Addictive Personality Disorder Community Group

Addictive Personality Disorder (APA) is a mental disorder that deals with people who have a recurrence of substance abuse [drugs, alcohol] and process addictions [non substance addictions : cutting, sex, gambling, overeating / undereating..] Everyone is welcome to post about anything that is influenced by being drawn towards addiction! Its a newer diagnosis that is...

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deleted_user
deleted_user
Hello TS

Thanks for the research and info. I've pasted your response, below, so that this will make sense. I went to the "News" page on this group and read what you wrote. I didn't know that some docs specialized in, or at least knew how to talk about, APD. I'll ask my pdoc about it next week.

So I'm curious what they say about it and what are the techniques to rid of APD?

BC


Bethany,

From my understanding in talking to the doctor's and counselors in inpatient who diagnosed me it is possibly to completely overcome it with a mixture of medication and therapy. If you want you can refer to the article I wrote that's on the top of the group page - I did a little research and put together symptoms / treatments.

Peace and Love,
TS
Group FounderTwilightStar
TwilightStar
Yes it is in your best interest to find a pdoc and therapist that specialize in APD [or at least addictions]. Reason being pdoc especially there are a lot of medications that are not safe for us, such as Benzodiazapines [Xanax, Ativan, Clonopin, etc..] for their addictive quality. You want to work with a doctor that doesnt just look at your current symptoms but your history and keeps your future in mind. Some doctors will write whatever is simplist, and then when it doesnt work out after a while its all the more need for you to keep returning to them and they get a paycheck. APD can be helped with medications such as Nitrexole [sp?] and a combination of non-addictive anxiety medications. It might take some time for these to start to work but they are very beneficial.

Unfortunately at this time I do not know a lot about the kind of therapy because I have yet to find a suitable individual therapist and I am starting a group program on Tuesday. It was explained to me however that a lot of conquering this illness is done through extensive therapy.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks for that. I'll post what I find out this week.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My doc was leary about permitting me to have Ativan as I may replace my alcohol abuse with those. So far so good... but I definitely have my times.
Group FounderTwilightStar
TwilightStar
Have you tried other anxiety medications that are non-addictive? I take a ton of Neurontin every day and it does a lot.
Trissa01
Trissa01
I was on ativan & xanax for awhile when suffering from panic attacks. The therapist kept trying to tell me that I was reinforcing the need for them every time I took them. I was too scared not to have them. Finally I understood what she was saying & kept practicing the breathing exercises. Haven't touched either drug in over 10 yrs & will never again, because I would become dependent. Have only had a few panic attacks in 10 years, that seems better now. I do practice meditation but honestly i have found no miracle cures. Accepting who & what i am has worked best, & trying to be aware of my tendencies before they control me. I can turn anything into sick obsession.