Personality disorders make it hard to manage emotions and behaviors. The toll it takes on your mental health can make it easy to turn to drugs or alcohol to find relief. Using substances, though, only offers temporary relief—and, over time, can lead to addiction. Co-occurring substance use and personality disorders can feel like a cycle with no way out. You're not alone, and help is available. Spring Grove Recovery offers professional, compassionate treatment in Colorado Springs.
What is a personality disorder?
A personality disorder is a pattern of inner experience and behavior that is different from what is normally expected in a culture. These patterns can cause distress and make it difficult to hold relationships or function at work and in other areas of life. Having a personality disorder is not a character flaw or a moral failing. They are treatable, manageable mental health conditions.
Core features of personalities
Personality includes the unique ways someone thinks, feels, and behaves. These patterns affect how they relate to others and control their impulses. Personalities are founded in childhood and, therefore, are deeply ingrained. They're core parts of who people are. Seeing that there are different ways of living can seem impossible, even if someone is struggling with relationships and behaviors because of a personality disorder.
The three clusters of personality disorders
Personality disorders are grouped into three clusters based on their shared characteristics.
- Cluster A: Odd or eccentric (Includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders)
- Cluster B: Dramatic, emotional, or erratic (Includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders)
- Cluster C: Anxious or fearful (Includes avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders)
You're not alone. Our compassionate team is here to listen—24/7.
Key symptoms and traits of personality disorders
Every personality disorder has different key symptoms and personality traits, but are generally similar among the clusters. Knowing what you're experiencing can let you know that you're not alone, that others with personality disorders face similar challenges. Here's what's common among some personality disorders:
Borderline personality disorder (BPD):
An intense fear of abandonment, a pattern of unstable relationships, extreme emotional swings, and impulsive behaviors
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD):
A disregard for the rights and feelings of others, a tendency toward impulsive and irresponsible behavior, and a lack of remorse
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD):
A persistent need for admiration from others, a lack of empathy, and a sense of grandiosity or self-importance
Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD):
Social inhibition, deep-seated feelings of inadequacy, and an extreme sensitivity to criticism or rejection
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD):
A preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility and efficiency.
Causes and risk factors
There is no single cause for a personality disorder. Experts think they develop because of different factors, like
- Genetics & temperament: Some personality traits can be inherited, and a person’s innate temperament can play a role.
- Childhood trauma & PTSD: Experiences of abuse, neglect, or profound instability in early life are significant risk factors.
- Family dynamics: Growing up in an invalidating or chaotic family environment can contribute to the development of personality disorders.
- Neurobiology: Research suggests there may be differences in brain structure and function, especially in the areas that regulate emotions and impulse control.
Living with a personality disorder
A diagnosis does not and will never define you. Living with a personality disorder does present real challenges, but treatment can help you learn how to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
It's time to seek professional help when your symptoms are negatively impacting your relationships, your ability to work or attend school, and your overall sense of well-being. If you are using substances to cope with your emotions, it is a clear sign that integrated treatment is needed.
Personality and co-occurring disorders
According to the National Institutes of Health, around 67% of people with a personality disorder also live with another mental health condition. Among them, nearly a quarter had a substance use disorder.
Common co-occurring conditions we treat
- Substance use disorders: Using substances to numb emotional pain is a common but ultimately destructive coping mechanism.
- Trauma and PTSD: The foundational wounds of trauma often underlie both personality disorders and addiction.
- Mood disorders: Personality disorders can make regulating emotions tough, which can make the lows of depression even lower.
- Anxiety disorders: Anxiety was the most commonly co-occurring mental health condition experienced by people with personality disorders.
Our evidence-based treatment for dual diagnosis
We use evidence-based methods to treat addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions, like personality disorders.
- Psychotherapy: Individual and group therapy sessions give you space to explore behavioral patterns, build insight, and learn healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Considered the gold standard of treatment for BPD, DBT is a skills-based therapy. It teaches practical skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Medication management: Our on-site psychiatric team can help provide clarity on diagnoses and manage medications to help stabilize symptoms.
- Integrated relapse prevention: Work with our team to create a relapse prevention plan that addresses triggers for both substance use and your personality disorder.
What to expect from Spring Grove Recovery
Taking the step to enter treatment is stressful, but it's worth it. We try to make the process as clear and supportive as possible.
- Admissions: Your treatment journey begins with a confidential phone call to our compassionate admissions team. We'll listen to your story, answer your questions, and verify your insurance benefits. We accept Colorado Medicaid and many private plans.
- Levels of care: Your care is tailored to your needs. If needed, you'll start in medically supervised detox to manage your withdrawal symptoms safely and as comfortably as possible. You'll likely then move into our residential treatment program, where you'll engage in therapy and healing within a safe, trauma-informed space.
- Planning for lifelong recovery: We're focused on your long-term success from the moment you arrive. Your treatment will include comprehensive aftercare and relapse prevention planning to make sure you have a strong support system in place when you finish our program.
Begin your journey with compassionate care
Living with addiction and a co-occurring personality disorder can feel incredibly isolating, but you're never alone. Recovery is possible with the right support, and a more stable, hopeful future is within your reach. Spring Grove Recovery is a safe, dignified, and compassionate space in Colorado Springs where you can begin that journey.
Frequently asked questions
There is no "cure" in the traditional sense, but treatment can be highly effective. The goal is to manage symptoms, learn healthy coping skills, and improve your quality of life so you can manage your condition and thrive.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder defined by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a personality disorder defined by a rigid preoccupation with order, perfectionism, and control.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is typically a long-term outpatient therapy. In our residential setting, the goal is to provide you with a strong foundation in the core DBT skills, which you can begin using immediately to manage your emotions and behaviors.
No. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder with distinct episodes of mania (or hypomania) and depression. A personality disorder involves long-term, pervasive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are present regardless of mood state.
