others 42:44 | Core Fears in BPD: Abandonment vs. Intimacy/Engulfment 48:51 | Negative Urgency and Distress Intolerance in BPD 52:17 | Prognosis for BPD 55:27 | Defining Bipolar Disorder and Manic Episodes 1:04:08 | Historical Overlap between BPD and Bipolar Disorder 1:05:48 | Differentiating BPD Emotional Dysregulation from Bipolar Mood Episodes 1:11:41 | Anxiety and Fear Component in BPD vs. Manic Fearlessness 1:13:00 | Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) vs. Complex PTSD (CPTSD) 1:20:51 | Treatment for BPD: Therapy is Primary 1:22:37 | Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Dialectics 1:29:50 | Other BPD Therapies: Mentalization-Based and Transference-Focused Psychotherapy 1:36:39 | Blocking Projections in Therapy (Countertransference as Gold) 1:46:57 | Medications for BPD and Bipolar Disorder 1:52:50 | Sleep as a Risk Factor for Manic Episodes 1:53:41 | Seroquel (Quetiapine) Dosing and Side Effects 1:56:58 | Lithium and Weight Gain 1:59:21 | Other Antipsychotics (Abilify, Latuda) for BPD 2:04:00 | Differentiating Feature: Anosognosia (Lack of Insight) 2:06:03 | Differentiating Feature: Identity Disturbance and Chronology 2:08:50 | Conclusion and Contact Information Dr. Michael Kanell's Practice: https://www.eospsychiatry.com/ Dr. Mike Mah's Practice: https://www.centurycitypsychiatry.com/ Disclaimer: The content presented in Dr. Mike Mah’s videos is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Dr. Mike Mah’s videos do not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be relied upon for personalized medical guidance. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. For inquiries: Media@mahmd.com Track

Anxiety: Healthy vs. Clinical - Anxiety Disorder Treatments Explained | Dr. Pat Baumgart

In this episode of Real Mental Health, Dr. Mike Mah and Dr. Pat Baumgart discuss the critical difference between healthy and clinical anxiety. They cover various anxiety disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and panic disorder, and explore their underlying causes and manifestations. The doctors provide a comprehensive overview of evidence-based treatments, focusing on medication and psychotherapy. They also discuss practical, in-the-moment techniques like breathing exercises and mindfulness to manage acute anxiety. 0:00 - Introduction and Defining Anxiety 1:39 - Healthy vs. Clinical Anxiety 10:59 - The Origins and Causes of Anxiety 15:19 - Fear vs. Anxiety 21:57 - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 42:54 - Social Anxiety and Agoraphobia 51:01 - Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder 1:02:40 - Other Anxiety-Related Conditions 1:04:48 - Foundational Treatment Modalities 1:07:58 - Medications for Anxiety (SSRIs, SNRIs, etc.) 1:40:48 - In-the-Moment Coping Strategies 1:50:24 - Q&A: Common Questions and Misconceptions #AnxietyTreatment #AnxietyDisorders #MentalHealth #OCD #PanicAttacks Socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drmikemah/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drmikemah?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/35HnOFs7mN0ab8eyqhYkrI?si=Az42i1EiQMSvY7WzmShrJA  -------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: The content presented in Dr. Mike Mah’s videos is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Dr. Mike Mah’s videos do not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be relied upon for personalized medical guidance. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. #MentalHealth #Medicine #WellBeing #Podcast For inquiries: Media@mahmd.com

Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, & Binge Eating | Sarah Burney

In this crucial episode of the Real Mental Health podcast, Dr. Mike Mah welcomes certified eating disorder specialist Sarah Burney to shed light on the alarming increase in eating disorder cases. A 2020 Lancet Psychiatry study revealed a doubling of cases from 2000-2018, even before the pandemic hit. Sarah and Dr. Mah provide an in-depth exploration of various eating disorders, including: Defining Eating Disorders: Understanding the key differences between disordered eating and clinical eating disorders. Anorexia Nervosa: A deep dive into restrictive and purging subtypes, underlying thought patterns, and the concept of "egosyntonic" behaviors. Bulimia Nervosa: Exploring the cycle of binging and compensatory behaviors, and how it contrasts with anorexia. Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Dispelling myths and clarifying the diagnostic criteria, including the role of impulsivity and "food noise." ARFID & OSFED: Briefly touching on Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Otherwise Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders. Eating Disorder Treatment: Discussing the essential role of a multidisciplinary team (therapists, dieticians, psychiatrists) and the challenges of treatment, especially concerning the perception of weight gain with medication. GLP-1 Agonists (Ozempic, Wegovy): A critical discussion on their potential role in treating binge eating disorder and the dangers of misuse in other eating disorders. Body Positivity Movement: Sarah and Dr. Mah offer a nuanced perspective on its intentions, its impact on self-image, and where it may fall short in addressing severe disordered eating. Social Media's Influence: Examining how unrealistic beauty standards and constant exposure to curated images contribute to body image issues and eating disorders. Parental Guidance: Practical advice for loved ones on how to approach conversations with someone struggling with an eating disorder, emphasizing compassion over judgment. Full Recovery: Can true recovery from an eating disorder be achieved? Sarah shares her expertise and offers hope. Join us for this insightful and compassionate conversation that aims to educate, destigmatize, and offer pathways to healing for those impacted by eating disorders. For more information about Sarah Burney and the Burney Therapy Group, visit www.BurneyTherapyGroup.com. 0:00 Introduction & Defining Eating Disorders 4:25 Anorexia Nervosa: Definition, Psychology & Treatment Challenges 20:19 Ad Read: Century City Psychiatry 20:55 The Science of Eating Disorders & Brain Function 39:50 Bulimia Nervosa: Understanding Binge-Purge Cycles 55:52 Binge Eating Disorder: Diagnosis & Unique Aspects 1:09:00 New & Emerging Treatments (GLP-1s) 1:23:17 Societal Influences: Body Positivity & Social Media 1:35:40 Audience Questions & Final Thoughts on Recovery 1:40:15 Seeking Help & Concluding Remarks #realmentalhealth #eatingdisorders #anorexia #bulimia #bingeeatingdisorder #mentalhealthpodcast #eatingdisorderrecovery #mentalhealth #bodyimage #ozempic

Autism Spectrum: Diagnosis, Misconceptions & Strengths | Real Mental Health with Dr. Meghan Jain

In this eye-opening episode of Real Mental Health, Dr. Mike Mah welcomes child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Meghan Jain, an expert in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They dive deep into what autism is, how it's diagnosed and evaluated, and why it's so often missed, especially in women and girls. Dr. Jain clarifies the DSM criteria for autism, explaining social communication differences and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. You'll learn about masking, sensory sensitivities, and fixated interests, and how these present differently across various populations. The doctors also tackle critical questions: * What does an autism evaluation entail for children and adults? * What are the latest statistics on autism prevalence, and why are diagnoses increasing? * What treatments are available, including medications like guanfacine and Abilify for managing irritability and agitation? * How does autism overlap with other conditions like ADHD and social anxiety? * Discover the incredible strengths and unique abilities often found in autistic individuals, including the concept of savant syndrome. * The episode also explores the neurodiversity movement, challenging the traditional view of autism as a "disorder" and promoting understanding and accommodation. If you or a loved one are navigating an autism diagnosis, or simply want to learn more from trusted experts, this episode provides invaluable, evidence-based information to separate fact from fiction. Key Timestamps: * 0:00:00 Introduction & Understanding Autism * 0:01:00 Meeting Dr. Meghan Jain: A Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Expert * 0:02:45 What is Autism? DSM Criteria Explained * 0:05:00 Social Communication & Interaction Deficits * 0:06:00 Repetitive Behaviors, Interests & Sensory Aspects (Stimming, Echolalia) * 0:09:30 Diagnosing Autism in Children: Evaluation Process * 0:13:20 Rising Autism Prevalence: CDC Stats & Less Stigma * 0:15:00 Autism in Women & Girls: The Phenomenon of Masking * 0:28:00 Autism Treatment: Medications for Comorbid Conditions (Guanfacine, Abilify) * 0:41:50 Akathisia: A Key Side Effect of Abilify to Watch For * 0:42:50 Risk Factors for Autism & Genetic Components * 0:51:00 Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ABA, Occupational Therapy, Vocational Training) * 0:57:30 Autism & ADHD Overlap: Similarities & Differences * 1:03:00 Autism & Social Anxiety: Understanding the Nuances * 1:07:00 The Neurodiversity Movement: Celebrating Brain Differences * 1:13:00 Strengths & "Superpowers" of Autistic Individuals (Savant Syndrome) * 1:17:00 Why is Autism So Popular on Social Media? (TikTok Misinformation) * 1:22:00 Audience Questions: Disclosing Autism in Relationships & Work * 1:32:00 Asperger's Syndrome Explained * 1:33:00 Fact or Fiction: Common Autism Myths Debunked * 1:38:00 Autism, Empathy & Alexithymia * 1:42:00 Finding a Trustworthy Psychiatrist for Autism Evaluation Connect with Ocean Bay Psychiatry: * Website: OceanBayPsych.com [https://www.google.com/search?q=http://www.oceanbaypsychiatry.com] #AutismSpectrum #Neurodiversity #AutismAwareness #MentalHealth #ChildPsychiatry