Bipolar Disorder and Addictive Personality WisdomCard™

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It is believed that 40% to 80% of people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and antisocial personality disorder have some type of addiction. Developmental changes in the area of the brain that are linked to fear, anxiety, and emotion are said to play a role in both addictive personalities and bipolar disorder.¹ When people turn to substance abuse during periods of mania, they tend to start using depressants. These may include things such as alcohol and pain pills. When a person is experiencing a depressive state, they will turn to stimulants such as methamphetamines. The drugs sought out to calm mania and depression end up having the opposite affect. In the long run, this "self-medicating" is counter-productive.²

Fast Facts:

• Bipolar disorder with addictive personality is referred to as a dual diagnosis.²
• People with bipolar disorder tend to be predisposed to addiction.³
• Sexual addictions are very common in bipolar disorder
• Substance abuse is more likely to occur in bipolar disorder than any other psychotic disorder.
• People being treated for substance abuse are usually checked for an underlying psychiatric disorder.⁴

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