SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - View Single Post

***nandm*** · 03-19-2008, 02:35 PM

Welcome to our corner of the forum world! Good to see a new face. I hope you will be able to find strength, hope, and experience here to help you through the difficulties misconceptions, and judgment of living with mental illness. Be assured that you are safe here.

I too am a recoverying alcoholic. I also have been diagnosed with PTSD, Bi Polar type II, chronic anxiety, and depression. I can completely understand the struggle that goes on with a combination of addiction issues and mental health issues. I work the program of AA and have been told by some who do not understand mental illness that I need to get rid of my medications and just work the steps and it will get better. I understand they mean well and do not realize the damage this can do as the steps are a great plan for living sober and do help with situation depression such as the depression created by resentments, the chaos created by the alcoholism but they were not intended to treat mental illness. That said I am thankful that I did not do that as I have seen others stop their meds or refuse to take medication due to that type of advice and wind up commiting suicide.

I am sorry you have lost your insurance. Please check out the sticky notes at the top of this forum as there is a thread there with links to medication assistance. I have used this assistance before and found it to be quite beneficial.

Don't get discouraged. You can learn to live a good life even with the diagnosis of a mental health disorder. There is a lot of experience here in this forum. Check out threads started by Shutterbug, she is quite knowledgeable regarding bi-polar. Lot of good information about the disease in her threads. There is also a support site mentioned in one of the threads, I will see if I can locate it and post it here for you. Please roam around and check out the threads. There is one called BP town that is open to those with Bi Polar (and other mental health issues we aren't picky about only those with Bi Polar posting). You may find some strenght and help there.

Good luck with your journey. You are not alone here. Hope to continue to see your postings.

03-19-2008, 02:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
*nandm* Life the gift of recovery! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home is where the heart is Posts: 6,580	Welcome to our corner of the forum world! Good to see a new face. I hope you will be able to find strength, hope, and experience here to help you through the difficulties misconceptions, and judgment of living with mental illness. Be assured that you are safe here. I too am a recoverying alcoholic. I also have been diagnosed with PTSD, Bi Polar type II, chronic anxiety, and depression. I can completely understand the struggle that goes on with a combination of addiction issues and mental health issues. I work the program of AA and have been told by some who do not understand mental illness that I need to get rid of my medications and just work the steps and it will get better. I understand they mean well and do not realize the damage this can do as the steps are a great plan for living sober and do help with situation depression such as the depression created by resentments, the chaos created by the alcoholism but they were not intended to treat mental illness. That said I am thankful that I did not do that as I have seen others stop their meds or refuse to take medication due to that type of advice and wind up commiting suicide. I am sorry you have lost your insurance. Please check out the sticky notes at the top of this forum as there is a thread there with links to medication assistance. I have used this assistance before and found it to be quite beneficial. Don't get discouraged. You can learn to live a good life even with the diagnosis of a mental health disorder. There is a lot of experience here in this forum. Check out threads started by Shutterbug, she is quite knowledgeable regarding bi-polar. Lot of good information about the disease in her threads. There is also a support site mentioned in one of the threads, I will see if I can locate it and post it here for you. Please roam around and check out the threads. There is one called BP town that is open to those with Bi Polar (and other mental health issues we aren't picky about only those with Bi Polar posting). You may find some strenght and help there. Good luck with your journey. You are not alone here. Hope to continue to see your postings. __________________ NOTE: All BB quotes are from the 1st Edition of the Big Book Depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being too strong for too long.