Dual Diagnosed and Bipolar?

Is anyone out there dual diagnosed with Bipolar and Drug/Alcohol Addiction? I am and could use some encouragement and support.

These kind of go hand in hand unfortunately you are not alone. Stay off the booze and you will become more balanced with bp. Trust me.

Hello KR,

I was hospitalized for Dual in 2011 for 6 weeks. It got me 100 days of sobriety and BP stabilty before I went on another manic run and alcohol relapse. Eventually I got sober and had a psychotic episode in Sept 2012. Been stable and sober ever since.

The secret for me was a top notch pdoc and amazing family support. You're going to be fine. Just one day at a time - be fully compliant w your meds, go to a meeting, call your sponsor. Wake up tomorrow and do it again. If you get stuck, call your doc. Best wishes!

moogs

I'm not formally dual-diagnosed, but I am a recovering alcoholic with bipolar 1 and I took my last drink 23 years ago tonight. It CAN be done, one day at a time, one crisis at a time, one white-knuckled minute at a time. Using alcohol only complicates bipolar, and vice-versa. You can do this! Go to a meeting, talk to other people in the same situation, and of course you can always vent here where there are lots of people going through some of the difficult things you are.

Hi there, I'm dual diagnosed: bp and recovering alcoholic/drug addict (pain meds). My last drink was on 6/12/1999 but I relapsed with pain meds that were prescribed to me ending 2/15/2011. I go to AA meetings. Since I'm not working now I go to about 4 a week. AA isn't for everyone, but it's what really helped me get sober in the first place and helps me keep my head on straight. You can always PM me for support if you want.

I am not an alcoholic/addict but before I was dx and put in meds I was self medicating with drugs and alcohol. I am recovered from an eating disorder that rears it's head every now and then and that is along the same lines as an addiction.

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I also want to add that when I was heavy into pills and drinking I went to AA for about 6 months and it was amazing. Better than any therapy I have ever had. Through it though I realized I was not an alcoholic, but the principles can be applied to any life situation. Sometimes I wish I could go to meetings again but I don't have an addiction. Maybe they would just let a lost soul sit in

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Hi Ozzy, I've been to AA meetings around the country and the principles are all the same. I can tell you that you would be welcome at any meeting that is considered "open."