[BNLsMOM]

I posted this in the bipolar forum because I am bipolar, but I wondered if I would get insight here.

Please, if you would, read the thread and let me know what you think. I am kind of freaked out and could use some answers.

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=198539

[madisgram]

BLNS, your symptoms are indicative of your becoming dependent on alcoho or are an alcoholicl. i self medicated years ago and became an alcoholic. in recovery many years now. i am also bipolar. i was self medicating. they say if we drink to gain a feeling or to get rid of one, we're drinking for all the wrong reasons. here's some info that may address your concerns http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx16.htm
please note #4.
also to help you define your situation another good article
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/sym...of-alcoholism/
there is a very fine line re dependency and active alcoholism.
regardless, if you are on meds drinking alcohol interferes with your meds effects. this can be a serious, medical combo too.
you can discuss this with your T or pdoc or GP. another excellent, imo, option is to attend some AA meetings. they say if you're not sure if you have a problem/alcoholic don't drink for 30 days. this is a good test to see what evolves over those 30 days. my opinon only, sounds like you're an alcoholic BUT only you can determine/decide if you are and want to get help.
AA was the answer for me...now 21 yrs. sober. it certainly helped me with the effects of my meds. for bipolar too. for the most part i'm stable.
glad you posted in addictions forum. your concerns are another indicator you probably are headed in the wrong direction. we're here to support you regarding your stopping drinking. hope you'll keep us posted.

[BNLsMOM]

Originally Posted by madisgram

BLNS, your symptoms are indicative of your becoming dependent on alcoho or are an alcoholicl. i self medicated years ago and became an alcoholic. in recovery many years now. i am also bipolar. i was self medicating. they say if we drink to gain a feeling or to get rid of one, we're drinking for all the wrong reasons. here's some info that may address your concerns http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx16.htm
please note #4.
also to help you define your situation another good article
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/sym...of-alcoholism/
there is a very fine line re dependency and active alcoholism.
regardless, if you are on meds drinking alcohol interferes with your meds effects. this can be a serious, medical combo too.
you can discuss this with your T or pdoc or GP. another excellent, imo, option is to attend some AA meetings. they say if you're not sure if you have a problem/alcoholic don't drink for 30 days. this is a good test to see what evolves over those 30 days. my opinon only, sounds like you're an alcoholic BUT only you can determine/decide if you are and want to get help.
AA was the answer for me...now 21 yrs. sober. it certainly helped me with the effects of my meds. for bipolar too. for the most part i'm stable.
glad you posted in addictions forum. your concerns are another indicator you probably are headed in the wrong direction. we're here to support you regarding your stopping drinking. hope you'll keep us posted.

Quite frankly, your answer scares me. It's hard to think that I am an alcoholic since I went so long just drinking now and then and keeping to one drink. Usually it's just weekends because I know that if it affects me the next morning I would have a hard time getting the kids to school.
I admit I had a drink with dinner tonight and I am feeling like I want a glass of wine. (my husband is home tomorrow so I figured I could have a drink and he will be my back up if I need it.)

[madisgram]

please know i can't say what you are or are not. but it's worth doing the 30 day abstinence suggestion to see how you do. it's a tool to determine how much your drinking is important to you. if you don't have a problem this exercise will confirm that most times.
as for hubby being your back up...when we rely on someone else to help us maintain a level of sobriety it's not a good sign. you should be able on your own to manage your drinking habits.
not trying to bust you. you have stated viable concerns in your original post. this new reply i feel is your minimizing your relationship to alcohol.

[BNLsMOM]

I'll do the 30 days and see what happens. How do I know if I have an issue. Obviously if I can't go the 30 days without drinking then there is a problem, but is there a problem if I want to have a drink but abstain?

[BNLsMOM]

I went on a site that had some info and read a bit about dry drunk. I hate the name, but it sort of fits my situation. Also that number 4 on the link you gave me kind of fits, but of that list it is only number 4.

[madisgram]

i think your inquisitiveness and desire to know more is such a positive approach. there are some ppl who are perhaps heading for alcoholism but by backling off find they can drink sensibly.
another thing-it is not uncommon for even a recovering alcoholic-like me, 21 yrs sober-to have a thought of a drink. we learn to "think the drink thru" and conclude for us it's not an option anymore. there's too big of a price to pay. the good news is we no longer have the obsession to drink.
so if you think of a drink trying to do the 30 days it's certainly not unusual. if a person tho resumes before the 30 days they may need to probe further about their drinking habits.
BTW there is a large populus of bipolar and excessive drinking. they have found a correlation. other MI can have the same cause and effect. like we discussed, it's a form of self medicating. for me it first just lifted my mood.
then i used it to numb emotions i was uncomfortable with, etc.
at first i recall not drinking too much. as time went on i relied on alcohol to help me function in my everyday living. i began drinking more quantity. at the latter stage of my active alcoholism i had no control anymore. the obsession to drink was too strong. i no longer was controlling my drinking. the alcohol controlled me.
i hope this helps you. i'm here for you if you feel i can help. or pm me about questions and your progress. hugs

[Caretaker Leo]

I see my bi-polar son doing much the same as you BNL. It does seem to be a combination of trying to self-medicate (even tho he is on meds specific to BP) and possibly trying to feel that "up/hyper" mood. I suspect after years of being BP, he just feels uncomfortable at times because he isn't on the emotional roller-coaster now that he is on meds.

And, I like the 30 day challenge idea! In my situation, I'm thinking about challenging some of my family members to try it.

[BNLsMOM]

I talked to my T today and we are going to be digging deep into where these feelings are coming from. He didn't outright say I had a problem, but encouraged me to not drink and see how it goes, or to limit myself to one now and then and observe what it does (ie. making me want to or to actually lose control).

[madisgram]

thanks for the update. so glad u spoke with your T. let us know how things go. you may have nipped this in the bud, pardon the pun.

[BNLsMOM]

I am on day 6 of not drinking. Tonight will be a challenge because I am going to a cocktail party for my cousin's engagement. I am sticking with the abstinence tonight.