What Are Some Surprising Ways Borderline Personality Disorder Can Manifest And Be Treated During Florida Alcohol Rehabilitation?

Mental health has far been misunderstood and overlooked for centuries until the mid-1970s when people began giving it the attention it needs. According to statistics, borderline personality disorder affects about one to three percent of the general adult population. The term was first coined in the 1930s, although many came to understand the condition in the 1980s. The mental disorder is characterized by an unstable sense of self, volatile emotions, unstable relationships, and specifically, an intense fear of abandonment.

Often times than most, these unstable conditions and circumstances, as characterized in among people diagnosed with borderline personality disorders, typically forces them into isolation and substance abuse. Other BPD characteristics such as anxiety, depression, unfulfillment, and insecurity are risk factors for alcohol and drug abuse and addiction. Seeing that these are co-occurring conditions, your prospective rehab might help as detailed in this piece.

What factors contribute to the development of BPD?

While it’s not yet clear how the disorder develops, research reveals that individuals that manifest BDP characteristics exhibit many common habits. Some of these suspected causes of the development of borderline personality disorder include:

  • Genetics- it’s possible that BDP runs in the family, leading scientists and researchers to believe that genetics could play a role in the development of the disorder. Personality traits such as aggression or temper are known to be inherited and may increase BDP risk when coupled with environmental factors.
  • Neurobiology- three areas of the brain, namely: the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the orbitofrontal cortex, are often smaller and more active among people diagnosed with BPD.
  • Altered functioning of neurotransmitters- hormones such as serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine that are responsible for how you feel may trigger the development of BPD if not regulated adequately.
  • Environmental factors- some artificial and environmental factors disrupt an individual’s ability to stabilize themselves and their emotions. Factors such as childhood trauma, violence between parents, child abuse, or being surrounded by people suffering from mental disorders, often cause BPD.

What is the link between substance addiction and BPD?

Statistics show that about two-thirds of people battling borderline personality disorders have abused substance at one point in their lives. A majority of these patients use drugs and alcohol to cover and mask their disorder symptoms or perhaps to build some self-confidence. These reasons make substance addiction prevalent among individuals diagnosed with BPD.

Also, it can be quite challenging to set the differences between signs of substance addiction and borderline personality disorder. These two conditions are similar sharing traits such as dishonest actions, unstable relationships, unstable careers, self-destructive habits, aggressive behaviors, and extreme mood swings. If not treated, the behaviors slowly progress into self-harm and dangerous practices that can lead to depression and suicide.

Where can you get help for addiction and BPD?

Thanks to science, with an accurate diagnosis of both addiction and borderline personality disorder, some rehab facilities in Florida specialize in offering dual diagnosis programs. These rehabilitation programs are designed to provide both substance abuse treatment and psychotherapy services. While substance abuse treatment seeks to help you recover from substance addiction and use and how to cope with it after treatment, psychotherapy enables you to identify the thought patterns that trigger your impulsive behaviors and how to manage them.

Both approaches may use cognitive behavioral therapy to equip you with skills on how to avoid triggering both conditions and live a healthier life after treatment. You will be taken through detoxification and therapy to increase your chances of recovery from both borderline personality disorder and substance addiction. Your medical doctor might prescribe medications such as antidepressants, anti-psychotic medications, and mood stabilizers that manage anxiety and aggression.

Another technique that has aided in dual diagnosis treatments is the dialectical behavioral therapy used to treat substance addiction. The technique normally seeks to help the patient control their behaviors and habits before proceeding to address the trauma, causing borderline personality disorder.

What are your rehab options?

Once you are diagnosed with co-occurring borderline personality disorder and substance addiction, you might want to focus on looking for a rehab facility that specializes in offering dual diagnosis programs. Ensure that their programs have high success rates. Dual diagnosis can be provided on an outpatient or inpatient basis, depending on how severe both conditions are presented.

Have you been struggling with co-occurring substance addiction and BDP? Perhaps we are referring to your loved one? Talk to us today at 833-846-5669 to help you understand your conditions and walk you through the journey.