Addictive personalities

Is it true that people with BPD have addictive personalities? It seems like it to me. Even before I knew anything about BPD I told my counsellor I had an addictive personality. I get obsessed with things very easily. In the past I've been addicted to counting grams of fat in food, developing an eating disorder. I became addicted to hurting myself and those feelings have come back recently. I get very addicted to people. I've never been addicted to alcohol, but I feel like I easily could in the right circumstances. When I looked at my doctors notes recently there was some concern about my drinking. I went through a stage of getting so drunk that I couldn't remember what had happened the next day. I stopped that after one instance of it when I was going out with my fiancée- she asked if I had cheated on her and it bothered me that I couldn't remember whether I had or not as I was so drunk. Even now I love the feeling of being drunk and the taste of the alcohol. I've just come back from a mini holiday where I drank a couple of drinks every night (it was only 3 nights) and now I'm craving cocktails and having stop myself drinking them. I'm addicted to sweets and I have to make a conscious effort not to eat them all the time. I still have elements of my eating disorder and that acts as a counter balance stopping me going mad with sweets.

I forgot to add that I also love spending money, my guilt stops me from going mad with it but I love the feeling of buying myself something. I have a strict budget but I'm currently running several months ahead of it- I.e. I'm now spending money that I won't earn until September. I just take it from my savings and keep a note hoping to catch up some day. I've made myself be more sensible as I have to pay for my wedding and honeymoon but I have to try hard to stop myself buying stuff constantly.

I do think I have traits of both BPD and OCD and I was wondering whether the above sounds like something other people with BPD have experienced. I know that one of the official traits relates to addictions- I don't have this trait but I could easily go that way given the right circumstances.

I would definitely say that I can have my compulsions from time to time. I'll become fascinated with a subject and learn everything I can about it, obsessing for weeks at a time until it passes and I move on.

I've never had a problem with drugs with the exception of alcohol. I have a penchant for whiskey, especially in the winter or if have too much time on my hands.

Thank you, Danieleaf. It definitely sounds to me like BPD is a disorder of extremes. I feel I could become addicted to anything.

Does anyone else feel like that?

It's very much a disorder or extremes. I have my issues with cutting, getting hooked on specific foods, porn, video games etc... It's like everything is a damn bag of lays chips.

Yeah, I always wondered why I had obsessions so easily.

batcap wrote:It's very much a disorder or extremes. I have my issues with cutting, getting hooked on specific foods, porn, video games etc... It's like everything is a damn bag of lays chips.

.....everything is a damn bag of lays chips.....

Oh that is very funny!
Julie

batcap wrote:It's like everything is a damn bag of lays chips.

That is a genius way of putting it actually.

I get like that with things too. Sometimes with people. I kind of link it to my poor impulse control more than addiction. Like yesterday for example...I am broke right now and not getting paid until the end of the month. I had like $60 to last the week which would have taken care of my gas. All my others needs are met. I know I have a problem spending money while out so lately I keep my debit card at home. What did I do the other day when I had spare time? Looked through my car for change, then realized I had my debit card with my $60 in it. I went to the mall and spent all of it on two shirts that I liked but really didn't need and some soap, which I really didn't need since I have some bottles at home. I now have $3.68 to my name and I had to ask my dad for help with gas. -_-

Did I know I needed the money for gas? Yes. I knew it the entire time I was going through the mall but I felt unable to resist the impulses. And I feel so ashamed and stupid because I know better and I consider myself to be a relatively responsible person.

Danieleaf wrote: I'll become fascinated with a subject and learn everything I can about it, obsessing for weeks at a time until it passes and I move on.

Spot on.. sometimes I even learn about stuff that I don't really care for, just cause. My coworkers have often turned to me to validate random things they talk about. If I look confused, they just say something along the lines of, "Well you seem to know about everything so I thought you'd know about such and such.."

But I lose interest quickly.
If it holds my interest, it usually becomes an obsession, and I don't move on.

When it comes to drugs/alcohol, I have an addictive personality, but it has always been possible to cease when needed. Not always easy, but possible.

Definitely not the same case when I become addicted to a person in my life.. That's the worst drug.

i get "addicted" to whatever makes me feel good. right now that's orgasms, valium and chocolate milk. in my case it's an attempt to stop myself from becoming social, again, where i'll meet someone, again, and end up with the big crash, again.

I've never come across a vice, that I didn't become addicted to, and I have quite often turned wholesome activities such as work or athletics into addictions very quickly. 'It's accurate to say i have an addictive personality.