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Joe90 · 11-29-2004, 03:55 PM

Lynn.. I was diagnosed as bipolar last November while I was in a alcohol addiction treatment center. I was prescribed a drug called Depakote which I take twice daily. My symtoms were that My mood would change almost daily from very low to quite high and "hyper" when would feel great and have a great day but would get so "naturally?" high that it became uncomfortable and I would "self medicate" with alcohol to bring Myself down. This didn't mean that I was not an alcoholic though ...it's hard to say which disease came first, but they definetly went well together with each exacerbating the others symtoms. I am convinced that My drinking made My bipolar condition much worse with higher highs and very very bad lows. The alcoholism was made much worse by the bipolar because I was still able to get a powerful euphoria from drinking at a point where most normal alcoholics had long since given up on getting any good result. This meant I drank until My liver was almost shot!! I'm not sure if your sister drinks any alcohol but i do know that bipolar and alcohol definetly do not mix. Also bipolar can get worse over time and again especially if the sufferer drinks.

Hope this is useful
Good Luck
Joe

11-29-2004, 03:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Joe90 Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: London, England Posts: 70	Lynn.. I was diagnosed as bipolar last November while I was in a alcohol addiction treatment center. I was prescribed a drug called Depakote which I take twice daily. My symtoms were that My mood would change almost daily from very low to quite high and "hyper" when would feel great and have a great day but would get so "naturally?" high that it became uncomfortable and I would "self medicate" with alcohol to bring Myself down. This didn't mean that I was not an alcoholic though ...it's hard to say which disease came first, but they definetly went well together with each exacerbating the others symtoms. I am convinced that My drinking made My bipolar condition much worse with higher highs and very very bad lows. The alcoholism was made much worse by the bipolar because I was still able to get a powerful euphoria from drinking at a point where most normal alcoholics had long since given up on getting any good result. This meant I drank until My liver was almost shot!! I'm not sure if your sister drinks any alcohol but i do know that bipolar and alcohol definetly do not mix. Also bipolar can get worse over time and again especially if the sufferer drinks. Hope this is useful Good Luck Joe __________________ You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.