What is the Relationship Between Borderline Personality Disorder and Drug Use?
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health disorder that can affect an individual’s well-being in many areas. Research has found that 78 percent of those with borderline personality disorder develop a substance use disorder at some time in their lives, raising questions about the link between the mental health condition and addiction. Keep reading to explore the relationship between borderline personality disorder and drug use, and find out how to seek professional help if needed. If you or a loved one are in need of addiction treatment, turn to The Differents for comprehensive substance abuse treatment in Reno. Our expert team can help you recover in comfort at our luxury drug rehab in Nevada, where you can learn the tools you need for long-term recovery. What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition defined by issues with impulsivity, self-image, and unstable interpersonal relationships. A diagnosis requires that symptoms begin in early adulthood across several contexts (like school, home, and work) with at least five of the following nine symptoms: One of the key features of borderline personality disorder is going out of your way to avoid rejection or abandonment, often imagined. People with this condition can experience high sensitivity to environmental changes and impending perceptions of rejection, which can have a negative impact on self-image, behavior, and relationships. Drug use is when an individual abuses prescription or illegal drugs and can develop into an addiction that results in cravings, withdrawal, and an inability to decrease or stop substance abuse behaviors, no matter how hard they try. The Relationship Between Borderline Personality Disorder and Drug Use The relationship between borderline personality disorder and drug use is multifaceted: For example, many people with borderline personality disorder have an intense fear of abandonment, and they usually struggle with inappropriate displays of anger, but most of that perceived abandonment stems from poor self-esteem and a belief that they are bad people. That same person might be overwhelmed at how quickly they change their emotions, feel like something’s wrong with them, and believe that the bad things that happen are because they’re a bad person. These same feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, and emotional outbursts are also heavily associated with drug use. Relationship Between Borderline Personality Disorder and Substance Abuse: Causes People who have a first-degree relative struggling with borderline personality disorder are five times more likely to develop it themselves. Moreover, those who struggle with BPD are also at a higher risk of also having: Many symptoms that develop in association with long-term substance abuse can mirror the symptoms and signs of borderline personality disorder. This can make it difficult to obtain a proper diagnosis or subsequent treatment. More importantly, many clients who struggle with borderline personality disorder struggle heavily with impulsivity, identity issues, and problems with interpersonal functioning, all of which can exacerbate or increase the risk of developing a substance abuse disorder. Getting Treatment with The Differents If you are noticing a relationship between borderline personality disorder and drug use, you can find support with The Differents. The most important part of your treatment will consist of individual and group psychotherapy, where you learn how to better express yourself and interact with others. You might also benefit from family therapy because both borderline personality disorder and drug use affect individuals and their families. Clients at our Nevada addiction treatment center benefit from our extensive programs and highly trained staff, including therapies and amenities like: With a 1:3 staff-to-client ratio, you can get highly personalized treatment that offers therapy and holistic care for both borderline personality disorder and drug use, providing the skills necessary to understand the relationship between the two. With the right treatment, you can learn to manage symptoms of both substance use disorder and borderline personality disorder to live a fulfilling life. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our innovative mental health and addiction treatment programs.
The Connection Between Social Anxiety and Substance Abuse
Social anxiety and substance abuse represent two common co-occurring disorders. People who struggle with a social anxiety disorder or acute social anxiety may be likely to self-medicate with alcohol, especially so they can feel more at ease and less anxious in social situations. In most cases, people self-medicate regularly, leading to tolerance and addiction. Social Anxiety and Substance Abuse: Self-Medicating Anxiety is a common emotion experienced by people in various situations throughout life. However, for some, anxiety becomes much more severe than this, manifesting as a legitimate mental health disorder. There are different types of anxiety disorders, and a diagnosis for one or more comes from your primary care physician. Some anxiety disorders overlap, and it is common for people struggling with anxiety to have more than one disorder, such as social anxiety and panic disorders. Social Anxiety Disorder Social anxiety disorder involves intense and regular fear, particularly around social situations. This fear often involves a fear of being judged by others, and it can be so intense that individuals with a social anxiety disorder avoid social situations altogether. Those who don’t might try to control some of their symptoms or hide them with drugs or alcohol. Symptoms of a social anxiety disorder include the following: It’s common for people who struggle with social anxiety to also experience feelings of fear, irritability, problems concentrating and sleeping issues. These feelings can be significantly disruptive. Let’s look at example: Someone who knows that they have to attend a company party in three months might start feeling anxious now, and over the next three months they may struggle with anxiety that gets significantly worse as the event approaches. In this example, that same individual might have trouble concentrating, and this can lead to sleep problems. Poor concentration can cause problems at work. Poor sleep quality can result in irritability, which increases the fights they have with their partner or their children and makes them generally unpleasant to be around. This can compromise the safety of driving to and from work as well. Getting Professional Help for Anxiety Drug Abuse If you are struggling with social anxiety and substance abuse, you can find treatment programs that specialize in care for co-occurring disorders. These programs are called dual diagnosis treatment. At The Differents, a trusted drug rehab in Reno, you can get help for anxiety drug abuse with several levels of care, including: No matter which level of care you choose at our luxury addiction treatment center, social anxiety and substance abuse are best treated with our Nevada dual diagnosis treatment program, where the symptoms of addiction and anxiety can be treated simultaneously. These programs include several types of evidence-based practices, from individual and group therapy sessions to holistic treatment. Holistic care and therapy can provide the coping skills needed to control the symptoms of social anxiety without turning to drugs or alcohol. Detox Treatment for anxiety and substance abuse starts with detox, where you can flush out any remaining compounds from your substance abuse and tackle your long-term recovery from a sober starting point. Therapy Therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective way to treat anxiety disorders. Acceptance and commitment therapy or other psychotherapy might focus on relaxation techniques that you can use when you struggle with acute symptoms of social anxiety or how to cope with your symptoms without using drugs and alcohol. Medication In certain cases, medication like benzodiazepines or beta-blockers might be used to help you manage symptoms. You may use these for acute symptoms that arise before a social setting or even for long-term management. The right type of dual diagnosis treatment can offer solutions for managing both addiction and social anxiety in a sober and successful fashion. Contact The Differents today to learn more about our dual diagnosis programs for anxiety drug abuse.
The Essential Guide to Dual Diagnosis Sober Living: What You Need to Know
Overcoming addiction and mental health disorders can be full of struggles that require you to change many things in your life, such as: There are unique challenges associated with dual diagnosis situations. In addition to tackling the physical and mental struggles associated with addiction, you must take on the responsibility of managing mental health issues. Most Common Dual Diagnosis Situations Dual diagnosis refers to any situation where you have a co-occurring mental health disorder alongside an addiction. Common dual diagnosis examples include: How to Manage Dual Diagnosis Sober Living If you are living with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, try these strategies to manage dual diagnosis sober living after treatment. Get Treatment The first step is getting professional treatment. Professional treatment can ensure you have a proper and correct diagnosis. It’s not uncommon for people struggling with bipolar disorder or PTSD to be mistakenly diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorders, as these can have very similar symptoms. Know Your Triggers It’s important to identify your triggers. Knowing what your triggers are can help you prepare yourself with extra coping skills before you find yourself in a triggering situation or may even help you avoid certain triggers altogether. Practice Emotional Regulation Next, you need to know how to practice emotional regulation. Emotional regulation is a tool that you can use to change the way you automatically respond to stressful situations or triggers. Many of the emotional regulation techniques that are used today are based on cognitive behavioral therapy, one of the most common evidence-based practices for mental health disorders and addiction. Emotional regulation technqiues include: Use Medication If Needed If you participate in dual-diagnosis treatment and are prescribed medication for part of your mental health symptoms, don’t stop using it because you don’t feel relief straight away. The medication may take several weeks to become fully effective, so it’s important to be patient. Many dual diagnosis services include medication management, which means a chance to review the medication you are taking regularly with a professional to determine how effective a given prescription is. Sometimes, the medication you are prescribed is designed to help with acute symptoms or is something you can wean yourself off of with time and other coping skills. Work with your care team to ensure you get the right solution. Keep a Sleep/Mood Diary A sleep or mood diary can help you uncover activities or lifestyle habits that might interfere with sleep quality. With dual diagnosis sober living, it is important to identify which sources of stress, mental health symptoms, or triggers might contribute to your poor focus or poor sleep. For example: If you are struggling with dual diagnosis sober living, make time for journaling either during the day or before bed. This can be great for reflecting on your day and the quality and quantity of sleep you had the night before. Dual Diagnosis Treatment at The Differents Overall, don’t be afraid to get the right type of treatment when the time comes. Dual diagnosis sober living relies on your ability to regulate emotions and apply coping skills to stressful situations. You can learn more about these techniques in treatment at The Differents, a trusted drug rehab in Reno. We offer dual diagnosis treatment in Nevada at our luxury addiction treatment center. Reach out to The Differents today to learn more about dual diagnosis care.
