Does mental health issues threaten sobriety

[junem]

I would like some input from others who battle with mental health issues. Do you feel your mental condition make it more difficult to maintain sobriety? I have been in recovery for 3 years now and have relapsed 3 times. Each time I was unstable mentally at the time. Twice I was dissociated and the last time I was manic. My doctors excuse these relapses as part of my illnesses. I don't want to buy into this kind of thinking and believe that i should be able to learn better my triggers so as to prevent relapse. I cannot let my mental challenges become my excuse for relapse as they are chronic conditions that I must manage the rest of my life and I want to maintain a totally sober life. Please give me your input on this matter.

[Dunitall]

June

In my experience as a recovering alcoholic, I think that most of us have some degree of mental health issues to deal with. I appreciate that yours have been diagnosed as chronic. We are not all in that situation.

I have found that working the steps (Step 4 in particular) has really helped me to identify the issues which led me to drinking in the first instance. e.g. I had low self esteem, I always wanted to be accepted and approved. I did all sorts of things to try and satisfy these needs. Now I have identified them, and accepted the cause of my drinking I have been able to move on...without relapse.

Have you worked the steps? It's worth doing.

Best of luck.

Rich

[equus]

Purely from the point of view of observation I would say it has a big effect on my husbands sobriety. He also has chronic problems and he also is determined not to blame his drinking on them.

My view is easier explained as a general philosophy. I can't see the point in us trying to fool oursleves that life is a level playing field, health problems are neck up and neck down so I see no point in denying their effects BUT - and it's a big BUT.

I think life really is like a game of cards - some of it is dealt and some hands are harder to play, BUT the player is still the most important factor. My respect for my husband comes from knowing he's played a hand many would have given up on, of course he's made mistakes, so do I but my mistakes weren't as damaging, my hand of cards was easier and sometimes I was just smarter (sometimes he's smarter too!!).

I wonder who he would be if he hadn't had a completely whacked out adrenaline system that clearly had a mind of it's own. I wonder who he would be if he hadn't fought with fear all his life. I somehow doubt he would be who he is - one of the kindest and most gentle people I've ever met and certainly the most couragious.

You have the hand of cards you got dealt, I think the skill is to look at them with honesty and then VALUE what they can offer you, unless you see their worth (your worth) surely it's hard to play them well? Acknowledging the weaknesses (I think) is also important in what you decide to do.

[junem]

Thanks for your replies. I am all ears. Anyone else have an opinion?

[Live]

If you are talking about mental health issues that are physiological problems, I think it is a priority to get them properly treated.
I think I heard you say earlier that your latest diagnosis was bi-polar, it may take a while to get the right mix of meds to stabilize this. But I think it is an imperative.
I have learned lately that depressed people have smaller amalgyda (a primitive brain part) and that without proper medication it continues to shrink and atrophy, therefore deprression is a progressive disease. I know this to be true from prior experience. I am not sure I would have another recovery in me, therefore the most important think I do everyday is take my meds. It took years to get the right cocktail for me!! Also the hippocampus can be effected. Ptsd occurs when trauma kills brain cells in the hippocampus. I take meds for that too.
Finally, with the right mix, I am better than I have ever been in my life.
Heck, I didn't know what it was to feel "normal" until about a year ago when we got the right mix of meds in me. When they started working I was just wowed! I never knew! What is was to be well! I am not giving that up for anything!

[Wheelzebub]

I would have to say that mental health plays a huge role in recovery.
Some of that depends on what you were addicted to also, alot of powders will make your brain defficiant of happy hormones and can be related to other types of depression, anxiety ect...

Even Bill W say "Alcohol was not our problem but mearly a symptom, what we truely suffer from is a soal sickness."
I dont know about you but for me this is true, until I stopped being a piece of sheet I couldnt stop relapsing.

Self help books really worked for me, I recomend OG Mandino for one.
Another thing that really helped was fighting hard through the begining, when I started to be sucsessful in the world I stoped thinking about using drugs to get away from it.

Peace and Love,
DA Wheeler

[Michele2162001]

Hi there June,

I agree whole heartedly with some of the above advice. I've been sober almost four years and when I hit three I totally lost my sanity. I probably should've been diagnosed bi-polar when I was first committed at 13 but as it was I self-medicated until I was 23. Then after being sober for a little while I started going crazy again. I thought God was sending me messages through the radio, I saw "signs" only for me everywhere, you know the deal. Did I want to drink? Absolutely. But more than that, really the only reason I wanted to drink, was to kill myself. That has always been the goal in my life. Thank God my husband and family intervened and I went on medication. Now, almost a year later, I feel like a brand new person. Sober AND Sane. It is a nice feeling. You can bet your a$$ that mental illness and recovery are related.

For me, I had to be sober first. I know that may sound backwards to some people but as long as I was drinking and using there was no point in therapy or medications or any of that stuff because all I wanted to do was get high. I lied to everyone including my therapist. I only took meds if I remembered or I thought it would help my buzz. For me, sobriety had to come first. Once I had a little time under my belt I was able to go to therapy and be honest for the first time in my life. I went on medication and took them as directed. I went through the side effects with the support of my sponsor, my network and my family. I couldn't have done it without AA.

Around here we have a saying, Anything you put ahead of your sobriety, be prepared to lose along with it. That means EVERYTHING for me must be second. If I'm not sober, I don't have a chance. I don't know if this helped or not but you will be in my thoughts. Remember, you are not alone.

Best wishes, Michele

[Andy F]

I have read stories of people with bi-polar or depression getting positive results using cognitive therapy techniques. A good introduction would be 'Feeling Good' or the 'Feeling good handbook' by David Burns.

I agree with Equus however, that we are all playing with the hand we are dealt.

All the best.

[eddie z.]

Hazelden's Dual Diagnosis books, etc.

Dual Recovery Anonymous

June,
Here are some links you may be interested in. Too bad, it looks like there are no DRA meetings in Toronto, which surprises me, but I suggest you try DRA if you can.
Love and hugs,
Eddie