Dr. Mike Mah, MD - Psychiatry

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Santa Monica, CA
Dr. Mike Mah, MD - Psychiatry

A board-certified integrative psychiatrist serving West Los Angeles.

12/12/2025

A common question about Borderline Personality Disorder is: Do people ever actually get better?

The answer is more hopeful than most people think.
Large long-term studies show that 50–70% of people with BPD no longer meet diagnostic criteria over time, even without intensive treatment.

That doesn’t mean “nothing happened.”
Improvement requires change — and for many people with BPD, life itself creates pressure to change, especially through relationships.

This clip breaks down what remission really means, how it differs from full recovery, and why BPD symptoms often soften with age.

12/08/2025

Where did the term “borderline” actually come from?

Before the DSM, psychiatry divided suffering into two main groups:
• Neurotic — people who could still reality test
• Psychotic — people who were disconnected from reality

Clinicians noticed that some patients didn’t fit neatly into either category. Most of the time, they could describe reality accurately… but under stress, conflict, or emotional triggers, they’d slip into distorted perceptions.

That “in-between” group became known as borderline — the border between neurotic and psychotic functioning.

It’s an old term, but the idea still helps explain why emotion and stress can dramatically affect the way someone with BPD perceives reality.

12/03/2025

Projection is one of the most confusing and relationship-damaging defenses — especially for people with Borderline Personality Disorder.

It’s not deliberate. It’s not imagined. It’s an unconscious process where a feeling that originates inside of you suddenly feels like it’s coming from someone else.

In this clip, we break down how projection works, why it feels so real, and how it can turn a neutral moment into a relationship-ending conflict.

Have you ever realized you were projecting onto someone — or had someone project onto you?

12/02/2025

Why does splitting feel so automatic for people with Borderline Personality Disorder?

In this clip, we talk about why the borderline mind struggles to hold “good” and “bad” together. For many, that pattern starts early:
• When you’re a baby, distress feels like “everything is bad.”
• When comfort returns, “everything is good.”
• And if a parent causes pain, it feels safer to blame yourself—because that gives you a sense of control.

As adults, these early templates can turn into fear, self-blame, or pushing people away before they can hurt you.

Have you seen this pattern in your relationships or upbringing?

12/01/2025

One of the most important parts of understanding Borderline Personality Disorder is understanding splitting — a core defense Otto Kernberg described decades ago.

Splitting happens when someone can’t hold the “good” and “bad” parts of a person or situation together at the same time. When conflict hits, everything becomes all-good or all-bad.
This shows up constantly in relationships, identity, and self-worth.

If you’ve seen this defense in yourself or someone close to you, what helped you recognize it?

11/26/2025

Why do so many people with Borderline Personality Disorder struggle in relationships as adults?
A big part of the answer often starts in childhood.

Dr. Kanell and I talk about how early survival strategies—things kids do to stay safe, stay connected, or keep a parent from “flying off the handle”—can later become painful, maladaptive patterns in adulthood.

What helped you understand your own relationship patterns the most?

07/04/2025

Century City Psychiatry is hiring!
We’re looking for a fully licensed LCSW to join our growing team. This is a hybrid position—with a focus on telehealth—serving patients across California. Our office is based in Century City (90025) and offers a supportive, collaborative environment.

✅ Competitive compensation
✅ Supportive admin + billing team
✅ Mentorship and room to grow
✅ Flexibility and autonomy

DM us “LCSW” to apply!

06/02/2025

💊 Adderall or Vyvanse? Here’s What Psychiatrists Consider First.
⁠
When a patient comes in with ADHD, the conversation around treatment is never one-size-fits-all. In this episode, Dr. Pat Baumgart breaks down the difference between stimulant options like Adderall IR, XR, and Vyvanse—highlighting why the formulation matters.⁠
⁠
➡️ Why Vyvanse is less likely to be abused
➡️ The risk of diversion with Adderall IR
➡️ How prodrugs work and why they’re safer long-term⁠
⁠
Full conversation now live — hit the link in bio to watch or listen.
⁠

06/01/2025

In Episode 6 of the Real Mental Health podcast, Dr. Mike Mah is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Pat Baumgart to uncover the often-misunderstood realities of diagnosing ADHD and Bipolar Disorder.

Together, they break down:

The difference between ADHD and Bipolar symptoms

Why accurate diagnosis is crucial—and often overlooked

The truth about how psychiatric medications are prescribed

The role of clinical assessments vs. formal neuropsych testing

What it's like working as boots-on-the-ground psychiatrists

🎙 This is a must-watch episode for anyone navigating mental health treatment, wondering if they’ve been misdiagnosed, or seeking clarity on their own psychiatric journey.

Watch or listen at the linkinbio!

05/19/2025

Your past doesn’t disqualify you from love.

In Real Mental Health Episode 5, Kevin Nahai challenges the idea that trauma, poor role models, or a rocky history make someone "unfit" for a healthy relationship.

Relational skills are teachable.
When two people are willing to learn, grow, and show up — the possibilities are endless.

Your story isn’t over because it started with pain.
⁣
🎙️ Watch the full episode with and .

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05/16/2025

Entering a relationship doesn’t mean giving up who you are — but it does mean being willing to grow.

In Episode 5 of Real Mental Health, Kevin Nahai reminds us: you're not just “Mr. Independent” anymore. Becoming a partner, a husband, a parent — that takes maturity and change.

But here’s the key: growth is healthy. What’s not reasonable? Expecting someone to abandon their core values or personality traits.

True love asks for evolution, not erasure.
⁣
🎙️ Watch the full episode with and — live now.

05/14/2025

The most powerful communication skill? It’s not talking louder — it’s deference.

explains in Real Mental Health that true connection comes when you make the other person feel heard and valid, without abandoning yourself explains in Real Mental Health that true connection comes when you make the other person feel heard and valid, without abandoning yourself.

When people feel respected, they soften. When egos step back, real dialogue steps in.

This isn’t about losing — it’s about creating space where both people can win.
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🎙️ Full episode with and available now.

Address

Santa Monica, CA
90025

Website

http://mahmd.com/

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