Dorsey,

I wish I could offer some advice - but I'm not bipolar. I do know that when I'm depressed I'm much more likely to slip up and drink. In fact I'm convinced untreated major depression was a major factor in my last relapse. Re going back, I've only ever been welcomed positively after every relapse, and I've had a few. I always feel a little embarrassed to pick up a desire chip in front of my home group AGAIN, but they've always been supportive.

I think that for us addicts who have any kind of mental illness to remember that it really is a dual diagnosis - you have to treat the illness as well as the addiction so it makes sense to me that you'd be more prone to relapse when manic. But don't be too hard on yourself - the main thing is you keep coming back and you're trying.

--splitimage