Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder and Addiction

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental condition that impacts an individual’s ability to control their emotions and impulses. From sudden angry outbursts to engaging in impulsive behavior, borderline personality disorder can significantly hurt many areas of your life for the worse. Not to mention, left untreated, many individuals with BPD may turn to drugs and alcohol to relieve their symptoms, which can eventually lead to addiction. If you suspect you are struggling with a borderline personality disorder and addiction, keep reading to learn more about common signs of BPD to look out for.

At Terra Nova, we are leading drug and alcohol rehab in Arizona that helps patients break free of addiction once and for all and lead a long-term life of sobriety. We offer a wide range of treatment services from residential inpatient care to outpatient treatment to help you every step of the way on your recovery journey. You should never feel ashamed or alone to ask for help!

Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support you on your road to recovery. 

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness that significantly impacts an individual’s ability to manage their emotions without losing control. Inevitably, people with borderline personality disorder not only struggle with controlling their emotions and impulses, but their lack of emotional regulation can negatively impact relationships. This makes it difficult to make and keep long-term friends. 

Unfortunately, left untreated, individuals with borderline personality disorder may turn to unhealthy coping strategies, like drugs or alcohol, as a means to cope with their disorder. Over time, continued drug abuse will eventually lead to drug dependency and addiction which can oftentimes worsen your mental illness symptoms. 

Common Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder can significantly hurt your relationships and personal quality of life for the worse. Depending on the severity and frequency of your BPD symptoms, it can sometimes be difficult to determine if you are struggling with a borderline personality disorder.

Unsure if you are struggling with a borderline personality disorder? Below are several borderline personality disorder signs and symptoms to look out for, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

• A pattern of intense and unstable relationships 
• Distorted image of one’s self 
• Engaging in impulsive and dangerous behaviors
• Self-harming
• Having widely varied moods that last from hours to days
• Inability to control your anger or irritability

If you suspect you may be struggling with a borderline personality disorder, it’s critical you seek professional mental health treatment to better manage your symptoms so you can lead a happier, healthier quality of life. 

Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder and Addiction 

If you suspect you are struggling with both BPD and substance abuse, it’s critical you seek treatment for both conditions simultaneously. This is because if you are diagnosed with both a mental illness and addiction, known as a dual diagnosis, it’s critical you seek dual diagnosis treatment for both conditions to reduce your risk of relapsing.

For example, if you receive only addiction treatment, you will still struggle with your BPD symptoms which can increase your chances of falling back into old habits and relapsing. Therefore, it’s critical if you have both borderline personality disorder and addiction that you seek treatment for both conditions at the same time.

Additionally, it’s important to look for a treatment that offers the exact care for your unique recovery needs. For instance, some treatment centers may only offer limited care for specific mental health and substance use disorders. This is why it’s critical to research several different drug rehabs near you to find a facility that best matches your recovery needs. 

Help Is Available 

Borderline personality disorder and addiction can significantly hurt virtually all areas of your life for the worse. From harming your mental and physical health to interfering with your ability to form close relationships with others, BPD and addiction can greatly impact your quality of life; however, you don’t have to suffer in silence!

At Terra Nova, we help patients overcome their addiction and better manage their mental health so they can lead a happier, healthier life. We understand that no two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why we offer a wide range of treatment programs and treatment options to best help support you along your recovery journey. 
Ready to start your road to recovery? Contact us today!