Dual diagnosis or comorbidity is when a person has a combination of any mental health disorder and an addiction to alcohol or drugs. One of the mental health disorders that sometimes occurs with addiction is a personality disorder. This means the need for addiction and personality disorder treatment centers is undeniable.
While neither of these conditions is necessarily the cause of the other, they often co-occur. In the U.S. an estimated 9 million people suffer from co-existing disorders of mental illness (of any kind) and addiction. Sadly, only 7% of people with this type of dual diagnosis seek out and receive treatment for both conditions. Plus, about 60% of people suffering from both conditions don’t receive treatment for either one of them.
What Are Mental Health Disorders?
Mental health disorders are brain-based conditions affecting a person’s thinking, emotions, and behaviors. People with mental health disorders can’t fully control the way they think, feel, or act. For some people, having a mental health disorder means they can’t think clearly or communicate with others. They often experience bizarre thoughts.
For others, a mental health disorder means feeling sadder or more worried or anxious than normal. About 44 million Americans receive treatment for mental health issues annually. But, everyone suffers a mental health problem at some point in their life.
Types Of Mental Health Disorders
There are over 200 types of mental health disorders researchers have identified and classified. Some of the most common ones include anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, dementia, depression, and schizophrenia.
Mental health disorders can affect people psychologically, emotionally, and physically. They can change people’s personality and personal habits and sometimes leads to dramatic mood swings and social withdrawal.
Some mental health issues are classified as personality disorders. These mental health disorders are marked by unhealthy, rigid thinking, functioning, and behavior patterns.
Common Types Of Personality Disorders
People who have personality disorders have trouble properly perceiving and relating to people and situations. This often leads to major problems and limits their ability to work, attend school, participate in social activities, or maintain relationships.
People with odd, bizarre, or eccentric behavior may have a paranoid, schizoid, or schizotypal personality disorder. Individuals with antisocial, borderline, histrionic, or narcissistic personality disorders often act dramatic or erratic. People whose personality disorder makes them anxious and fearful may be avoidant, dependent, or obsessive-compulsive.
Cluster A Personality Disorders:
Schizotypal personality disorder: Many people who have schizotypal personality disorder have “peculiar” ways of thinking or speaking. They may even dress differently than is deemed normal. Individuals with this personality disorder may appear to be indifferent toward others.
Schizoid personality disorder: Individuals with schizoid personality disorder often have little to no interest in building or maintaining social relationships. They would rather be alone and would even prefer to avoid physical or sexual contact with others. Schizioid personality disorder can also cause people to struggle to comprehend or notice social cues. This disorder is also characterized by a lack or limited amount of emotional expressiveness.
Paranoid personality disorder: Those who suffer from this type of personality disorder often interpret other people’s comments or thoughts as insulting or judgmental. They may become extremely defensive toward other people’s remarks. Individuals with paranoid personality disorder often avoid confiding in others because of a general sense of distrust. Paranoia may cause these individuals to constantly feel that others are trying to harm or threaten them.
Cluster B Personality Disorders:
Borderline personality disorder: Impulsiveness is a common trait in the lives of those with borderline personality disorder. Overall instability often occurs, including financial and emotional instability. Some individuals may even struggle to maintain relationships with friends, family members, or significant others. Emptiness, paranoia, stress, low self-esteem, moodiness, and anger are all symptoms of this disorder.
Antisocial personality disorder: Individuals with antisocial personality disorder may tend to think little of (or entirely disregard) other people’s feelings. As a result, they may overlook and violate other people’s rights and needs. Unhealthy behaviors such as lying or cheating may occur frequently. This can lead to legal problems as well as interpersonal issues. Sometimes, people with antisocial personality disorder may even exhibit violence or aggression.
Narcissistic personality disorder: This disorder causes individuals to have a self-centered way of thinking. Individuals who suffer from this disorder may find themselves thinking highly of themselves and poorly of others. They may also come to expect others to respect, praise, admire, or applaud them. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder may take advantage of others or think other people are jealous of them.
Histrionic personality disorder: Those who suffer from histrionic personality disorder might experience emotions that change and alter rapidly. They may seem to believe that their interpersonal and social relationships are much more closeknit than they actually are. People who suffer from this type of personality disorder are fairly easily influenced. They may tend to seek attention frequently, even constantly. They may do so by being sexually provocative or intensely emotional.
Cluster C Personality Disorders:
Dependent personality disorder: People who have dependent personality disorder often have an unhealthy dependence on others. They are often afraid of the idea of caring for themselves. They may have extremely low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in themselves. Individuals with dependent personality disorder may allow others to take advantage of them for fear of desertion.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: Not to be confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive personality disorder causes individuals to come across as “rigid”. Individuals with this disorder are often far from flexible when it comes to their beliefs or thoughts. They may tend to overcommit, causing them to avoid friends or family members in order to meet various expectations. Perfectionism and the extreme need to order are also signs of this type of personality disorder.
Avoidant personality disorder: Those who suffer from avoidant personality disorder have an intense fear of rejection. They are often severely sensitive and feel an unbearable sense of embarrassment in the face of criticism. Avoidant personality disorder can cause people to be excessively shy. It can cause people to think poorly of themselves, giving them a low sense of self-worth and feelings of inadequacy and inferiority.
Symptoms Of Mental Disorders
Each mental health disorder has specific symptoms. However, if your loved one begins to display certain behaviors they may need to speak with a mental health professional. Sudden changes in their thoughts and behaviors and exhibiting several of the following symptoms, may require professional attention.
Adolescents or adults who talk about having confused thinking, depression, hallucinations, delusions, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, may have the onset of a mental disorder. It’s important to know more about the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders. In doing so, individuals can better help those who are struggling in these areas.
Don’t Ignore The Signs And Symptoms
When people see their loved ones exhibiting unusual, disturbing behavior, they often ignore it. They think it’s a phase they are going through. However, if your loved one’s erratic behavior, wild mood swings, and changes in character persist, have them examined.
A mental health professional can do specific tests to determine if a person is struggling with mental illness. The person showing signs of mental illness may say they are fine and resist getting a mental health checkup.
Personality Disorder Treatment Centers: Treatment is Available for Mental Health Disorders
With early intervention, mental health disorders can usually be treated. The key is to take steps at the onset of disturbing and unusual actions to get your loved one a mental health assessment.
Many types of treatment are available that are effective in addressing mental health disorders. Don’t wait for the person to spiral out of control before getting help. Don’t let the shame, embarrassment, or the stigma of addiction and mental health disorders prevent you from finding freedom and hope.
Types Of Mental Health Treatments Available
Many effective treatments and therapies are available for people with mental health disorders. Many of the therapies are either psychotherapeutic or somatic. Some psychotherapeutic treatments include hypnotherapy, behavioral therapy, and marital psychotherapy.
Somatic treatments used include drug and electroconvulsive therapy. Combining both types of therapy can be very effective for healing. Medication paired with psychotherapy and used in cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and exposure therapy can help promote recovery.
Addiction to and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and hard drugs is very common in people with mental health disorders. People with mental health disorders often attempt to stop the pain and confusion they feel by self-medicating. But the alcohol and drugs only mask their mental health issues and give them temporary relief.
Many mental health patients can unwittingly become addicted to drugs and alcohol in their desperate fight to find relief. As a result, they end up with two very serious problems that both alter their brains and impair their judgment. Their dual diagnosis increases their problems.
Often, addiction only exacerbates the issues people with mental health disorders face. It can also stop them from having their mental disorder accurately diagnosed and properly treated. Becoming addicted to drugs, getting involved in illegal activities, and neglecting personal hygiene often makes mentally ill people social pariahs.
Without someone to help them through their difficult situation, many become homeless scavengers riddled with disease and health problems. This can doom them to a life of physical and mental pain, unrelenting suffering, and even premature death.
Detoxification: The First Step In Healing
For people with co-occurring disorders of mental health disorders and addiction, the first step towards healing is detoxification. Chemical imbalances in the brain caused by substance abuse can be barriers to good mental health.
A professional detox can help to clear the mind and body of toxins that can impair the healing process. The work of mental health and personality disorder treatment centers will be more effective after detoxifying the mind and body. Alcohol and drugs contain dangerous toxins. Removing them from the body is essential for proper healing.
What Is Medical/Professional Detox?
Medical or professional detoxification is the process of removing all toxic addictive substances from the body under medical supervision. The process usually involves a team made up of physicians, nurses, therapists, clinical staff, and other licensed medical professionals.
Detox centers like our Stuart, Florida based Coastal Detox combine drugs, a therapeutic atmosphere, and talk therapy to safely detoxify people’s systems. This specially designed process helps ease the effects of withdrawal patients commonly suffer when detoxing. Medical detox is essential for people detoxing from using opiates and other hard drugs.
Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms Of People With Personality Disorder
During the detoxification process, people with mental health and personality disorders can go through a range of withdrawal symptoms. Some of them include:
- Shaking
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Sleep problems
- Decreased appetite
Depending on the drug they are addicted to, some may experience nervousness, depression, lethargy, psychotic episodes, and hallucinations. That’s why it’s vital to have a specially trained, experienced medical team to guide them through the detoxification process. They can administer drugs and other treatments as needed.
Medications Used For Medical Detox
During medical detoxification of patients with both an addiction to drugs and mental illness, several different medications are used. They include Buprenorphine, Suboxone, Benzodiazepines, Methadone, Naltraxone, Vivitrol, Traodone and anti-nausea medications.
Some detox centers also use Acamprosate, Disulfiram, Depakote, Tegretol, Olanzapine, and Modafinil to help patients better tolerate the detoxification process. The experienced teams at personality disorder treatment centers understand the importance of detoxing their patients first. That’s why they use these drugs to help to detox their patients.
How Long Does Detox Take?
The length of time it takes to detox from drugs can vary. Some detox programs take 3 to 7 days. Other programs can take 30, 60, or 90 days to be fully completed. For people with personality disorders in addition to drug addiction, detoxification can take some time. They often face unique challenges when attempting to complete the detoxification process like being demanding and treatment-resistant. People with personality disorders may attempt to leave the facility before their treatment is over.
But, here at Coastal Detox, we will work to help you or your family member through this process. We understand that recovery holds much uncertainty. Our team is aware of the challenges people face as they work through their co-occurring disorders. So we strive to offer the best possible assistance!
Available Detox Options For People With Personality Disorders
There are many drug detox and treatment options available for people with personality disorders as part of their dual diagnosis. They include outpatient detox, inpatient detox, and medication-assistedmedication assisted detox.
These methods are more effective when they include good, comprehensive Aftercare and Extended Care programs designed for people with a dual diagnosis. Biofeedback and cognitive and dialectical treatment therapies have been very effective in detoxing and treating addiction in people with a dual diagnosis. There has also been some success using various approaches, including holistic treatment models.
More About Us
Located in Stuart, Florida, Coastal Detox is a facility people with dual diagnoses can turn to for all their alcohol and drug detox needs. We offer soothing, holistic, safe, effective, medication-assisted detoxification treatment in a comfortable, therapeutic, caring atmosphere. Our program removes the toxins with which drugs and alcohol pollute the bodies and minds of our clients.
Plus, we help to eliminate withdrawal pain and discomfort. Our goal is to help detox men and women of any age, race, or income level suffering from co-occurring disorders. Detoxing is the first step in recovery.
Breaking The Addiction To Drugs
We are familiar with the connection between drug abuse, addiction and mental health disorders. We know the right detox process can free people with a dual diagnosis to continue getting the help they need. Our ultimate goal at Coastal Detox is to break the hold addiction to drugs has on people with co-occurring disorders.
Attempting to detox on your own can be painful, dangerous and, in some cases, fatal. We are a licensed and accredited detox facility with a medically supervised detoxification protocol that has been repeatedly proven effective. We can detox your body and help break your addiction.
Addictions We Treat
Whether you or your loved one has a mental health disorder and is addicted to alcohol or drugs, we can help. Our team of medical professionals has the tools, training, and expertise to help people with a dual diagnosis to detox.
We offer treatment and resources for those suffering from addictions to:
If you or your loved one is struggling with mental health disorder and substance abuse, call us. We can help you detox, begin the recovery process, and get the help you need. Don’t put off starting the process of healing from drug addiction another minute. Call us today!