Comorbidity rates are even higher among female psychiatric patients, with 59% of women with BPD also carrying a lifetime diagnosis of either alcohol abuse or dependence (Zanarini et al., 1998). For a person who suffers from borderline personality disorder and alcohol use disorder, it is unreasonable to expect that they can be treated independently. Treating BPD without addressing the alcohol addiction or treating the substance abuse without addressing the BPD is like treating cancer by removing half of the tumor. The common genetic pathways theory asserts that if a causal relationship exists between a gene and a higher risk of borderline personality disorder, the same gene may also increase the risk of alcohol use disorder.
Does Alcohol Make BPD Symptoms Worse?
This quiz is not a substitute for medical advice, nor is it an official medical diagnosis. It’s for informational purposes only, but I hope that you’ll take your results seriously and reach out to a medical professional if you suspect you may have a problem with drinking. Because of the nature of BPD and alcoholism, there is a significant overlap between the two disorders. I’ve included a quiz at the end of this article to help you assess whether you’re at risk for alcohol dependence.
Lying and Addiction
During a fight, they may suddenly see the other person as completely bad, even Oxford House if they viewed them as good before. Several months ago, I did a few self-assessments and even went back to my doctor and had a real conversation about many of the things my recovery was starting to reveal to me. As we walked through the assessments that led to my diagnosis of BPD, to my amazement, working the 12 steps of AA had begun to reverse many of the things that had held me back.
Los Angeles Treatment Programs
While these factors are apparent for many people with a BPD diagnosis, it’s not set in stone. There are many people without these risk factors who develop BPD and there are many people who have these risk factors who don’t go on to develop BPD. One of the most insidious aspects of alcoholism is that so many people get into trouble once they start self-medicating mental health problems with alcohol which, in turn, makes those mental health problems worse. Every patient at Castle Craig is carefully evaluated and given a personalised treatment plan to make sure that all their well-being needs are met. Borderlines are already aggressive and have a high likelihood of engaging in self-destructive behavior. Alcohol causes individuals to lose their inhibitions and raises the risk of suicide.
Therefore, while relapse prevention medications may help to curb alcohol use, there is no evidence that they effectively manage BPD symptoms. In many cases, borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by remorse, shame, or guilt in the frame of suicidal thinking. In cases of borderline personality disorder, blackout drinking may result when a person intends to do harm upon his or herself. Mental disorders like BPD are treatable for the most part, but drugs and alcohol must be taken out of the equation for treatment to be successful. If a person suffers from alcoholism or an alcohol use disorder, this may present problems of its own. Embarking on the path to overcoming substance abuse doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Epidemiology of Co-Occurring AUD and Personality Disorders
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed specifically for BPD since the condition was notoriously difficult to treat. The most commonly used therapeutic modality, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), did not provide the desired results. DBT emphasizes mindfulness, non-judgment, and acceptance, making it the modality of choice to help clients manage https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the challenges of AUD and BPD. No medications are FDA-approved to treat BPD, and some people may be treatment resistant. This can lead to increasing frustration, making a person more likely to self-medicate with alcohol or other substances to manage their symptoms.
Whether you’re struggling with alcohol misuse or another addiction, it is important to get help as soon as you realise you have a problem. If you suspect that you have an underlying psychological issue, such as Borderline Personality Disorder, it is even more critical to do so. At Castle Craig Hospital, all aspects of a patient’s diagnosis will be addressed and relapse prevention will be an important part of the programme. It is not advised to self-diagnose when it comes to BPD, but if you have exhibited a majority of BPD symptoms over many years, you should consult a professional.
- Many reputable treatment programs try to include family and friends in the recovery process as much as possible, as having the support of loved ones outside of treatment can be invaluable for the recovering alcoholic.
- As with the majority of mental health disorders, people are more likely to use alcohol if they have BPD.
- Alcohol use disorders are classically recognized when an individual’s alcohol consumption or abuse causes significant difficulties in school, education, relationships, work, or health.
- While these factors are apparent for many people with a BPD diagnosis, it’s not set in stone.
Drinking and BPD
Alcohol abuse can easily push a person over the edge, especially if they are already on the verge. Certainly, alcohol, cocaine, and opiates, all stimulate the endogenous opioid system (EOS), whose primary purpose is to alleviate pain and act in reinforcement is alcoholism curable and reward behaviors. Since BPD symptoms have been linked to EOS dysfunction, it is possible that people with BPD are more likely to abuse these three substances, which stimulate the EOS. There are several things that could make it more likely for people with BPD to become alcoholics. One of the most significant is the presence of comorbid conditions, such as depression and anxiety. People with BPD often have strong emotions, such as feelings of emptiness and boredom, which can make them try to self-medicate with alcohol to feel better.
It will be important for future studies to explore the utility of these psychotherapies not only in bigger samples, but in samples of patients with dual diagnoses specifically of BPD and AUDs. Mental health conditions are some of the most common underlying contributors to alcohol use disorder (AUD). Co-occurring disorders, like borderline personality disorder (BPD), affect how you think and feel, making you more vulnerable to self-medication if you do not get the proper treatment. Unfortunately, combining alcohol with mental health disorders is a recipe for disaster. Active alcohol consumption is very likely to negatively interact with pre-existing mental health problems while exacerbating any underlying personality or behavioral changes. People with disorders like schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder are particularly at risk.