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Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD, is a mental illness that causes emotional instability, mood swings, and self-destructive behaviors. People with BPD have difficulties maintaining healthy relationships, and they have high rates of substance abuse and mental illness, including anxiety and eating disorders, depression, self-harm, and suicidal tendencies. If you have a loved one who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder, understanding this condition and how it relates to other disorders like depression or substance abuse can help guide your search for effective treatment options as well as help you cope with the symptoms your loved one may exhibit.

With the 2016 presidential campaign currently in full swing, there is no shortage of topics on which these candidates are squaring off. With drug addiction being such a prevalent issue in the U.S., many people are interested in knowing where these candidates stand as far as addiction treatment is concerned. Currently, it is estimated that as many as 23 million Americans are struggling with addiction and drug abuse. What is even more alarming is the fact that only 11 percent of these individuals will actually receive professional treatment. There is a common notion that one of the primary causes for such a low percentage of people who suffer from addiction actually receiving treatment is the criminalization of drug addiction, which creates a negative connotation that inhibits people who are struggling with addictions from seeking health. Following are some of the thoughts and stances of the leading 2016 presidential candidates as revealed in the Washington Post.

Mixing drugs is a common activity among people who suffer from addiction. When tolerance for a drug increases, it becomes harder and harder to achieve the desired effects; adding another substance to the mix becomes a way to get the sought-after high. With this knowledge in mind, it's no surprise that nearly half of addiction-treatment clients have been found to suffer an addiction to more than one substance . Experimenting with drug cocktails can cause serious health effects, and some combinations can even be deadly. Let's take a closer look at certain drug combinations and discuss the risks of these mixtures.

Introversion and social anxiety are commonly considered to be roughly the same thing, and those who understand neither may simply call it "shyness." But introversion and social anxiety are not the same thing, although they may co-exist. Introversion is largely a personality trait, while social anxiety is a mental health issue. Both introverts and extroverts can suffer from social anxiety.

In late 2014, California voters adopted Proposition 47, a landmark bill that impacted the sentencing of drug-related offenses. This new legislation reclassified drug possession and several other non-violent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. It's been estimated that Proposition 47 could reduce the sentencing for over a million offenders, the majority of whom were arrested on non-violent drug charges. The adoption of this bill has been met with controversy: is it a way to treat casual offenders with more compassion and reduce prison crowding, or is it a "get out of jail free" card that allows repeat offenders to game the system? Let's take a closer look at the details of this sentencing reform and talk about its consequences on the legal system in California.

The presidential hopefuls for 2016 have weighed in on a number of issues over the last several months as they gear up for the primary push. With more states acquiescing to the legalization of marijuana, many people are concerned with where the 2016 candidates stand on the access to drugs and the legalization of drugs that have historically been classified as illegal. The majority of the candidates have voiced their opinions on the subject, with their positions ranging from moderate to extremely conservative. Jeb Bush While admitting to having used marijuana in the late 1960s, presidential hopeful former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) has taken a strong stance against the legalization of marijuana. He has stated that his use of marijuana in the past was stupid, and that he does not believe that legalizing it is in the best interest of the country. He also supports increasing funding to create programs that reduce teen substance abuse. Dr. Ben Carson Republican candidate Dr. Ben Carson stands somewhere in the middle on the issue of drug legislation. While opposing the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, he does support legalizing medical marijuana. According to Carson, his religious convictions kept him from using during the '60s when it was popular among people his age. Hillary Clinton Former Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), also former Secretary of State, has taken somewhat of an ambiguous stand on the drug issue. According to the Wall Street Journal, she is clear in her support of medical marijuana; however, she has chosen to withhold judgment, for now, on the recreational use of marijuana. It is likely that she will defer to individual states to make the final decision on recreational use. Ted Cruz While Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has not weighed in on the actual issue of access and legalization, he believes that mandatory minimum sentencing for drugs should be reduced. Mandatory sentencing laws are becoming a significant issue among many constituents on all sides of the political arena. Lindsey Graham While many of his counterparts have been soft spoken on the issue of drugs, especially marijuana, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has taken a stern stance. He is not in favor of needle exchange programs, nor does he support medical use of marijuana, voting against both in the Washington, D.C., area. Mike Huckabee When it comes to the issue of drugs, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) has been outspoken in favor of increased sentencing standards for drug offenses. He is also in favor of drug courts for nonviolent offenders, believing that drug courts might be a more effective response to the rise in drug abuse and drug addiction. He has remained relatively quiet on the issue of legalization and access. Bobby Jindal Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) has been clear in his stance against any type of legalization of drugs, although he has suggested that too many people are locked up for casual drug use. He believes the focus should be placed on rehabilitation for individuals who struggle with addiction. Donald Trump While Republican Donald Trump has made it clear that he never uses drugs or consumes alcohol, he is for the legalization of drugs, suggesting that the tax revenue generated by the legal sale of drugs should be used to fund drug education on a national scale. While there are a couple of candidates who are taking a hard-nosed approach to the issue of drug legalization, the majority are finding a comfortable median that will allow them to successfully navigate along the line of public opinion. With the legalization of certain drugs having the potential to impact the nation both socially and economically, it will likely play an integral role in the 2016 election moving forward. Photo credit I, Daniel Schwen [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons Sources: Reinhold, Beth, "Third Way," Wall Street Journal, 2014 Staff, On the Issues - Drugs, On The Issues, 2015

Personality disorders are mental illnesses that involve chronic patterns of unhealthy attitudes and behaviors, inflexible thoughts, and false beliefs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder that's characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a deeply-ingrained need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Beneath the excessive show of confidence, people with NPD usually have an extremely fragile self-esteem and are unable to cope with even slight criticism, according to the Cleveland Clinic. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder often use drugs or alcohol as a way of dealing with with the inevitable relationship problems and other interpersonal issues that result from this disorder, which also commonly co-occurs with other mental illnesses like depression, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder. Due to the complexity of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, one of the most effective treatments for this condition is cognitive behavioral therapy, which can be modified to treat a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse and addiction, which often co-occur with NPD.

The 2016 Presidential race is building steam as candidates are weighing in on a number of issues in an effort to differentiate their position from their competition’s. The more presidential candidates speak out on social, cultural, and economic issues, the more they develop a sense of identity with the public. Mental health is a prevalent issue in the U.S., and many Americans are concerned with the specific opinions of the candidates from all political affiliations on this topic. While politicians commonly change positions and ideologies, the following points are the most recent established positions of the 2016 presidential candidates on mental health and available treatment, as revealed by “On the Issues.”[1]

Depression is a serious mental illness that saps your energy and reduces your quality of life. Living with depression can cause other illnesses, and it can lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices, including drug or alcohol abuse. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 20 percent of American adults who suffer from depression also have a substance abuse disorder, and 20 percent of people with a substance abuse disorder are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Depression can be effectively treated with both medication and psychotherapy, although the National Institute of Mental Health notes that psychotherapy is typically the best option for mild to moderate depression in adults. Psychotherapy can be administered one-on-one or in a group setting. Group therapy is less expensive than individual therapy, and numerous studies, including one meta-analytic study published by the American Psychological Association, show that there is no difference in outcomes between group and individual therapy.

Catastrophizing is a common type of cognitive distortion, which is the umbrella term for a number of irrational ways of thinking that keep us stagnant in life and negatively impact our behaviors. Psychologists often refer to catastrophizing and other cognitive distortions as "stinking thinking," because they're almost always part of the cause of anxiety, depression, addiction, and other mental health disorders. If someone you love has a tendency to catastrophize, your initial reaction may be to simply roll your eyes and assume they're simply overreacting. But in some cases, particularly when a drug or alcohol addiction is involved, catastrophizing can do some serious damage. People who catastrophize tend to deplete your energy and take up more of your time than you can afford. You may even feel threatened at times, especially if you're on the receiving end of misguided accusations or invalid conclusions.

If you have a partner, child, sibling or friend who is struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, you want to make the best possible choice for effective treatments. It's easy to be overwhelmed with the different treatment approaches available: 12-step, holistic, cognitive behavioral, etc. Is existential therapy a viable option? Keep reading to learn more.

Holistic refers to the idea that the whole is greater than merely the sum of its parts. In relation to holistic therapy for substance abuse, this concept has wide ramifications. Research has showed that addiction is a systemic brain disease marked by compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Of course, there are surefire methods of helping a person get clean. However, even these methods don't always take into consideration the whole individual. The holistic approach to treating substance abuse goes beyond traditional therapies such as those for individual, group, or family through behavioral or pharmacological treatment. Instead, this approach promotes recovery by healing the mind, body and soul.