Anyone also bipolar?

[Tornado2]

I am - I wonder if there is a correlation between addition and bipolar?

[gnarly_1]

Hi well im bipolar and yes many of us abused drugs trying to self medicate the symptoms are very similar to addictive behavior just know it can be done I deal with both the addict as well as the bipolar it is trying at times and difficult to distinguish between the two but it is doable if you need help post or message me you can do this I did and still do.....................Gnarly.............................

[gyspy09]

I'm bipolar n Ya alot of ppl wit addiction alcohol problem have sum type of mental illness

[weaver71]

Opiates did help my bipolar awhile, my family even agrees. Then the side effects of addiction became worse than my bipolar. Close to death, I finally realized the consequences were not worth any of the benefits. Detoxing methadone, I believed I had actually learned to deal with bipolar. I thought I would be fine as soon as I left my active addiction behind. At 120 days clean, I had my first mixed state. As my brain receptors healed from the dulling effect of opiate, my bipolar escalated beyond extremes I had ever felt. At about a year, I had a psychotic break. I wanted to wait 2 years before focusing on bipolar. BIG mistake!

I think both issues should be treated together. I think I could havering my total mania meltdown, had I sought bipolar help from a doctor, therapist, and addiction aftercare from day 1. I had strong aftercare for addiction, still do, but the addicts and alcoholics didn't quit know how to respond to bipolar 1. I needed CBT support more than the 12 steps. Borderline psychotic mania did not do well with pressure on me to take a moral inventory. Not right then, I have to be stable to take inventory. A therapist is better for me, I I split my focus into addiction AND bipolar. It has gotten progressively easier since then. I say easy in the bipolar sense, I haven't hopped a plane or gone full blow crazy in awhile.

Also, nutrition is a huge help.  "Nutrient Power," by William J. Walsh is a great resources on amino acids, minerals, and hormone balance. Really start feeding yourself good now, if you don't already, it makes a lot of difference. Nutrients can at least reduce med dose and lower side effects.

What of what have you been taking? Are you ready to quit.

[Bubulous]

I agree that the diagnose is given out too much these days but I am not sure whether it is better to be treated for something you don't have or be untreated for something you do??  
The corrolation would be more between mood and addiction whether than mood disorder and addiction basically because that is what about any addict is treating.  Whether it is stress, anxiety, pain, or depression makes a little difference just like having bipolar because all of these things must be treated in order to recover from addiction.

[motye51]

I believe the corrolation is that alot of addicts self medicate b/c it brings them some relief. I have friends in my n/a group that are diagnosed bi-polar that were self medicating for years. Once diagnosed, and meds given and taken CORRECTLY, this helped them to stay clean.
Not uncommon for people with medical issues to self medicate, and with being an addict on top of it....ughhh!!!

[Tornado2]

I agree but I am truly bipolar. Diagnosed in my early twenties before my addiction started.

Cheers

[Jinx_777]

i tend to think that bi polar is WAY over diagnosed these days.

as mentioned above addiction behavior mimics manic episodes

[Yesidid]

Yes there is a correlation between and addiction and bi-polar but the problem is that more often than not the addiction is at least making the bi-polar worse if not causing it completely. I used my bi-polar condition as an excuse for years. It allowed me to convince my wife that my opiate use was not causing my mood swings. There are medications for bi-polar but opiates, amphetamines, and benzos are definitely not among them. They "treat" the depression and the manic episodes Very temporarily but make the flip side A LOT more complicated and much worse. I think the reason bi-polar people end up addicted to other drugs is that the bi-polar medications work and tend to flatten everything out. Who among us who is truly bi-polar cannot say that we don't enjoy a good manic episode now and then - otherwise how would we ever get anything done? The problem here of course is that when we are truly manic, the stuff we get done often ends up being pretty meaningless and even crazy in the long run. Stop self medicating if you are doing so. God Bless. I wish you well my friend.