What Is the Link Between Personality Disorders and Addiction?
Many individuals facing difficulties with a personality disorder have low self-esteem and find it difficult to trust others. Personality disorders often interfere with an individual’s way of life and commonly lead to problems with substance abuse. Although many individuals facing challenges with their personality disorders and addiction experience extreme mood swings, participating in Restoration Recovery’s mental health and addiction programs can help. Our psychiatric team works hard in treating those having difficulty managing their dual diagnosis to help them achieve mental stability.
What Is a Personality Disorder?
Research indicates that personality disorders are maladaptive and pervasive. A typical person who presents problems with their personality disorder may display chronic patterns of cognitive, behavioral, and mood fluctuations. An individual may experience unrealistic perspectives of people, objects, or situations, making it difficult to cope with stress. For some individuals with a personality disorder, their responses to it are ineffective, leading to intense distress in several areas of their lives.
For example, an individual facing challenges with a personality disorder may experience employment issues, impaired social functioning, and dysfunctional relationships with loved ones. An individual who experiences problematic symptoms may be more likely to endure tragic accidents, suffer from suicidal ideation, or visit emergency departments. Their behaviors prevent them from making appropriate changes in their life for improvement. Complications from personality disorders include elevated rates of:
- Domestic abuse
- Unemployment
- Divorce
- Substance abuse
- Homelessness
What Are Different Types of Personality Disorders?
According to MedlinePlus, there are ten different types of personality disorders. These are sectioned into a few different categories known as “clusters.” The three cluster types include unusual thoughts and odd behaviors, changing behaviors and emotional, dramatic thought patterns, and paranoid thoughts and anxious behaviors. The ten types of personality disorders include:
Cluster A:
- Paranoid personality disorder: Feelings of extreme fear and distrust toward others, including close loved ones
- Schizoid personality disorder: Prefers isolation and finds zero interest in developing or maintaining relationships with others
- Schizotypal personality disorder: Uncomfortable having relationships with others; behaves, speaks, and thinks in an unusual manner
Cluster B:
- Antisocial personality disorder: Displays a long-term pattern of exploiting, manipulating, or violating the rights of others
- Borderline personality disorder: Has torn relationships due to trouble managing emotions, leading to impulsive behavior
- Histrionic personality disorder: Displays strong, dramatic emotions, seeking attention
- Narcissistic personality disorder: Lacks empathy and yearns to be admired by others as they feel as though they are superior to others
Cluster C:
- Avoidant personality disorder: Very shy and avoidant of others as they fear rejection
- Dependent personality disorder: Depends on others and feels the need to be taken care of; may allow others to mistreat them as they are afraid of losing connection
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: The individual needs control and is a perfectionist
The Link Between Personality Disorders and Addiction
According to the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, the simultaneous connection between personality disorders and substance use disorder (SUD) is widespread. For example, borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder are two of the most common disorders that co-occur with addiction.
Clinical studies suggest approximately 2.7% of adults with borderline personality disorder are affected by their condition. Research has estimated that about 78% of those with borderline personality disorder have developed SUD or problems with addiction at a certain time in their life. The participants in the study were shown to have intense impulsivity and less mental stability than those without addiction. Those individuals also displayed increased suicidal ideation, treatment dropout rates, and reduced ability to maintain abstinence. Therefore, a unique care plan was advised, such as participation in a dual-diagnosis treatment program.
Acceptance, Forgiveness, and Treatment
It can be difficult for many individuals with a personality disorder to accept they are having problems with their mental health. The symptoms of any personality disorder are not always easily recognized. It may be helpful for one to weigh out the pros and cons of seeking professional care. Mental health and addiction treatment can help one learn to recognize the warning signs of their condition. Staying dedicated to treatment may also teach one new skills to maintain mental stability and achieve overall abstinence from drugs and alcohol for a sober lifestyle. Benefits of professional support include:
- Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression
- Improved emotional stability
- Reduced risk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts
- Improved relationships and social functioning
- Abstinence from drugs and alcohol
Moving Forward With Restoration Recovery’s Dual-Diagnosis Program for Personality Disorders and Addiction
It can be helpful for an individual to take time to speak with a specialist at Restoration Recovery to develop an individualized treatment plan. Depending on the severity of one’s condition, a dual-diagnosis treatment plan may be fitting. A dual diagnosis may help treat someone who is facing challenges with both addiction and a co-occurring mental health condition such as a personality disorder. Our treatment center understands that co-occurring conditions may derail an individual’s course of treatment prognosis.
Fortunately, Restoration Recovery’s mental health team can treat both conditions simultaneously. Our programs are designed to focus on the person as a whole for an enhanced probability of a more successful outcome. Examples of treatments that our facility provides that are effective in managing a dual diagnosis include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Trauma therapy
- Group therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
At Restoration Recovery, we’re dedicated to treating alcohol addiction, drug addiction, and dual-diagnosis disorders. Substance use and mental health disorders can develop at any time during a person’s life. Only a qualified medical professional can diagnose a mental health disorder. Any individual who is ready to take the first step in a new life, free from chemical dependence, is welcome at Restoration Recovery. Our facility is a dual-diagnosis treatment center in California with programs designed to address the person as a whole. It is often difficult to disentangle mental disorders and addiction due to overlapping symptoms. Call our team of experts at Restoration Recovery at (888) 290-0925 for professional support.
