Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast Identity Diffusion
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Sep 16, 2025 Dive into the intriguing world of identity diffusion and its effects on mental health. Discover how this phenomenon manifests through feelings of emptiness and fractured self-image. Explore its connections to borderline personality disorder and the role of empathy in therapy. Uncover coping strategies such as journaling, and address societal pressures that impact authenticity. The discussion also highlights the challenges faced by clinicians and the intricate dynamics of relationships affected by narcissism and identity struggles.
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Identity Diffusion Is Cross-Diagnostic
- Identity diffusion is a cross-diagnostic syndrome, not exclusive to BPD, that reflects fragmented self-cohesion.
- Kernberg's borderline personality organization and Gunderson's BPD are related but distinct clinical constructs.
Kernberg: Fragmented Self And Relationships
- Kernberg described borderline-level patients as unable to provide coherent descriptions of self or significant others.
- This manifested clinically as contradictory self-concepts and unstable goals and relationships.
Juxtaposed Traits Signal Identity Diffusion
- Akhtar lists contradictory character traits as a core feature of identity diffusion.
- Patients vacillate between extremes (love/hate, tenderness/indifference) tied to splitting defenses.
