Anyone else with a dual diagnosis?

[Fire Walk With Me]

I'm fresh from the doctor with a BiPolar diagnosis. Alcoholic behaviour combined with this has torn my life into shreds...I could not have possibly done anything differently considering the circumstance, although I am ashamed of what I -have- done and been. I'm not yet sure how to take responsibility for everything that I'm responsible for, and would appreciate any words of wisdom/support that may come to any of you. I'm likely offline for several days, but I will check this thread again...thanks in advance.

(I know that things are different because after I'd begun taking the meds, I found myself listening to and actually -enjoying- "Africa" by Toto. Not something very high on my previous priority list!!!

Cheers to everyone in the group; I pray that your surrender is deep, and that God's plan for each of you is stunningly evident!

[KitchenWitch]

1. In addition to my diagnosis of Alcholism

I also have Major Depression, with a bit of Generalized Anxiety Disorder mixed in for good measure. (I hope I do not have to use the sarcasm tag here). PTSD is also part of my diagnosis.

I have to stay in the moment, in order not to get overwhelmed. The tools of AA have helped immensely with staying in the moment.

[Kajsa]

2. Thanks, FWWM!

I have depression also which is completely tied in
with my alcoholism.

This is very common for us.

Hang in there. You are getting help and actively participating
in your recovery.

Thanks for the kind words and my best wishes for you, also!

:hi: :)

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. Thanks Kajsa; I hope that things are in complete control for you!

Your post means a lot. :hi: :hug:

[Critters2]

4. You may want to consider going to a group to deal with the emotional stuff,

as well as the alcohol--like Emotions Anonymous, or Recovery. Several people in my EA meeting go to AA, too. And I know Recovery is fine with people going to AA along with Recovery.

In EA, as in AA, the first step is admitting that you are powerless, and that your life has become unmanageable. Don't be too hard on yourself. Just turn it all over.

And enjoy "Africa"!

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. I can't believe that I "got" Toto.

Grr...

Thanks for the recommendation; I still have fear to turn over, so it's apropos (my pride is seemingly of infinite depth, and hides itself beyond my ability to detect it, and what it hides).

Regards, I hope all's well with you and the Beagle!

[Tab]

6. Yeah

On top of alcoholism, I have depression, with a touch of anxiety. My wife has anxiety with a touch of depression, so we even each other out.

There are meetings specifically for dual diagnosis, following roughly the 12-step format. The formal organization I believe is here:
http://draonline.org/meetings.html

Locally, ours isn't listed (not sure why), maybe they're just slow updating, but in it you can talk about meds and stuff and depression or whatever your trigger is, which you can't really easily do at an AA meeting. I find them helpful.

Good luck! And see if you can find a meeting local to where you live. PM me if you need some contacts or more help tracking something down.

Also, Dual Diagnosis is becoming more and more recognized and supported, and it's growing. It's entirely possible your local mental health center (or "Life Management" or whatever they want to call it) either conducts sessions, or certainly would know of one. Of course, DRA (Dual Recovery Anonymous) is effectively free, your center would be more formalized and have a co-pay or a sliding pay scale, but it's worth asking about. I'll bet 85% (or more) of the people in AA or NA have dual issues.

- t

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. Cheers, Tab.

Thank you for the info (I hadn't yet heard of those recovery groups), and I hope that you and your wife find greater ease and grace than ever before. Regards..

[get the red out]

7. Before sobriety I had so many diagnoses

Before I got sober I had so many mental illness diagnoses because no one knew what to do with me. I felt like the entire mental health system was just fumbling around wishing I would go away, telling me to be nice to my mother, take a lot of anti-psychotics (for depression, LOL) and not drink so much. It is what happens when you fall from nice middle-class girl into the system and unemployed. Or at least that was what happened in the rural area I was in over 16 years ago. I had begun to be seen as a hopeless case and I sensed that from every doctor I saw.

I am glad I encountered a good counselor that got me into detox. It took three times in detox before I actually took further steps to stop drinking, but one's mental health issues are a bit hard to figure out when alcohol is still involved. It is much more treatable and identifiable once the drinking stops.

Don't drink and take it all one day at a time. I dream of the day when no illness of any kind is accompanied by stigma. Feel free to ask Doctors questions also, they work for you. We have a right to participate in our medical care rather than just be passive recipients of it.

You are taking care of yourself, you have every right to do that. You are just someone trying to recover from something.

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. I'm sorry that you've had to suffer like that

but at least you have found direction to the answers...

One day at a time, thanks! You as well. :hug: