6 Personality Traits Commonly Linked to Addiction

What is an Addictive Personality

The term “addictive personality” is often used flippantly, and it implies that a person may be predisposed to developing a substance use disorder based on their personality type. But it is not that simple. There isn’t one single personality type that automatically indicates a potential for addiction. There are, however, a few distinct personality traits that are common among people who struggle with substance use disorder. Some people struggle with perfectionism, for example. They have a hard time coming to terms with their human fallibility. They spend a great deal of time worrying about how their actions are perceived by others, and they have a deep desire to do things perfectly. The desire to be perfect becomes overwhelming, and in order to assuage intrusive thoughts and self-criticism a person might turn to drugs or alcohol.

There are 6 specific personality traits commonly linked to addiction. If a person exhibits one or more of these traits, they are more likely to develop a substance use disorder at some point during their lives. To learn more about the risk factors for addiction, the personality traits linked to addiction, or what steps to take if you believe you or someone you love has been suffering at the hands of a substance use disorder, contact Guardian Recovery today.

6 Personality Traits Commonly Linked to Addiction

1. Low Self-Esteem.

How we view ourselves has a significant impact on how we interact with other people and with the world around us. People with low self-esteem and self-worth feel like they are not worthy of success and happiness, which can negatively impact every single aspect of their lives. Many people who struggle with low self-esteem will use substances because drugs and alcohol offer a temporary solution to negative feelings. However, people who abuse chemical substances often engage in a variety of behaviors that do little to bolster their self-esteem — they lie, they manipulate, they steal from their loved ones, they have an extremely difficult time keeping up with personal responsibilities. Low self-esteem can develop for a number of reasons. Maybe a person experienced a traumatic event that made them feel worthless. Maybe they were abused or neglected during childhood; maybe they struggled with a learning disability or they were picked on in school. If you have been struggling with low self-esteem, there are steps you can take to improve your self-image without turning to drugs and alcohol.

2. Grandiosity.

An unrealistic sense of self-importance can also indicate the eventual development of addictive behavior. People who exhibit grandiose behavior might appear pretentious to other people. They often view themselves as special and superior to others. However, grandiosity is often used as a defense mechanism for people to cover up their feelings of low self-worth and fear of expressing vulnerability. The American Psychiatric Association defines grandiosity as, “an exaggerated sense of one’s greatness, importance, or ability. In extreme form, it may be regarded as a delusion of grandeur.” Many people with a grandiose personality suffer from an underlying mental health concern like Narcissistic personality disorder or the manic state which coincides with Bipolar Disorder. The more common symptoms of grandiosity include:

• Feeling special compared to other people.
• Feeling invincible and constantly safe from things that might harm other people.
• Feeling extremely powerful and capable of accomplishing great things.
• An inability to see personal role in conflict.
• Constantly feeling misunderstood by others/more intelligent than others.
• A lack of empathy.
• Being self-absorbed and preoccupied with self.

If a person feels invincible and incapable of being harmed, they will have a difficult time coming to terms with their substance use. They might believe their use of chemical substances is unproblematic, or feel as if they personally won’t develop a substance use disorder. Like other detrimental personality traits, grandiosity can be effectively treated with intensive therapeutic intervention.

3. Impulsivity.

Impulsive behavior refers to the tendency to act with little or no forethought or consideration of the consequences. Evidence shows that impulsivity indicates the escalation of drug intake and increases the likelihood of relapse after periods of abstinence. This suggests there could be an impact on brain function that predisposes an individual to impulsive behavior and addiction. Impulsivity is thought to be one of the most common traits, if not the most common trait, among people who struggle with addiction. Impulsivity is closely linked to instant gratification; impulsive people want to feel pleasure in the present moment instead of setting goals which might lead to long-term success and happiness.

There are many different ways a person might exhibit impulsive behavior. The most common examples of impulsive behavior include:

• Eating an excessive amount in one sitting/binge eating.
• Driving recklessly and engaging in other risk-taking activities.
• Going on spending sprees/spending money regardless of financial standing.
• Shoplifting or stealing from friends or relatives.
• Getting involved in extreme sports which could lead to accidents or injury.
• Destroying the personal property of others.
• Getting into fights with people seemingly without reason.

Most of us engage in impulsive behavior on occasion. We might spend a significant amount of money on something without thinking about whether or not we can actually afford the purchase. We might make a split-second decision to go on a trip; we might agree to go skydiving, or engage in a sexual encounter with a person we just met. Someone who struggles with persistent impulsivity, however, is more inclined to engage in substance use and develop a diagnosable substance use disorder over time.

4. Compulsivity.

A compulsion is an intense urge to do something. Compulsivity can lead to self-destructive behavioral patterns, including substance use. This specific personality trait refers to a tendency to repeat the same, typically purposeless or harmful acts, which are often associated with negative consequences. Examples of compulsive behavior include:

• Excessive exercise.
• Gambling.
• Hoarding.
• Shopping.
• Overeating.
• Sexual acts.

Most compulsive behaviors can lead to addiction, and because of this, the line between compulsivity and addiction is often blurred. For example, the terms compulsive gambling and gambling addiction are often used interchangeably. If a person compulsively uses chemical substances for a prolonged period of time, they are often considered to be dependent. They have lost all choice in whether or not they use; the urge to pick up becomes overpowering, and can only be remedied with an extended stay in a professional treatment program.

5. Nonconformity.

Many people who struggle with addiction often pride themselves on being nonconformists. If a person struggles with nonconformist personality traits they spend a great deal of time making sure they are different from others. While marching to the beat of your own drum can be an admirable quality, placing disproportionate importance on being different can lead to social isolation, reclusiveness and self-destructive behavior. The need to rebel against social norms can drive a person to break the rules, ultimately endangering themselves and others. If a person with a nonconformist personality type becomes addicted to a chemical substance, it is extremely important for underlying nonconformity to be addressed in a treatment setting. If this specific personality trait is left unaddressed it can pose significant challenges when it comes to maintaining sobriety long-term. The dangers of nonconformity in addiction recovery include:

• Difficulty developing deep and meaningful relationships with other sober people.
• Straying away from the guidelines included in Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12 Step programs.
• A refusal to take advantage of existing resources. Many people who struggle with nonconformity repeatedly attempt to “reinvent the wheel.”
• Developing a sense of “terminal uniqueness.” A person might believe they are different from their peers in the context of addiction recovery; they might believe what works for other people will not work for them.
• Refusing to learn from the experiences of other people in recovery.

If a person struggles with a nonconformist personality type, they can often overcome false beliefs about self with extended involvement in individual psychotherapy.

6. The Inability to Handle Stress.

People who are unable to cope with stress in healthy ways may turn to substances as a means of self-medication. Without the skills necessary to manage stress effectively, high stress levels inevitably continue, leading to a vicious cycle of substance use. A person who lacks the healthy coping mechanisms to handle stress in productive ways might:

• Withdraw from friends and family members.
• Spend countless hours distracting themselves from their current circumstances, which might look like binge-watching television, exercising compulsively or overworking.
• Sleep excessively.
• Change eating patterns, which can lead to weight loss or weight gain.
• Lash out at other people in violent, angry and seemingly unprovoked outbursts.
• Engage in self-harming behaviors.
• Use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to numb out negative feelings.

At Guardian Recovery we focus on helping each and every one of our clients develop the healthy coping mechanisms they need to effectively manage stress.

How to Work Through Character Defects in Recovery

Just because you have a certain personality trait, it does not mean you are doomed to struggle with this trait for the rest of your life. Of course, in order to overcome any obstacle in life you will need to put forth adequate effort. If you have been struggling with low self-esteem, an inability to handle stress, compulsive behavior patterns or any other self-defeating trait, there is help available. In many cases a person can overcome these personality traits and many others with the help of a therapist. In some cases, therapy is not enough — this is typically the case if a person has been struggling with an underlying and undiagnosed mental illness. In cases like these medication might be necessary.

At Guardian Recovery we focus on providing an individualized approach to recovery. As therapists gain a better understanding of each client, they learn which aspects of their personalities might require some adjustment. Over the course of our multi-staged treatment process therapists work intensively with each client, helping them successfully overcome everything that might be keeping them stuck in self-destructive behavioral patterns. Contact us today to learn more.