Having a personality disorder with addiction is more common than you think. People with any one of the varied personality disorder types (PDs) experience daily life differently than others. Addiction is common because they seek a greater sense of normalcy, often through self-medication using drugs or alcohol.
If you suffer addiction with a personality disorder, you can lead a normal, productive life in recovery. In other words, you just need the right help.
How Personality Disorders Affect Daily Life
There are multiple personality disorder types. Each of these disorders can affect daily living, for both those with the disorder and those who love them. Ways PDs can affect your life include:
- Social problems
- Relationship problems
- Trouble keeping or finding jobs
- Inability to function under stress
Having a PD can make you feel helpless in your own life. It is difficult to change your thought and behavior patterns. This difficulty is why many people with these PDs fall into substance abuse and, eventually, addiction. To end addiction with a personality disorder, you need a full spectrum of care from detox, through rehab and into aftercare.
Personality Disorder Types
About 40 million Americans have PDs. These disorders span a range of personality disorder types. Some people even have two or more disorders at once.
Personality disorder types include:
- Obsessive-compulsive
- Paranoid
- Antisocial
- Schizoid
- Avoidant
- Histrionic
- Dependent
Personality disorder types fall into three categories or clusters. These categories include Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C. Cluster A disorders include strange behaviors and thinking. Cluster B includes emotional, dramatic, and erratic behaviors. Lastly, Cluster C presents with intense anxiety and fear.
Why Personality Disorders Occur
PDs originate from deep in your psyche. It is hard to know the exact cause of these disorders, but doctors believe they come from a combination of genetics, trauma, extra-sensitivity to sensory stimuli, and extreme stress in childhood.
People with some PDs commonly abuse substances. These include people with borderline personality disorder. In fact, experts report the majority of people with borderline personality disorder abuse alcohol, drugs, or both. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports people with antisocial personality disorder also have higher rates of alcohol abuse and addiction than others.
Researchers believe that PDs and addiction share genetic markers. They also believe more people with PDs after childhood trauma may develop addictions as a result of the trauma. Consequently, people struggling with PDs often turn to drugs or alcohol as an escape.
Recovery from Your Personality and Substance Use Disorders
If you suffer both addiction and a personality disorder, you can achieve recovery. The same is true if you suffer any mental condition with your substance abuse. This recovery takes work, but with the right help, you can have a more stable, healthy, and productive life. As a result, happiness is waiting for you in sobriety.
Recovery Is Possible
Memphis Recovery in Memphis, Tennessee provides residential treatment for adolescents and adults addicted to drugs and alcohol. Our programs are particularly comprehensive and can be customized to meet your specific needs. These programs include:
- Men’s rehab and women’s rehab
- Residential, IOP, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs
- Family therapy
- Individual and group therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Music and art therapies
- Dual diagnosis treatment
Whether you suffer addiction alone or with a personality disorder or mental illness, the right treatment will change your life. You deserve a better chance for everyday wellness and happiness. For this reason, call Memphis Recovery Centers now at 901-272-7751 to learn more about how we can help.
