Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Borderline personality disorder and addiction are two conditions that often co-exist and feed off of each other’s symptoms. Due to the overlapping symptoms and difficulties in treating people with these disorders.
The relationship between substance abuse and BPD is complex and unstable, as the pain and impulsive behaviors associated with BPD tend to exacerbate one’s substance abuse. At the same time, the side effects of drug and alcohol abuse are known to worsen the symptoms of BPD.
In an attempt to cope with the symptoms of BPD, some people abuse drugs or alcohol. While these short-term fixes might seem to work, long term substance abuse is likely to lead to addiction and an array of other problems.
Not only are people with borderline personality disorder more likely to suffer from addiction due to depression and impulsivity, but the two conditions have overlapping symptoms that lead to one another. For example, common symptoms of borderline personality disorder and addiction include:
- Impulsive, self-destructive behaviors
- Mood swings including depression and mania
- May manipulate or deceive loved ones
- Suffer from unstable finances and relationships
- Have a lack of concern for their own well-being
Borderline personality disorder and addiction are so common that one study found that nearly 78% of adults with BPD will have a substance use disorder at some Point in their lives. Furthermore, people with BPD are more than three times more likely to suffer from substance abuse disorder than those who are not. The most common addiction problems among people with borderline personality disorder are alcohol, cocaine, and opioids.