Thanks Paddy. Yes I think as Dual Diagnosis or Co-Morbid people (ie a substance abuse history as well as mental illness), the two streams of illness definitely run parallel but also intertwine along the way and also in recovery. I know that I was a genetic alcoholic as people drop like flies in my family from alcoholism including my Dad, his Dad, most of Dad's siblings in a large family and many on Mum's side too. I think that when the booze hit the blood brain barrier when I was 14 my brain just said "YES!!! MORE!!". And I think I was medicating my terrible mental state and those intense emotions and I also now know that I had Early Onset Mental Illness. So, I was a Goner. lol

I am very lucky that I didn't get into pills - street drugs or pharamceutical while I was drinking as I think I would have died. Especially at the end, I was just so fragile. I drank in extremely skuzzy pubs with people who were criminals, drug pushers, alcoholics and addicts and there was plenty of needle action around. I truly believe that if I hadn't got sober when i did I would have gone the needle route and wouldn't have made it.

And hey, with this skuzzy pub life I was a Communications Manager for a major charity, right up until the end of my drinking. Like a lot of people, I didn't get the sack but I resigned before I got sacked. My career was in a very responsible area, so it is bizzare that I had this parallel life happening. I started back into my career at 3 months sober but I no longer have my career due to my mental illnesses and the f'd prescribing practises of some psychiatrists. I don't know why I told you all that - must need to share. lol!!

Wendy