In the United States, one in every five adult Americans will experience the effects of a mental illness at least once in their lives every year. Researchers estimate that similarly, one in every five children–individuals ages 18 and younger–in the United States will struggle with a debilitating mental illness or mental health condition at some point in their lifetime. Mental illness, mental health issues, and personality disorders may affect as many as 50% of individuals in the United States. Still, in-depth discussion on mental health and personality disorders rarely occurs in ordinary public conversation despite the prevalence of the condition.

Like substance abuse disorders and addiction, the effects of mental illness and personality disorders alter the lives of millions every single year. The impact of addiction and personality disorders alike are widespread, varying on a spectrum of severities and consistencies. Some mental health conditions can worsen in the presence of substance abuse disorders. And some substance use disorders can worsen with the addition of a personality disorder.

Still, even though the effects of each condition can become progressively more uncomfortable, 45% of individuals who have a personality disorder will also struggle with a substance abuse issue. Substance use problems and personality disorders run hand-in-hand. Yet, the event in which these conditions coincide, although common, can significantly complicate the effects and even treatment of such illnesses.

Yes, substance use disorders are treatable conditions. And yes, even though most personality and mental health disorders are not 100% curable, with proper medical care, therapy, support, and treatment, these illnesses of the mind can also be manageable. Still, to understand how personality disorders work, the public must understand what a personality disorder is.

The Definition and Basic Attributes of Personality Disorders

So, what are personality disorders? Personality disorders are long-term patterns of unhealthy, troubling, and inflexible thoughts and behaviors that can occur in both adults and children. Some personality disorders develop in the later years of life, like schizophrenia. Other forms of the condition may appear in an individual’s earlier years, such as borderline personality disorder or narcissistic tendencies.

Personality conditions are clusters of mental illnesses. Some of these conditions more directly affect an individual’s mood, and others may affect the consistency of a person’s personality, behaviors, or memory retention. The root cause of personality disorders is unknown, although scientific evidence suggests that these conditions may form for several reasons. Personality and mental heal issues may occur as a result of:

  • Trauma and environment in early childhood development
  • Family genetics
  • Trauma and environment in adult life

There are many different types of mental and personality illnesses, each of which comes with various symptoms and side effects. The symptoms of mental illness can occur in mild, moderate, or severe spectrums. Associated symptoms may be so mild that clients who suffer from a personality condition may not believe they even have a problem. For these clients, they feel how they conduct themselves, and the pattern in which their thoughts occur is entirely regular. As a result, they may blame friends or family members for when problems arise in their lives instead of attributing these issues to their diseases.

Some clients can fully overcome some personality disorders, but more often than not, mental illnesses are not 100% curable diseases. The effects a personality disorder has on an individual may vary widely. And the symptoms of each personality condition are not always similar. But with proper care and understanding, even a challenging personality condition can prove manageable.

How Personality Disorders Work In Individuals

Like substance use disorders and addiction, personality disorders can affect everyone differently. Some diseases may affect an individual’s mood primarily; others may disrupt a person’s eating or cleaning habits, etc. Still, others may alter how a person perceives the world around them. These conditions can range from mild to severe. And for some individuals, the presence of such a condition may escalate and deescalate in phases throughout their lifetime.

For some, personality disorders may only occur for a short season in their lifetime. For others, mental illness may be a disease they struggle with for their entire lives. Such illnesses birth in the early years of child development, some are onset by traumatic experiences in the adult life, and still, other conditions may pass from one generation to the next. No one knows what onsets or causes personality disorders to form, just that they affect everyone differently.

So then, how do personality disorders work in individuals? The answer is, personality disorders operate differently in every individual. Although most personality disorders will stick to some classic side effects per their nature, even these symptoms may affect each person differently. Individuals who suffer from mental illnesses and personality disorders often experience odd patterns of:

  • Behaviors
  • Feelings
  • Emotions
  • Thoughts
  • Actions

These patterns may interfere with an individual’s ability to live everyday life. Personality disorders can prevent individuals from maintaining healthy work relationships and balances, cause issues at school. They may even interfere with a person’s relationships with others as well as the way they view themselves. Personality and mental illnesses are severe conditions that occur in three main clusters, including:

  • Cluster A
  • Cluster B
  • Cluster C

Each of these clusters encompasses personality disorder types that manifest with specific genres of symptoms. Cluster A focuses on “odd” and “eccentric’ thoughts. Cluster B pays special attention to impulsive behaviors and unstable emotional responses. And Cluster C circulates anxieties and fearful thought patterns. Some researchers like to describe personality disorders as the manifestation of extreme personality traits that can bring about instances of extreme hardship, functional limitations, and suffering.

In some cases, a client can suffer from more than one personality condition or mental disorder at once, resulting in a dual diagnosis of co-occuring conditions. Even though most personality disorders are conditions that a person will have to live with for their entire life, there are ways to help manage the symptoms of such diseases so that these people can live happy, healthy, and productive lives.

Treatment Options for Personality Disorders and Addiction

Treatment of personality disorders can prove challenging at times. In co-occurring disorders, rehabilitators must take special precautions to treat each disorder as a separate entity, but at the same time as the other illness. There is no such event in which one disorder can be treated before the other or have one condition take priority over another, even when a substance use problem is involved.

Still, the treatment of personality conditions, although challenging, is relatively straightforward. For people suffering from one disease, they must first receive a diagnosis of their condition from a primary care physician or refer to a specialist for illness identification. Once their condition is determined, they can then move on to the next steps of treatment. These personality disorder treatment steps may include:

  • Medication consultations
  • Medication management
  • Individual counseling sessions
  • Occupational therapies

And even in some instances, peer support or counseling groups. The treatment process may involve more therapeutic methods and counseling sessions for individuals who struggle with two or more conditions or wrestle with substance abuse alongside their personality disorder. Maybe even a stay in a drug and alcohol rehab center in some cases.

Addiction rehab facilities like St. John’s Recovery Place (SJRP) work diligently to ensure all clientele receive quality and professional healing opportunities and options. SJRP promotes the use of holistic alternative and traditional healing practices. The individual client’s needs are at the core of all that they do, prioritizing the continuous support of their clients from the start of the recovery process to even beyond inpatient rehab graduation.

If you would like to learn more about St. John’s Recovery Place and the therapies they utilize to treat individuals suffering from personality and substance use disorders, you can call 1-833-397-3422. A personality condition, mental health issue, or substance use disorder does not have to ruin your life any longer.

With proper treatment, dedication, and a strong support network, you too can overcome the difficulties and challenges addiction and mental illness place before you. Healing is possible! And no matter what your situation is in life, healing is within your grasp as well. Start your recovery journey today so you can live your life the way you have always dreamed.

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