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Borderline Personality Disorder and Alcohol Abuse

When a loved one begins acting differently, it may not always be obvious what the underlying cause is, which can lead to frustration in the family, arguments, and perhaps even a less appealing relationship with the individual. Substance abuse has telltale signs, but few people realize that there are also other explanations for why someone may be angrier or more secretive than what can usually be expected of someone suffering from alcoholism. Sometimes, there are two co-occurring disorders – borderline personality disorder and alcohol abuse – making it harder for an individual to find the help they need.

4 Minute Read | Published Aug 07 2023 | Updated Feb 27 2024 Expert Verified
Emma Collins
Written by
Amber Asher
Reviewed by
Emma Collins
Written by
Amber Asher
Reviewed by

When it comes to an alcoholic borderline personality sufferer, it can become very difficult to find the necessary care for a successful recovery. It may be difficult or embarrassing to talk about such personal issues and feelings, but communication is the first step towards finding treatment and reclaiming your health and happiness. It is important to know the facts surrounding borderline personality disorder and alcohol abuse before starting the conversation. 

Better Addiction Care is a team dedicated to helping people in this situation find the right dual-diagnosis treatment centers in their area through our free sobriety resource listings. In this guide, you will gain insight into what borderline personality disorder and alcoholism can entail and how to get the proper care for people suffering from these conditions at the same time.

Understanding the Relationship Between Alcohol and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Abuse of drugs and substances such as alcohol and borderline personality disorder are frequently found alongside one another in patients. They can also occur independently of any substance abuse. Individuals with borderline personality disorder find it difficult to regulate their emotions and feelings, relate to or form relationships with other people, and may have intense feelings of depression or low self-esteem. Because of this sense of disconnection from the world around them, they may be more prone to feelings of loneliness and frustration. This is a recipe that fits the blueprint for the typical reasons that alcoholism forms in people. When it comes to borderline personality disorder and alcoholism, they are often the most closely linked among other abused substances. 

Borderline personality disorder and alcohol addiction can produce feelings of isolation and suicidal thoughts. It’s important to remember that borderline personality disorder individuals are at a much higher risk of accidental or intentional self-harm. Borderline personality disorder and drug abuse have similar side effects and outward signs, which can make them hard to diagnose and treat individually when both are present.

The good news is that with individualized care and treatment, it is possible to attain a successful recovery from addiction and manage the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Tackling both issues at once is important to ensure that the issues with drinking and borderline personality disorder do not advance to a state where they become unmanageable or even fatal. 

How to Help Sufferers of BPD and Alcoholism

If you or someone you love is struggling with borderline personality disorder, alcoholism, substance abuse, or a combination of these, it’s important not to wait to seek professional assistance. Living every day with both issues could add to the potential danger. Borderline personality disorder and alcohol abuse as co-occurring disorders require special treatment. This makes it especially important to answer and ask any questions that you believe may fit into your treatment needs or requirements to get sober the right way. You need to determine if a certain rehab facility is equipped to handle both afflictions.

With so many different types of treatment to consider for either or both afflictions, it can become difficult to establish which to go to in your area. Someone living with these issues should not have to also worry about having to properly vet all potential rehabilitation, mental health, or dual diagnosis treatment centers in their area. They should be worried about preparing to receive the help they need. 

Better Addiction Care allows sufferers to focus on what’s immediately important. We have done all the necessary research and compiled information into the sobriety resource that sufferers across the nation can rely on. The best part of it is that you won’t have to spend any money when researching which facility would be right for you. Our resources are completely free and will point you in the right direction without asking you to break the bank. 

Find the Right Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

If you or somebody you know is suffering from a borderline personality disorder and alcohol addiction, it is time to act before the problem progresses to the point of no longer being treatable due to a fatal incident. Learning how to get sober while dealing with mental health issues is far from impossible. It has been done by countless other people in similar positions. Change is possible.

If you are interested in learning more about treating your mental health issues while getting sober, be sure to get in contact with our team to learn more about which locations across the country would best be suited for your situation. Also, be sure to read some of the other articles offering insights by our team of sobriety resource providers to get further information about cleaning up bad habits and getting on the path toward health and happiness. The first step starts with research and decisions leading to recovery. Be sure to use the free resources at your disposal for a convenient online way of finding the right treatment.

Resources

bullet National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2021).
"Comorbidity: Substance Use Disorders and Other Mental Illnesses."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020).
"Substance Use and SUDs in Adolescents With Borderline Personality Disorder."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2012).
"Borderline Personality and Alcohol Use Disorders: A Review and Integration. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 8(2), 115-122."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet Darke, S., & Ross, J. (2002).
"Suicide Among Heroin Users: Rates, Risk Factors and Methods. Addiction, 97(11), 1383-1394."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Reich, D. B., Fitzmaurice, G., & Weinberg, I. (2008).
"Substance Abuse in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Review and Integration. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(2), 272-284."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet Paris, J., & Zweig-Frank, H. (2001).
"A 27-Year Follow-Up of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 42(6), 482-487."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet Links, P. S., Heslegrave, R., & van Reekum, R. (1999).
"Prospective Follow-Up Study of Borderline Personality Disorder: Prognosis, Prediction of Outcome, and Axis II Comorbidity. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 44(7), 716-722."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet Conrod, P. J., & Stewart, S. H. (2005).
"A Critical Look at Dual-Focus Schema Therapy for Personality Disorders and Substance Use Disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 25(6), 843-863."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet Zanarini, M. C., Frankenburg, F. R., Reich, D. B., Fitzmaurice, G., & Weinberg, I. (2012).
"The 10-Year Course of Psychosocial Functioning Among Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder and Axis II Comparison Subjects. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 125(3), 217-225."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
bullet Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2013).
"Alcohol Use Disorders in Personality Disorders: A Review. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 10(3), 26-30."
Retrieved on September 09, 2020
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