Coping with Comorbid Substance Abuse and Mental Illness

Tips that work. A plan. These are what help in the battle with mental illness and substance abuse. The material here is from individuals dealing with both diagnoses and for their family members. Tips are shared anonymously for privacy reasons. If you suspect alcohol or drugs are interfering with your life and your ability to handle your mental health issues, you may be facing a dual diagnosis situation. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional without delay to begin the process of understanding and trying treatment options. I have learned that willingness is the key to successful recovery work. The willingness to take actions that bring change must completely come from within. I recommend the program of Alcoholics Anonymous to anyone suffering from alcohol dependence or abuse. Long-term, consistent counseling helps, and medications provide temporary relief, offering stability and clarity to begin the true work of recovery. Dealing with alcoholism or drug addiction is never easy, but it is even more difficult when you have a mental illness like depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety. It’s possible, however, and millions of us are successfully coping every day. If you relapse, think of that as just another day, another step to getting back to handling your life one day at a time. Don’t give up. Just go back to what was working for you. Find out what’s really going on with you. For a long time, I didn’t know I had bipolar disorder because the symptoms of hea...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Addiction Alcoholism Recovery Substance Abuse 12 Steps Addiction Recovery Alcoholics Anonymous Comorbidity Mental Illness Source Type: blogs