Facts About Addiction That You Should Know

Nearly 19.7 million adults in the US struggle with some form of addiction. Despite this alarming number, society still stigmatizes addiction and the people struggling with it, making it difficult for the affected individuals to reach out and get help.

Here are a few facts about addiction that you should know more about.  

Addiction is a Disease

The stigma associated with addiction also leads to misconceptions like “addiction is a bad habit” or “addiction is a lifestyle choice”. Addiction is neither of these things. In fact, it’s an illness in which the person addicted doesn’t have control over their actions.  They’re a victim of the disease, just like someone battling heart disease would be considered as a victim of that particular condition. Addiction is not a choice or a personal weakness.

There Is No Single Cause for Addiction

Another thing many people don’t know is that addiction doesn’t have one main cause of the condition. In fact, what exactly causes addiction isn’t fully known. There are a couple of factors that play a role in causing addiction. These include:

· Genetics: Research has shown that a person’s genetic buildup can increase the risk of them using addictive agents and developing an addiction. If you have immediate family members who struggled with addiction, it’s likely that you might too at some point.  

· Environment: Individuals who grew up in a household where they were exposed to addictive substances frequently have greater chances of developing an addiction to these substances themselves.  Similarly, if you’re surrounded by people who’re addicted to a certain thing, you may eventually develop an addiction as well.

· Co-occurring Mental Illnesses: Mental disorders and conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders can increase the risk of developing an addiction. People often turn to an addictive agent as a means of coping with co-occurring mental disorders and illnesses.  

Recovery Is Possible

You can’t be cured of addiction, but you can recover from it. As we discussed above, addiction is an illness. It’s a chronic and progressive condition that will always require you to be on your guard. However, it isn’t a life sentence. Recovering from addiction is entirely possible and achievable if you get the right treatment for it. It’s important to note that recovery is a lifelong process and usually involves drastic lifestyle adjustments.

 

Various forms of treatment and therapy can help a struggling addict recover. Therapy, support groups, rehab, counseling, mindfulness, and medication are all effective strategies. In addition to these, following a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep also helps. Since addiction is a personalized condition, the treatment strategy varies from person to person. What may work for one individual may be ineffective or take much longer to work for another. With the right form of treatment intervention, though, recovery is definitely possible.  

E Care Behavioral Health Institute provides CEU’s for addiction counselors and training for psychologists, including live webinars and recorded webinars. Browse through their collection of Webinar CEUs and courses to get started.

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder

Impulsive. Erratic. Unpredictable. Untreatable.

These are the common perceptions of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). They, however, cannot be further from the truth.

Officially added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980 as a personality disorder, the condition was largely understood to be a psychotic disorder. Now, about 40 years later, mental health counselors recognize the need to understand this oft-misunderstood condition.

The causes

 With an estimated 1.4 percent of the U.S. population living with Borderline Personality Disorder, mental health professionals need to understand its underlying causes. While the causes of the condition aren’t entirely clear, the risk factors can be narrowed down to biological, environmental, and social factors.

· Social & environmental factors: As with many mental health concerns, a history of trauma and negative experiences can make you vulnerable to Borderline Personality Disorder. Childhood abuse, abandonment, neglect, or trauma have been suggested as possible causes. However, everyone with BPD doesn’t share similar early experiences.  

· Genetic history: People with family members who have BPD tend to have a higher risk of developing the condition.

· Biological factors: Since BPD is closely related to impulse control and emotional regulation, it is connected to the brain’s functioning. The brain functions and structures of people living with BPD can differ, resulting in altered impulse control and emotional regulation capabilities.

What does BPD look like?

As with other personality disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder manifests in your behavior patterns and ability to function. The dysregulation of emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal control is uniquely experienced by each individual—this means that there’s a distinct treatment plan for each person.

Some common signs and symptoms of BPD are:

· Frequent mood swings

· Low sense of self-worth, resulting in uncertainty about their role in people’s lives

· Interests rapidly change

· Viewing things in extremes

· A pattern of unstable relationships with close friends and family members

· Extreme efforts to avoid abandonment—whether it’s rational or imagined.

· Recurring thoughts of self-harm and suicidal ideation

· Difficulty controlling anger or trusting people’s intentions

· Frequent feelings of dissociation

· Difficulty empathizing with others’ emotions

· Intense fear of separation or rejection

· Lack of impulse control with regard to risky behaviors

With almost 80 percent of those living with BPD reporting a history of suicide attempts, mental health professionals need to display a greater understanding of the condition. Only by recognizing its various signs and manifestations can you provide effective care to those who need it most.

Enhance your knowledge through CEUs for mental health professionals and distance learning programs for training for psychologists. By paying attention to the individual’s needs, you can begin to help them to the path of recovery.

You have the power to alter the course of someone’s life—register for E Care Behavioral Health Institute’s live and recorded webinars to polish your skills as a mental health professional. They offer extensive insight into general skill-building, training workshops, and certifications.

Browse their recorded webinars or find out which Webinar CEUs are scheduled by heading to their website. Learn about Borderline Personality Disorder, The Chameleon of Psychopathology by registering for the webinar.

If you, or a loved one, are struggling with BPD or any other mental health condition, it’s important to seek professional help. If you’re experiencing self-harming behaviors and suicidal thoughts, know that you are not alone.

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) at any time or day of the week.