How Does CBT Address Borderline Personality Disorder and Addiction?
It can be quite challenging to live with untreated borderline personality disorder (BPD). The symptoms may impair many different aspects of an individual’s life. This can be especially so due to experiencing frequent violent outbursts that typically result in having a pattern of unstable relationships. Although the effects of BPD can be problematic, participating in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) at a facility like Restoration Recovery can help. CBT can change an individual’s negative behavior and alter their thought patterns over time for a better quality of life.
What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), BPD can be defined as a mental health disorder that severely affects an individual’s ability to cope with their emotions. Unfortunately, the inability to manage feelings and emotions can increase impulsive behavior, destroy one’s self-image, and significantly impair an individual’s self-esteem. The effects of BPD can negatively interfere with an individual’s work performance, impair relationships with loved ones, impair their ability to stick to long-term plans, and tarnish their perspective on their identity as a whole.
Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
As stated in the aforementioned NIMH publication, an individual with a BPD diagnosis may abruptly change their feelings for others. For instance, an individual with BPD may view things in extremes either in black or white. An individual may feel extremely close to someone and then suddenly present a major dislike or intense hatred toward that person. This can often lead to intense emotional pain, hurtful rejection, and unstable relationships. Symptoms of BPD are not the same for everyone but may consist of:
- Avoiding abandonment at all costs – one may either plunge straight into a relationship or quickly walk away from one before the other party does
- Presenting inappropriate bouts of anger or problems controlling their mood
- Having a history of unstable relationships with loved ones such as family or friends
- Presenting dangerously impulsive behaviors such as engaging in unsafe sex, excessive spending, substance abuse, binge eating, and reckless driving
- Engaging in self-injurious behavior
- Having reoccurring suicidal thoughts, behaviors, or threats
- Presenting intense moods with episodes that typically last within a few hours to a few days
- Experiencing disassociation with reality
The Value of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Although living with BPD can be extremely problematic for some individuals, participating in talk therapy can significantly improve one’s ability to cope with their mental health condition. Based on a study by Europe PubMed Central (PMC), evidence found that attending CBT in combination with usual treatment options can provide several different benefits to an individual’s mental status.
CBT can work to reduce the rate of suicidal attempts and decrease dysfunctional beliefs, levels of anxiety, and intensity of distress related to one’s BPD. According to the study, it appeared that CBT delivered clinically significant changes in self-injurious and suicidal behaviors and changes in one’s thought patterns in those with BPD. CBT can overall help individuals with BPD maintain mental stability and appropriately respond to everyday problems without impulse.
The Link Between Borderline Personality Disorder and Addiction
Based on scientific research, there is a strong link between addiction and BPD. Many individuals who choose to manage their condition on their own commonly self-medicate by misusing drugs or drinking alcohol. Going a prolonged period without professional support may often manifest into substance use disorder (SUD). SUD is a severe type of addiction where the individual loses their ability to control how much or how often they use drugs or alcohol. The condition encompasses addiction and typical dependency on any substance often leading to worsened symptoms. This can be referred to as a dual diagnosis. Although a dual diagnosis may seem difficult to treat, it is highly manageable with proper mental health and addiction treatment.
Moving Forward With Restoration Recovery’s Dual Diagnosis Program
Many individuals with BPD feel hesitant to move forward with professional care. Accepting both professional and emotional support from loved ones, the transition into treatment may be easier than one may think. Choosing to move forward to addiction and mental health treatment can be a life-changing choice not only for the individual living with BPD but for their loved ones as well. Furthermore, CBT can improve relationships and one’s financial status, and potentially save an individual’s life from reckless behavior related to impulse.
Surrendering to Restoration Recovery’s California dual diagnosis treatment program can help individuals maintain mental stability and long-term sobriety. Restoration Recovery uses evidence-based methods such as CBT to help one effectively manage their condition. Our specialists can help individuals learn to not only recognize the signs of their condition but appropriately respond to certain behaviors as well. It may be helpful for an individual to take time to speak with one of our trained therapists to develop a comprehensive treatment plan moving forward. By doing so, our team can work to tailor our services to the individual’s specific needs for a more successful outcome.
A dual diagnosis can feel extremely overwhelming for some individuals. Choosing to transition into a dual diagnosis treatment program for BPD and SUD can significantly change one’s life for the better. At our California recovery center, our serene setting helps clients achieve not just wellness, but wholeness. At Restoration Recovery, we believe that unity, honesty, communication, and clinical support can work against the disease of addiction. Our dual diagnosis treatment center in California has programs to treat substance use disorders and other mental illnesses at the same time. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can provide many benefits for those facing problems with a dual diagnosis. Call Restoration Recovery at (888) 290-0925 to learn more about how we can provide support.
