Personality disorders are a serious type of emotional illness and mental health disorder. Someone with this disorder is without firm feelings of identity, and usually has excessive anxiety about abandonment. This problem can also be known as borderline personality disorder, but a precise cause is not entirely understood. There are numerous signs and symptoms to personality disorders, such as:
- Emotionally unpredictable
- Needy
- Poor self image
- Participating in activities that are intense and chaotic
- Personal relationship problems and conflicts
- Impulsive behavior
- Severe mood shifts
- Psychologically desperate
- Dependent
There are many potential causes of personality disorders, and nearly 50-percent of the people who have this condition also had sexual abuse inflicted on them in the past when they were very young. Sexual abuse anytime in early childhood, especially with an authority figure or parent, can increase the likelihood of developing a personality disorder. An abandonment event in early childhood or teen years may also greatly increase the chance of a personality disorder, and can create chaos, trouble and dysfunctionality for the individual. Personality disorders can also be likely if another family member has the same condition, or if family members have broken communication.
Personality disorders affect nearly 2-percent of the U.S. population. Only slightly more than 40-percent of individuals who have a personality disorder have received any kind of treatment. Without treatment, the signs and symptoms will worsen until the individual is no longer able to function or the individual will abuse substances in order to self medicate. Personality disorders and substance abuse work in tandem to create a co-occurring disorder. Both condition should be treated simultaneously for an effective outcome.
There is help readily available for people with personality disorders and an addiction, but you should carefully choose the best rehab facility which offers expertise in co-occurring disorders. Detoxification in cases like this should be carefully supervised. Freedom from drugs and alcohol is necessary before medication therapy can begin. Treating personality disorders may include behavioral therapy, group therapy sessions, individual counseling, mood stabilization medicine, anti-psychotic drugs and antidepressant drugs. Every individual differs, and can respond in a different way to a particular treatment solution combination.
