Addictive personality disorder (APD) is a mental illness which leads people to become addicted to one thing after another. Drugs, alcohol, sex and gambling are some of the addictions people experience. People with the disorder often use their addictions to deal with stress, uncertainty, fear, anger and grief. People with APD often suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.
Rehabilitation
Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous help people overcome their addictions through meetings where addicts can share stories, thoughts, insights and solutions. Mutual support, recognition of success and help dealing with relapse make these programs successful.
In some programs, particularly in-patient addiction programs, physicians and mental health workers assist addicts in addressing the mental and physical fall-out from their addiction. They may provide drugs, like methadone, to ease addiction symptoms.
Relapse Prevention Therapy
Because APD is a disease of serial addiction, relapse prevention therapy, RPT, is of particular benefit. RPT is designed to help people identify the triggers that initiate addictive behavior, determine in advance how triggers will be handled, address how a slip back into addictive behavior will be addressed, and how full relapses will be prevented.
The techniques learned in RPT can be applied to any addiction and can be used to prevent multiple addictive behaviors.
Pyschotherapy
Although there appears to be a genetic predisposition for some addictions, like alcoholism, in some families, most addictions seem to stem from a poor self image and an inability to handle anger and other strong emotions effectively. Targeted therapy that addresses the emotional underpinnings that cause addiction can help people develop new coping mechanisms.
Early Treatment is Important
When addictive personalities receive early treatment for their addictions, learn skills that help them avoid falling into addictive patterns and come to understand how addictions help them cope with negative feelings, they forestall many years of suffering and loss for themselves and their families.
Failure to get treatment early may make treatment impossible. Some addictions cause injury to the brain or put people in situations that lead to serious injury. Seek help as soon as possible if you or someone you know has an addictive personality.
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