[DoubleJ]

Hello friends. I am a recovering alcoholic/addict myself and feel that my compulsive behavior with chemicals was due in large part to the underlying mental health problems I was going through at the time. This is not to say, of course, that all alcoholics/addicts are severely mentally ill--however, many of them are and most psychiatric meds just don't work when you're playing around with drugs and alcohol. At the very least, even if there is no causal relationship between addiction and mental health (which there is strong evidence that there is), anyone who faces a dual-diagnosis in these two areas has a particularly difficult road to recovery.

Please take a minute to watch my video about Mental Health and Alcoholism. I will warn you, however, that part of it are very graphic and potentially triggering. Thanks, and your comments and questions are most welcome!

[tracy33]

I have a dual diagnosis. I have been self medicating for years. 18 years if I had to put a number on it. I'm 37 now and I just started seeking treatment. I have been going to therapy for addictions and I haven't had a drink in 3 months. I feel really good about this. I was able to quit the drugs 6 years ago, thanks to meeting my wonderful husband.
I am prone to addictions, however, I am also a recovering anorexic as well.
I am on several meds and I know for them to work properly, I need to stay away from the other things that will mess with my mind. And this is the first time in my life I have been able to do that. I've been on some sort of med since I was 18, and have been drinking since that age.
I have a positive outlook for myself. I no longer have the cravings and I see life is just as good without drugs or alcohol. It's actually ALOT better.
I know it's only been three months since I have not had a drink, but I CAN do this. I have my husband behind me, too. He's never been a big drinker, but he quit with me. We just gave the last of our beer away this weekend.
I liked your video.

[MyBestKids2]

I drink to excess once every 5 years of so...Usually when things are so overwhelming emotionally and mentally, I feel drinking helps me avoid the hospital. Its not an excuse, just an explanation.

Take good care,


Dee

[CrazyTinkerbell]

I was addicted to pain meds and self medicated with them for my depression and stress. It was only when I tried to commit SI that I found out and was DX'd with Bipolar. I've been clean from the pain meds since July 2007. It's still hard but I haven't given in yet. Kudos to all who deal with the same problem.

[splitimage]

I'm both an alcoholic and suffer from mental illness. I self mediated for years. First treatment centre I went to was useless on concurrent disorders - when I tried to talk about other issues ie self injury, I was told I wasn't taking my addiction seriously enough. I finally got into a good concurrent disorder's treatment program that started me on the road to sobriety. But it wasn't until I got the help I needed mentally, thanks to a 7 week stay in psych hospital, that I was able to get any meaningful time in sobriety. You definitely have to treat both.

I liked the vid - although it was a bit graphic. One suggestion - you might want to increase the font size of the statistics in the middle section. I found it too hard to read.

--splitimage