BPD and Alcohol

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

BPD is a mental illness that affects how a person feels and thinks about themselves and other people in their life. People with BDP might experience:

• Intense mood swings, including happiness, anxiety, and shame all within a few hours or days
• Difficulty maintaining relationships
• Intense fear of abandonment
• Difficulty being alone
• Impulsiveness
• Feelings of emptiness
• Stress-related paranoia
• Extreme anger
• Suicidal thoughts

Researchers still aren’t exactly sure what causes BPD, but it is generally believed to be from genetics and/or brain abnormalities. Additionally, people who had stressful childhoods might be at a higher risk of developing BPD.

If you think you might have BPD or other mental health conditions, speak with a licensed healthcare professional.

Alcohol Addiction and BPD

It’s common for people with Borderline Personality Disorders to develop alcohol use disorder (alcohol addiction). When these two mental health conditions both exist, it is known as a co occurring disorder. This typically happens as a result of individuals with BPD trying to cope with their emotions and mental health condition with drinking. Over time, their drinking might increase as they develop a tolerance to it, leading to an addiction.

Signs of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction can present in the following ways:

• Being unable to quit drinking
• Feeling unable to reduce the amount you drink
• Drinking often
• Binge drinking
• Continuing to drink even if it has negatively impacted your health and life
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, even when not drinking for a short period of time
• Any others

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you might have an alcohol addiction.

Ways Alcohol Can Affect People With BPD

When people with BPD abuse alcohol, it can exacerbate their symptoms. For example, someone with BPD who is having difficulty trusting others and building relationships might begin to isolate even further when drinking. This feeds the cycle of feeling abandoned. Alcohol can also make it more difficult for them to regulate their emotions, leading to even more extreme mood swings.

Additionally, people with BPD tend to already have an addictive personality, predisposing them to a higher risk for abusing not just alcohol but also heroin, meth, cocaine, benzos, opioids, prescription drugs, and other drugs.

When someone with BPD drinks alcohol, it only intensifies and worsens the symptoms that already exist, continuing a cycle of self harm.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis treatment is an effective form of treatment for those struggling with alcohol addiction and BPD, and other mental disorders (including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and many others).

With dual diagnosis treatment, both mental health conditions are addressed by incorporating evidence-based and innovative therapies into various addiction treatment programs. These programs include:

• Partial Hospitalization Program
• Intensive Outpatient Program
• Outpatient Treatment Program

Medication-Assisted Treatment can also help to eliminate intense cravings for alcohol, create mental stability, and enable individuals to participate more fully in therapy.

The goal of participating in an addiction treatment program is to empower individuals to adopt healthier coping strategies, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities to help them stay committed to recovery after treatment.

Get Treatment For Alcohol Addiction and Borderline Personality Disorder

At Paramount Recovery Centers, we provide respectful, compassionate, and innovative alcohol and drug abuse treatment in Massachusetts. Our outpatient addiction treatment programs help individuals overcome substance use disorders and any co-occurring mental health disorders. Each program is customized based on each guest’s psychological and emotional health.

We’re here to help you overcome substance abuse and live the life you deserve.