E31 - John M. Oldham, MD: Personality Explained by a Psychiatrist: Why You Think and Act the Way You Do

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Today we sit down with distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. John M. Oldham, for a deeper look into personality and how it runs our lives. We explore the spectrum of this: from struggling with mental health to full on personality disorders, and look at it through the compassionate lens that change is possible. 

Dr. Oldham describes what personality disorders are, how they're identified, and the treatment plans for them. He shares the personality assessment he is created (and is available online) to determine where you fall on the spectrum of all of this. 

He also discusses the importance of therapy, identifying patterns and subconscious limitations, and staying motivated for healthy living. 

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0:00 Intro

2:59 What a Personality Disorder Is

6:17 Identifying Where we are on This Spectrum

7:44 Borderline Personality Disorder

18:48 How Long It Takes to Shift Character

31:29 Testing Your Own Personality

35:56 How Dr. Oldham Thinks About His Personality

39:45 Are Patterns Running Your Life? You CAN Change

45:07 Sorting Out the Truth of Our Memories

46:48 Psychedelic Therapy & Our Subconscious

54:31 Thriving with Age

56:38 Staying Motivated for Healthy Living

57:51 Go-To Healthy Foods

1:02:14 Exploring Life’s Synchronicities

1:09:09 Conclusion

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John M. Oldham, M.D. is currently Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. Previously, he held the Barbara and Corbin J. Robertson, Jr. Endowed Chair for Personality Disorders. Dr. Oldham previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff of the Menninger Clinic. Earlier in his career, Dr. Oldham was Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Chief Medical Officer of the New York State Office of Mental Health, and the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry and the Law, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 2002, Dr. Oldham became Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Executive Director of the Institute of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina, and he relocated to Houston in 2007.

Dr. Oldham is Past President of the following organizations: American Psychiatric Association, American College of Psychiatrists, New York County District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association, South Carolina Psychiatric Association, International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders, and Association for Research on Personality Disorders.

Dr. Oldham is involved in teaching and research. His research interests are focused on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe personality disorders. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Psychiatric Practice, joint editor-in-chief of Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, joint editor of the Journal of Personality Disorders, and he has published extensively.

Take the Personality Test: https://npsp25.com

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