Those With Cluster B Personality Traits May Find Relief With Cannabis

Personality disorders are divided into three clusters called A, B, and C. The clusters account for ten different types of personality disorders, each with different symptoms. Cluster A disorders are categorized as odd and eccentric with disorders such as paranoid personality disorder, while cluster C disorders are categorized by fearful and anxious conditions such as obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Cluster B, the focus of this piece, is characterized by dramatic, overly emotional, and/or unpredictable thinking or behavior. Can cannabis help individuals suffering from cluster B personality disorders? Let’s find out. 

Personality Disorders Explained

Personality disorders are long-term patterns of behavior and internal experiences that can influence the individuals’ quality of life and functioning. Personality disorders affect the individuals’ manner of thinking about themselves and others, responding using their emotions, relating to others as well as the control over their behavior. 

What are Cluster B Personality Disorders and What Can Cannabis Do for Them?

The personality disorders in this cluster B include (1) antisocial personality disorder, (2) borderline personality disorder, (3) histrionic personality disorder, and (4) narcissistic personality disorder. 

• Antisocial Personality Disorder

Individuals who struggle with  Antisocial Personality Disorder do not follow societal norms and they tend to be more deceitful and inconsiderate towards others. These individuals also show tendencies such as impulsive and reckless, which may even lead to violence. Some of these individuals even turn to the exploitation of others. They exhibit behaviors that include a disregard for others’ needs and feelings which includes persistently lying, using aliases, and even conning others. They have a total disregard for their own safety, as well as for the safety of others. What’s more, is that they seem to present no remorse for their behavior. Individuals suffering from this disorder are also at high risk of attempting suicide and following through with it. 

Symptoms include causing distress to others, as well as being deceitful, dishonest, impulsive, aggressive, irritable, reckless, irresponsible, remorseless, and having suicidal tendencies. 

• Borderline Personality Disorder

Individuals who struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder often engage in impulsive and risky behavior with unstable and/or fragile self-injury. These individuals also have unstable and intense relationships due to up and down mood swings. Despite the nature of their relationships, they have an intense fear of being alone or abandoned. Furthermore, these individuals suffer from feelings of emptiness, frequent displays of anger as well as stress-related paranoia. 

Symptoms include mood swings, inappropriate anger, suicidal tendencies, paranoid, rapid changes in self-image, patterns of unstable relationships, impulsive behavior, taking extreme measures to avoid rejection and abandonment. 

• Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder sufferers exhibit constant attention-seeking behaviors and are excessively emotional and dramatic. Some of these behaviors include being overtly sexually provocative and loudly expressing strong opinions even with little to no facts to back up these opinions. Contradictory to that, sufferers are easily influenced by others. These individuals also tend to have shallow but rapidly changing emotions. They are particularly concerned with their physical appearance and they tend to think that their relationships are more closely knit than they actually are. 

Symptoms include attention-seeking behavior, unsupported strong opinions, shallow tendencies, and excessive concern for physical appearance. 

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Individuals suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder typically hold a strong belief that they are more special and important than others. They often suffer from delusions of grandeur and exhibit tendencies toward fantasizing about having power over others, success and being the subject of envy. These individuals lack empathy, often exaggerate their achievements or/and talents, and expect to be consistently praised and admired for the smallest efforts. They may often take advantage of others to get what they want, refuse to be held accountable for their actions at all costs, and expect unreasonable favors in return.

Symptoms include a distorted sense of self-importance, lack of empathy, a sense of entitlement, exaggeration, preoccupied with fantasies, superior and arrogant behavior, monopolizing conversations, and belittling people. 

How Can Cannabis Help Cluster B Personality Disorders?

The endocannabinoid system in our bodies assists with the maintenance of homeostasis and balance, which includes playing a role in regulating metabolism, memory, pain, and more. As you consume cannabis, the cannabinoids from the plant bind to the endocannabinoid receptors located throughout our bodies. Cannabis may be able to help personality disorders by treating aggressive behaviors by elevating mood which combats anxiety and depression. It’s able to do this because of the CB1 receptors which are located in the central nervous system and in the brain. Cannabis also has more than 85 identified and distinctive cannabinoids, each of which brings along different effects and benefits. 

A 2018 study by Nathan Kolla and Achal Mishra looked at the endocannabinoid system, aggression, and personality disorders. Their results reported that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was effective in reducing aggression but that there is still too much discrepancy in the results of cannabis specifically for personality disorders. In the same light, cannabis has been reported to alleviate some of the symptoms related to cluster B personality disorders directly from patients or/and from family members and friends of the patients. 

The Mayo Clinic explained that personality is a combination of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors which is what makes each of us unique. Causes of personality disorders include (a) your genes that contain inherited traits such as your temperament as well as (b) the environment in which you grew up, trauma from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and relationships with family members. It is believed that the combination of genes and environmental influences leads to the development of personality disorders. According to the Mayo Clinic “Your genes may make you vulnerable to developing a personality disorder, and a life situation may trigger the actual development”. 

To avoid any negative interactions, always check with a physician before attempting cannabis therapy. If you’re interested in legal access to medical cannabis or would just like to see if it’s right for you, contact Veriheal and we will guide you through every step of the way.