The reality is that nobody initially uses alcohol and other drugs thinking they are going to become addicted. Yet, the unfortunate reality is that many people do develop addiction, as the repeated use of substances alters brain structure and functioning. This includes individuals struggling with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and substance abuse as a form of self-medication for their mental illness
What Exactly Is Borderline Personality Disorder?
BPD affects more people than many may realize. According to the online publication titled Borderline Personality Disorder by Doctors Chapman, Jamil, and Fleisher, “Borderline personality disorder causes significant impairment and distress and is associated with multiple medical and psychiatric co-morbidities. Surveys have estimated the prevalence of borderline personality disorder to be 1.6% in the general population and 20% in the inpatient psychiatric population.” Based on the general population, this breaks down to over 5 million people affected by BPD. In other words, these are not insignificant numbers.
Meanwhile, BPD can be highly disruptive to one’s day-to-day life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that severely impacts a person’s ability to manage their emotions. This loss of emotional control can increase impulsivity, affect how a person feels about themselves, and negatively impact their relationships with others.” Yet, the symptoms of BPD stretch far beyond these symptoms alone.
While they vary based on the individual, there are many universal signs and symptoms of BPD. The following are some (but not all) of those signs:
- Having trouble with relationships, including starting them impulsively and ending them abruptly
- Acting impulsively, often in dangerous unsafe ways (this includes unsafe sexual activity, binge eating, and substance misuse)
- Feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and emptiness
- Having a poor self-image, self-esteem, and sense of self
- Experiencing highly volatile mood swings
- Feeling dissociated from oneself and the rest of the world
- Exhibiting anger issues
- Being overly “stressed out,” anxious, and depressed
- Feeling the need to self-harm
- Having suicidal ideations
The Dangers of Using Substances for People With Borderline Personality Disorder
Now, the primary reason that using substances is dangerous for people with BPD is that they can heighten the symptoms that are already present. Substances can also make other symptoms manifest.
BPD and substance use are also dangerous because many people are on medication management as part of their treatment. Substances can both interfere and interact with these medications in dangerous ways. Also, as previously mentioned, people with BPD often struggle with impulsive and risky behaviors. These types of behaviors are exacerbated when using substances. Furthermore, when people with BPD use substances they also run the risk of becoming addicted to those substances. This leads to co-occurring disorders and more work in recovery.
Meanwhile, co-occurring disorders are more common than many people may realize. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. This doesn’t mean that one caused the other and it can be difficult to determine which came first. Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses.” Also, “Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.” While it may look different than just treating BPD, there are many effective ways to treat BPD and addiction.
How Are Borderline Personality Disorder and Addiction Best Treated?
The primary way that BPD is treated is via psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These types of therapy can help get to the underlying issues that are causing the behaviors of BPD. Additionally, these therapies may also be utilized with medication.
Medication is sometimes used to treat BPD. However, it is not as common as it is when treating other mental illnesses. The medications used to treat BPD are often more focused on treating specific symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. Similarly, one must be particularly careful in using substances like medication if they are being treated for BPD and addiction.
For people struggling with BPD and addiction, it can be highly beneficial to connect with a recovery community, such as a community that utilizes the Twelve Steps. These types of communities can help people maintain their sobriety while they work on their BPD in therapy. Also, these communities can greatly reduce the potential for relapse.
Treating Dual Diagnosis at The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we are highly effective at treating mental illness and addiction and have a specific focus on treating people with dual diagnoses. Part of the reason for this is we ensure that all of our clients are treated individually with personalized comprehensive recovery plans.
BPD and substance abuse can be a debilitating combination that can hold someone back from living the life that they both desire and deserve. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. The key is to reach out and ask for help. When this happens, recovery will always be right over the horizon.
While it may seem like the right “solution” at the moment, alcohol and substances can only exacerbate the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Many people use illicit substances as a coping mechanism for BPD. This can lead to amplified symptoms like anxiety, sleeplessness, mood swings, and depression, as well as a greater potential for substance use disorder (SUD). If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. For more information about how to treat BPD, addiction, and dual diagnosis, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
