Personality disorders and substance use disorders often intertwine, creating a complex set of challenges for those affected. These co-occurring conditions can amplify each other, making recovery particularly difficult without specialized care.

People struggling with both a personality disorder and substance abuse may find themselves caught in a cycle of maladaptive coping mechanisms and destructive behaviors. Recognizing the intricate relationship between these disorders is crucial for effective treatment – and Brooks Healing Center offers comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment to start the recovery process.

Key Points

  • Personality disorders involve persistent, pervasive patterns of behavior and inner experience that deviate from cultural norms and cause significant distress or impairment, affecting relationships and daily functioning.
  • The interplay between drug addiction and personality disorders is complex, with individuals often using substances to cope with personality disorder symptoms, and chronic substance abuse potentially exacerbating or triggering these disorders.
  • Each personality disorder has unique features but generally includes inflexible patterns of behavior and cognition that are stable over time and significantly impact personal and social functioning.
  • Treatment options in Tennessee for co-occurring personality disorders and addiction include comprehensive programs like those at Brooks Healing Center, which offer detoxification, residential care, and various therapeutic modalities such as CBT, experiential therapy, and trauma-informed care.

What Are Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders are enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate markedly from cultural expectations.[1] These patterns are inflexible, pervasive across various situations, and lead to significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning. Typically emerging in adolescence or early adulthood, personality disorders affect a person's way of thinking, feeling, and behaving, often causing problems in relationships and daily life. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) recognizes ten specific personality disorders grouped into three clusters:[2]
  • Cluster A (Odd or eccentric disorders):
    • Paranoid Personality Disorder
    • Schizoid Personality Disorder
    • Schizotypal Personality Disorder
  • Cluster B (Dramatic, emotional, or erratic disorders):
    • Antisocial Personality Disorder
    • Borderline Personality Disorder
    • Histrionic Personality Disorder
    • Narcissistic Personality Disorder
  • Cluster C (Anxious or fearful disorders):
    • Avoidant Personality Disorder
    • Dependent Personality Disorder
    • Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Drug Addiction and Personality Disorders

The relationship between drug addiction and personality disorders is complex (and often reciprocal).[3] People with personality disorders may turn to substance use as a means of coping with their symptoms, while chronic substance abuse can exacerbate or even trigger personality disorder traits. This interplay creates a challenging dual diagnosis that requires specialized treatment approaches. People with personality disorders often experience intense emotions, unstable relationships, and difficulty regulating their behavior. These characteristics can increase vulnerability to substance abuse as drugs or alcohol may temporarily alleviate emotional pain or provide a sense of normalcy. For instance, someone with Borderline Personality Disorder might use substances to manage mood swings, while an individual with Avoidant Personality Disorder might rely on alcohol to ease social anxiety. Conversely, long-term substance abuse can alter brain chemistry and behavior patterns, potentially intensifying personality disorder symptoms or making them more apparent.[4] The impulsivity associated with certain personality disorders, such as Antisocial or Borderline Personality Disorder, can also lead to increased risk-taking behaviors, including drug experimentation and addiction. Moreover, both conditions can reinforce each other, creating a vicious cycle. The presence of a personality disorder can complicate addiction treatment, as it may affect the person’s ability to engage in therapy, maintain healthy relationships, or develop effective coping strategies. Similarly, active addiction can hinder progress in treating the underlying personality disorder.

What Are the Defining Features of a Personality Disorder?

Personality disorders are characterized by persistent patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that deviate from cultural norms. While each personality disorder has its unique features, they share some common defining characteristics. The patterns of behavior and inner experience are inflexible and pervasive across a wide range of personal and social situations. These patterns typically begin in adolescence or early adulthood and are stable over time:[5]
  • Paranoid Personality Disorder: People exhibit pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others, interpreting their motives as malevolent.
  • Schizoid Personality Disorder: Characterized by a pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression.
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder: People show acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities of behavior.
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder: Marked by a pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others.
  • Borderline Personality Disorder: BPD is characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and marked impulsivity.
  • Histrionic Personality Disorder: Individuals display excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.
  • Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Marked by a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.
  • Avoidant Personality Disorder: Characterized by social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.
  • Dependent Personality Disorder: People show an excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Marked by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.

What Are My Treatment Options in Tennessee for Co-occurring Personality Disorders and Addiction?

People struggling with co-occurring personality disorders and addiction in Tennessee have access to comprehensive treatment options. Brooks Healing Center offers a full continuum of care, including detox and residential treatment. Detoxification is often the first crucial step in the recovery process, where patients are medically supervised as they safely withdraw from substances. Following detox, residential care provides a structured, immersive environment where clients receive round-the-clock support and engage in intensive therapy to address both their addiction and personality disorder. At Brooks Healing Center, we utilize a range of evidence-based treatment modalities to provide personalized care for our clients. Our approach integrates various therapeutic techniques to address the complex interplay between personality disorders and addiction. Some of the key modalities we employ include:
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A goal-oriented approach that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with both addiction and personality disorders.
  • Experiential Therapy: This modality uses activities and experiences to help clients process emotions and develop new coping skills, which can be particularly beneficial for those struggling with emotional regulation.
  • Trauma-informed Care: Recognizing the frequent connection between trauma, personality disorders, and addiction, this approach ensures all aspects of treatment are sensitive to the impact of trauma on an individual's life.
  • Brainspotting (BSP): A relatively new therapeutic technique that helps individuals process deep-rooted trauma and emotions by identifying specific eye positions associated with traumatic memories.
  • 12-Step Program: While not specific to personality disorders, this widely recognized approach to addiction recovery can provide a supportive framework and community for individuals in treatment.