Understanding Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) and Its Influence on Addiction

The iconic civil rights activist and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now, we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously.” Unfortunately, not everyone can embrace this sentiment, specifically people who struggle with untreated mental illness and addiction. This includes individuals with dependent personality disorder (DPD) and addiction. The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help one recover from DPD at the cellular level.

The Importance of Individualized and Comprehensive Mental Health and Addiction Care

The reality of the state of recovery today is that there are many centers and facilities that are simply looking to cash in on people’s misery. These are often predatory centers that are more focused on insurance money than their clients’ well-being. Also, these are the types of recovery centers that only offer overarching “one-size-fits-all” treatment plans that do not focus on healing at the cellular level.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we know that this type of treatment rarely works. It does not take the individual into account. It was Hippocrates who said, “It’s far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.” That is why all of our treatment plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future. This begins with our intensive and individualized intake process to our many aftercare opportunities. 

We also focus on utilizing modalities from all realms of recovery. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and art therapy, and holistic healing methods like mindfulness meditation and yoga therapy. We know that the multi-angled approach is the best approach to recovery.

Better Understanding Substance Addiction

Millions of people struggle with substance addiction every day. This includes people in the U.S. and abroad. Unfortunately, many of these people will never get the help that they desperately need, and that sadly means that many people will experience an overdose or even overdose death. This is why it is so critical to get people proper addiction and mental health care rather than just going to the first place on a list.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 2024 “IC Fact Sheet,” “40.3 million people in the United States had an SUD in 2020. In 2020, only 6.5 percent of people with SUD received treatment,” and “In 2021, about 107,000 people died of drug overdoses.” One of the reasons for these numbers also has to do with the stigma surrounding substance addiction.

Many people still have the misconception that substance addiction is some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply untrue. Addiction is a disease. It is now widely agreed upon that addiction is a chronic disease that has more in common with other chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes than it does with a choice. Mental illness may also be considered a disease that centers in the mind.

Better Understanding Mental Illness

Mental illness affects millions of people all over the world. It is estimated that nearly 60 million people have mental illness in the U.S. alone. Sadly, mental illness also leads to negative outcomes like suicide.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 49,400 people. [It] was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10-14 and 25-34, the third leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15-24, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 44.” Also, “There were nearly two times as many suicides (49,476) in the United States as there were homicides (24,849).” This includes suicides involving personality disorders like DPD. Also, many people with co-occurring disorders end up struggling with suicidal ideations.

Better Understanding Co-Occurring Disorders of Addiction and Mental Illness

It is very common for people struggling with mental illness to also struggle with addiction. This is because it is a vicious cycle. An individual may attempt to “self-medicate” for their mental illness with alcohol and substances. Then, the individual’s mental illness may become elevated due to their excessive alcohol and substance use. The cycle rarely ends well without some type of professional intervention.

It is also true that many people who struggle with addiction and mental illness also struggle to maintain healthy relationships in the home. Yes, mental illness and addiction are family diseases. When they are combined, that disease becomes twofold. The family is almost always the most affected by a loved one’s mental illness and/or addiction. However, they are also the most likely to be able to get their loved one the help that they need. But to do so, they need to be able to spot the signs and symptoms of mental illness and addiction.

The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction and Mental Illness

Now, of course, the signs and symptoms of mental illness (like DPD) and addiction are always going to vary based on the individual and other environmental circumstances. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms of these two co-occurring diseases. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• Exhibiting excessive mood swings
• Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
• Not being able to stop once starting to use substances or drinking
• Experiencing trouble at work, school, or home
• Getting into legal trouble
• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Isolating away from family and close friends
• Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
• Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
• Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
• Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Causing harm to oneself or others
• Having suicidal ideations

Often, people minimize mental illness and addiction as that previously mentioned “choice.” However, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can even be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help sooner rather than later is vital. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. It is also important to find the right modalities that work for specific types of mental illnesses like DPD. Again, “catch-all” recovery rarely works.

Better Understanding Personality Disorders

So, what exactly are personality disorders? According to NIMH, “Personality disorders represent ‘an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture’ per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). These patterns tend to be fixed and consistent across situations and leads to distress or impairment.”

There are also many types of personality disorders. These range from moderate to more severe. For example, a more severe type of personality disorder is borderline personality disorder (BPD), which includes impaired judgment and a distorted sense of self. Then, there are less severe personality disorders, like narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), which is defined by exaggerated feelings of self-importance. Now, this is not meant to minimize any specific disorder; rather, the data just shows some to be more severe than others. It is important to “identify” rather than “compare.”

What Is Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD)?

So, what exactly is DPD? According to the peer-reviewed thesis Dependent Personality Disorder, by Doctors Hansen, Thomas, and Torrico, “Dependent personality disorder describes a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behaviors with fears of separation. The pattern of dependent behavior typically begins in late adolescence and early adulthood. The submissive behaviors stem from the self-perception of being unable to function adequately without the help of others and intentionally trying to evoke a caregiving response from others.”

Now, it is important to note that DPD is not just about the need to be nurtured. Wanting to be nurtured is a healthy and natural feeling. However, DPD takes this to excess, and, like any other mental illness, this excess starts to intrude on one’s everyday life. It can ultimately become debilitating. There are also many other signs and symptoms of DPD.

The Signs and Symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD)

Just as previously mentioned, the signs and symptoms of DPD also depend on many variables. However, there are some signs and symptoms that distinguish it as a disorder. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• The need for others to take responsibility
• Having difficulty making decisions
• Struggles to express disagreement
• The fear of being alone
• Excessively “clingy” behavior
• Having a lack of self-confidence
• An unrealistic fear of abandonment
• Being overly sensitive to criticism
• Having passive and submissive behavior

These behaviors often manifest and then become more severe if untreated. If untreated, they also often lead to issues of addiction.

Exploring the Link Between Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) and Substance Use

The reality is that people with personality disorders are more susceptible to addiction. According to the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, “A great number of studies done to date suggest that the prevalence of PD is higher among patients with SUDs as compared to the general population. This is especially true for antisocial, borderline, avoidant, and paranoid PD. The overall prevalence of PD ranges from 10% to 14.8% in the normal population and from 34.8% to 73.0% in patients treated for addictions, with a median of 56.5%.”

Many people with DPD turn to alcohol and substances because they struggle with the intense emotions of the disorder. The anxiety that is often felt in people with DPD is often so intense that alcohol and substances are used to quell that emotion momentarily. However, this is not a sustainable solution, and many people end up becoming addicted to the same substances that they thought were helping them. The good news is that there are better, more sustainable solutions for treating DPD. These include holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and meditation.

Utilizing Holistic Healing Methods

There are many effective holistic healing methods that can help one to recover from DPD at the cellular level. This includes holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation. These two holistic modalities can also be highly effective when used in tandem.

The iconic yogi and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar famously said, “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.” Yoga and meditation can offer a myriad of benefits. These benefits can be physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual. The following are just a few of those benefits:

• Increased positivity and wellness
• Improved breathing
• Better strength and posture
• A greater focus on mindfulness
• Acquiring a better sense of self
• Finding a better sense of mental balance and clarity
• Helping one connect with others and heal relationships
• Creates empathy
• Connects individuals with new, relatable people
• Encourages spirituality
• Reduces anxiety and depression
• Can help individuals who struggle with suicidal ideations

As one can see, these benefits are vast and varied. These modalities also work very well with other types of treatment, making them even more valuable to individuals who are seeking a more comprehensive plan of action. The key is finding the right types of treatments that work well together for one’s DPD and substance use and sticking to them. This includes working with experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy, surf therapy, and horticulture therapy.

Experiential Therapies for Long-Term Success

Experiential therapies can be highly beneficial for treating people with DPD because they cause an individual to focus on themselves rather than relying upon others. (Though, of course, there are relationships with therapists and psychologists.) 

There are many opportunities for experiential therapies on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. This is because there is amazing nature to be experienced all around the luxury 30-acre property that Exclusive Hawaii Rehab sits on. This includes the big beautiful blue Pacific Ocean that offers an opportunity to heal aquatically.

Healing in the water has been shown to offer increasingly significant benefits. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, “Aquatic exercise, as a special aerobic exercise, has been shown to potentially benefit mood and anxiety. [It] has many physiological benefits compared to land-based workouts because of the water’s unique properties, such as buoyancy, pressure, resistance, and protection from skin irritation due to temperature and touch. As a result, when compared to other forms of exercise, aquatic exercise may prove to be the most effective in terms of its positive impact on mood.” This is one exceptional way to heal at the cellular level.

What Does It Mean to Heal at the Cellular Level?

Healing at the cellular level is what long-term recovery is all about. It is about healing all aspects of the capital “S” Self – the physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual. It is also about overcoming the root/core causes of one’s problems.

Healing at the cellular level is also about ensuring that the next step is the right one. This is done by maintaining a recovery plan that focuses on motivation, accountability, and action.

Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we only believe in healing at the cellular level. This is why all of our recovery plans are multi-angled and individualized, with a focus on the future. This includes all of our plans for DPD and addiction.

Don’t let DPD and addiction run your life anymore. It is time to move on – time to get well again. There is hope. We can help.

Dependent personality disorder (DPD) is marked by an excessive need for support and a fear of separation, which can make individuals vulnerable to addiction. With DPD, dependency on substances or alcohol can develop as a misguided attempt to fill emotional voids and maintain connections with others, ultimately complicating the recovery journey. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about effective treatments for dependent personality disorder (DPD), please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.