Divorce: Personality Disorders and Addiction

Our experience in working with people who are going through difficult relationships and even crises right now can work in your favour. We understand the complexities of these situations, the fear, worry, and stress involved, and the overwhelming need to let change occur. With our connection within the UK and Wales region to therapeutic resources, we aim to provide you with the support you need in navigating this difficult situation.

We encourage you to seek out the mental health care you need. It will be critical for your future wellbeing. Let us handle the legalities and limitations you’re facing.

In nearly all situations, the goal of any divorce process is to settle matters without having to allow the Court to make decisions in your situation. However, that may not occur in some situations, especially in situations where mental illness is present. There are some situations where a person may have one of the Cluster B types of personality disorders, and those often result in court proceedings. This includes conditions such as:

• Borderline personality disorder
• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder, including psychopaths and sociopaths

Divorce during this process can often lead to threatening or troublesome behaviour. You may learn, for example, that a spouse is hiding money in the divorce. You may find they are making claims that are not true. Other times they may find ways to blame you for the divorce or failure of the marriage in an effort to protect their own mental health and beliefs.

Antisocial personality disorder

Those who fall into this area tend to have numerous nuances that make them very difficult to work with. It is not the type of antisocial that brings on anxiety or hiding away from people. Rather, those who have this personality disorder tend to not feel they need to conform to the rules of society. They may seem like they do not care about anyone, even though they are brilliant actors making it seem as if they do.

Some common tendencies you may experience in those with these types of conditions include:

• Charming and charismatic
• Cruel to animals
• Uses humour as well as flirtation or intellect to get what they want
• Tends to use drugs or alcohol
• Manipulative behaviours
• Invents outrageous lies about their experiences
• Takes risks without concern for others
• Fails to respect any boundaries set
• Lacks empathy, is unfeeling, or harsh
• Cheats, steals, and lies

Another common difficult component of divorce occurs when your spouse has an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications. In these situations, you may feel like many of the above, unable to move forward because of their threats against you or themselves or their irrational, reckless behaviour.

In this situation, it is critical for you to take steps to protect yourself. That should include working with a solicitor who can help you protect your rights.

A person with addiction may exhibit tendencies such as:

• Lying or otherwise hiding their substance use
• Mood swings
• Inability to put anything else before their use of substances
• Financial, legal, and emotional disturbances
• Promises to stop but does not do so
• Aggressive behaviour that puts you at risk

You do not have to go through this alone. You do not have to remain in a marriage because your spouse has a mental health disorder or addiction. Contact Austin Kemp today to speak to our divorce solicitor to learn more about your rights.