Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated...
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Join Date: Nov 2006
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Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated...
I probably put this in the wrong place. I was wondering if anyone here has had any luck finding dual diagnosis meetings (bipolar-depression/alcoholism). I have scoured the web, with not much luck. If someone could point me in the right direction that would be great! Thanks.
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I have never heard of any meetings like what you describe. I know in AA we have a ton of folks who were diagnosed by shrinks with bipolar-depression & alcoholism and the vast majority of them after working the steps discovered one of 2 things:
A. They were misdiagnosed and were simply alcoholics.
B. They were diagnosed correctly but thier bipolar-depression was greatly improved.
No shrink can diagnose accurately anything about an alcoholic except them being an alcoholic until they have been sober for at least 6 months.
How in the world can you diagnose some one as depressed when they are drinking liquid depressants all the time or in the middle of detoxing?
howdoIknow in my opinion you are in the right place, take care of one problem at a time, my experience has been that alcoholics when they are drinking, detoxing, or newly sober are depressed no matter what. Stop drinking because I can assure you that whether or not you are really bipolar depressed stopping drinking will not make it worse, but it will at a minimum make it better and easier to deal with.
A. They were misdiagnosed and were simply alcoholics.
B. They were diagnosed correctly but thier bipolar-depression was greatly improved.
No shrink can diagnose accurately anything about an alcoholic except them being an alcoholic until they have been sober for at least 6 months.
How in the world can you diagnose some one as depressed when they are drinking liquid depressants all the time or in the middle of detoxing?
howdoIknow in my opinion you are in the right place, take care of one problem at a time, my experience has been that alcoholics when they are drinking, detoxing, or newly sober are depressed no matter what. Stop drinking because I can assure you that whether or not you are really bipolar depressed stopping drinking will not make it worse, but it will at a minimum make it better and easier to deal with.
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Join Date: Nov 2006
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I can appreciate your thoughts on the subject. The person in question has been diagnosed as bipolar-manic depressive and been on medication for it since he was a child. The combination of already chemically imbalanced mind seperate from alcohol, makes dealing with both the depression and alcoholism that much harder. That is why there are meetings that deal with both aspects, he has just not had any luck finding one locally.
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Join Date: Jun 2002
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About 1/3 of my AA home group are dealing
with both issues.
When attending meetings they discuss their alcoholism.
Before and after they talk freely about Bi-Polar issues
They are on various meds for that disorder.
Blessings
with both issues.
When attending meetings they discuss their alcoholism.
Before and after they talk freely about Bi-Polar issues
They are on various meds for that disorder.
Blessings
Last edited by CarolD; 12-11-2007 at 06:57 PM. Reason: Spelling
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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Just a thought but you could consider organizing a meeting like you talk about in your area. Contact your local intergroup office they many be able to get you headed in the right direction. Good luck.
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