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Bipolar or Alcoholism?

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Posted 8/24/2006 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
HI everyone, this is my first post

I would like to see the responses to the questions, Can Bipolar disorder cause alcoholism? and Can Alcoholism cause Bipolar disorder?

I live with Alcoholism, Crohn's, Bipolar, Arthritis.

Posted 8/24/2006 10:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rybird,

Alcoholism is a fairly common partner of bipolar -- often described as "self-medicating", but of course the med in this case makes things much worse. I don't think alcoholism can *cause* bipolar -- because bipolar is biological and from what I've read you've either got a predisposition to it or you haven't. The reasons for drinking and the things that drinking can do to you could *trigger* bipolar, I'm sure. Sometimes, it seems, the two just co-exist (in their own right -- hard to tell if they're intrinsically connected): I guess they're still probably related -- to predisposition and personality traits -- but cause and effect are hard to determine.

There's a good section on this in a book I've been reading -- The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide by David Miklowitz. The whole book was pretty informative: I'd really recommend it if you're looking for more detail on this and bipolar in general.

How are you doing at the moment?

All best wishes,
Rosie x
Posted 8/24/2006 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi rosie, I am doing Great!, this is my third year of sobriety, I know this is not an alcohol forum, And I have gone from a deadly depression to laughing and joking, infact me and my Dad where just horsining around this morning. The self medicating has been mentioned to me. Thanks for the tip on the book.


Humility is a clear understanding of who you are, coupled with a sincere attempt to be who you can be.
Posted 8/24/2006 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rybird,

Really glad things are so good -- emerging from depression really can make you enjoy life that much more. Live it to the full!

Don't worry about posting here about alcoholism -- it's something that many people with depression and bipolar have experience with, and I think it's very relevant -- and the relation between the conditions is a *very* interesting question that is worth thinking about. I'm sure others will have stuff to share on this, and I think it's really helpful to discuss it. Thanks for bringing it up!

Rosie x
Posted 8/25/2006 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
Bipolar I do not think can cause alcoholism sorry. Although I know if one is on drugs they should not drink any alcohol or it can actually make them drunk faster, or their medicine may not work as well and so they tend to get sicker on the bad combination of alcohol of any sort (and that includes wine) and the psych medication. Many though I think have both diagnoses, a mental health issue plus an alcohol or drug dependency and then I think that's called a dual diagnosis, but I may be wrong on the exact wording. That would be harder to treat. The medicine itself I do not think would make one want to drink, although most of the meds sure do make us need more food and eat more and thus gain more weight.
Posted 8/25/2006 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
niether disease can be treated while still drinking. As far as mixing meds with alky, anything can happen. I took the antipsychotic Zyprexa while drinking,and had DWI's two times because I passed out and crashed. Some medicines if mixed with alcohol can make you mess yourself. Lots of fun huh! I guess one connection to bipolar is that some people self medicate thier mania by drinking. That's what they said I did.
Posted 8/27/2006 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
ah those were the days
Posted 2/23/2011 8:20 AM (GMT 0)
Yea, I'm living those days for you. I'm not a doctor, and neither is my wife. But my psychiatrist said I might be bipolar. He can't or won't provide me with a definitive diagnosis until I get 90 days of sobriety. I have been struggling with my sobriety since December 2nd, 2010. I have had periods of sobriety. One period was 22 days. I am willing to try sobriety now. I really just want to know if I am bipolar. I could go to a doctor who will tell me what i want to hear, but I respect my doctor for giving me the incentive not to drink for 90 days. Who knows, maybe I'm just depressed and can just take the Luvox and I'll be fine. Or I'm bipolar and need additional medication. If I am not bipolar, I will probably drink to celebrate. That is what my alcoholic mind is thinking right now. But if I have 90 days and I am bipolar I really will need to stop drinking. Or if I'm not bipolar I can stop drinking too. Maybe I will really want to stop drinking when I get 90 days.

I'll keep you posted.

Michael
Posted 3/2/2011 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Also alcoholism is passed on genetically as well so the chances of someone getting both the alcoholism gene and the bipolar gene are very high.
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