Hi,
I hope you’re doing ok.
I have had so many people ask me about bipolar disorder and alcohol that I felt that I should write an email about it to address the issues surrounding it.
For one thing, and this is very recent, so you may have read about it in my bipolar news, there was a report that came out that said that impulsivity (like the kind found in bipolar disorder) runs a risk for alcoholism.
In other words, if your loved one already has bipolar disorder, they are already prone to alcoholism.
During a manic episode, there is a tendency to be impulsive.
According to this report, that impulsivity
puts them at a greater risk for alcoholism.
Now, if there was already alcoholism in their family, they are at an even greater risk.
Here’s another issue:
It’s sort of like which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Some people, before they were diagnosed, self-medicated their symptoms with alcohol.
Other people drank alcohol before they were diagnosed.
Now they have two problems.
They have bipolar disorder AND they have alcoholism.
But were they alcoholics who later developed bipolar disorder?
Or did they have bipolar disorder and later developed alcoholism?
Here’s the point:
It doesn’t really matter!
In medical terms, it’s called “comorbidity,” or “dual diagnosis.”
What that means is that the person now has two diagnoses, or two disorders at the same time, and that BOTH disorders need to be addressed in order for them to get better.
In my courses and systems, I talk about what happens when you self-medicate, and how dangerous that can be:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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Here’s another way that a person with bipolar disorder can be affected by alcohol – a very dangerous way:
During a bipolar manic episode, it is normal to feel very exhilarated, very “on top of the world,” so to speak.
The person might feel “invincible,” as if nothing could harm them.
It is not uncommon for them to go off their medications (which is probably what put them into the episode in the first place) and to start drinking alcohol.
But here’s where the problem arises.
They start drinking more and more, and when the episode is over, they find that they now have a drinking problem, or are an alcoholic.
But here’s the most DANGEROUS problem of bipolar disorder and alcohol of all:
Some people will take alcohol with their medication.
This combination can actually KILL them!
Whether you have bipolar disorder or not, you can read your prescription labels, and it will tell you, “Do not take with alcohol.”
There is a reason for that!
It has been proven that alcohol has an adverse effect on prescription medications!
Bipolar medications are some of the strongest medications around.
Combining them with alcohol can cause serious adverse reactions.
Like I said, these reactions can even be FATAL!
The reactions can also cause the person to become delusional, or even hallucinate.
They can even cause the person to become a danger to themselves or others.
For all these reasons, someone with bipolar disorder should stay away from drinking alcohol!!!
If you believe that your loved one with bipolar disorder also has a problem with alcohol as well,
then they need help.
Try to get them to see a professional as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
Post responses below
I agree with most of your comments concerning the combination of alcohol and bipolar. I would only add that these two issues should be treated as separate issues. Although they are not mutually exclusive, they do require different forms of treatment.
Hi Dave
Great as always Dave, considered copying and sending to my daughter, but she’s FINALLY hooked up with an A-1 therapist so I’m gonna work doubly hard to keep my therapizing to my own clients.
What I’ve witnessed over and over is her using alcohol to cope and it works the first time, she has A drink. But as time goes on, she drinks more and more because alcohol actually is a depressant so (sorry not remembering if you had this in your email, Dave) it really does take her lower than low if she’s already depressed and darn close to psychotic (not in touch with reality).. mania that’s just really awful.
At any rate, those of you looking for a therapist.. take a look on the internet and see if there’s anyone doing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).. pioneered by someone who studyed and worked with clients who were “Borderline” which often includes our bipolar family/friends. Her name is escaping me at the moment.. however if you look up DBT, it will include her name and likely her books are available at Amazon.com. The workbook in particular is useful, but needs to be used with someone trained in the technique
Hi Dsvid
This is SO SCARY!!!
My daughter has BIPOLAR DISORDER and have so many addictions as well!!!
She’s an alcoholic, drug attic AND addicted to gambling… She was also addicted to Prescriped medication (Seroquel, sleeping tablets and other Depression tablets). They say she has a VERY ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY.
She can’t even have R50 on her – then the urge to gamble, buy drugs, alcohol, pain tablets or diet tablets is too strong…!
PLEASE, PLEASE David look at my Profile to refer to all her problems (possibility of jail sentence as well) and give me advice on what to do…
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT DAVID…!
God Bless
Malanie (a very concerned and worried mother)
South Africa
My boyfriend, who i have wrote about many times, drinks alcohol… when he does it is a nightmare. His friends think I am just “a bad person” because I dont want him to drink. When he drinks with them they think he is the life of the party… and he is! then he comes down from it and I am the one who pays for the episode. Then there are the times when he is already down and he chooses to drink… that is the worst – as you can imagine. His counselor is aware of this and is doing NOTHING. I have questioned for a loooong time if she is capable of dealing with someone with bipolar… i do not believe that she is. The more he talks to her… the less he talks to anyone else and has more frequent episodes. We have just broke up — he is my friend of 31 years but i cant take the rollercoaster. Please help me get help for him!
Well said Dave,
I would like to make one correction. A person with Bi-Polar disorder is born with it. It is discovered later in life but not developed later in life.
Thankyou Dave, I’ve wanted to know about the effects of alcohol on my partner who is on medication for bipolar but denies it, then says he is to me just to please me! Actually, everthing you said I already know, maybe my denial!! I want him to be well but he’s doing what he can and I must take care of myself and stop trying to fix him. I sent him your letters and he said ‘Americans and the way they go on’ which is denial plus stigma.
I’m stepping back, simply because he’s not prepared to help himself, I have to now to keep my sanity.
Linda
Thank you for your outlook on this situation. I was diagnosed with BiPolar II last spring and I am a recovering alcoholic (with more than 15yrs). Unfortunately, I was also diagnosed with severe high blood pressure. There are conflicting reports as to when or not to drink alcohol or be recomended to drink. I think we should always have all of our doctors who prescrip medicine to talk to each other in regards to the patient.
Does this caution about alcohol and bipolar include an occasional glass of wine or just excessive drinking?
I drank alcoohol from 1966 until I quit in 1999. Although I was on psychotropc meds at the time, it didn’t seem to affect my peersonality. But – I soon developed a “drinking problem.” I couldn’t be called an “aocoholic,” as no one seemed to think I was.
I would drink a six-pack of beer most days, along with 3-4 cocktails. It was when my pDoc prescribed NEW meds for me, tht I said to myself – I can’t take these new meds AND drink. So, it took three DAYS for me to get over the craving, and I haven’t touched a drink since.
Now that I’m on the Fentanyl pain patch, there is absolutely NO way I’m going to drink alcohol. As Dave says – there ARE lethal combinations of pills with alcohol. It doesn’t take a BIG brain to figure out that the more chemicals you put in your body, the more liklihood they will interact, and it will NOT be pretty. Plenty of side effects can happen WITHOUT adding alcool to injury. As for me, I’m STILL dizzy, and my shrink hasn’t figured out which meds are doing it.
Thank you for your prayers and concerns.
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Dear Dave,
My daughter went out one day and blew my money
$800 on alcohol and drugs and at that time I never thought of my daughter as needing help.AS time went on I noticed my daughter becoming more open with her alcohol and drug taking behaviour and it still didn’t occur to me that there was anything seriously wrong. Rachel was hospitalized the first time voluntarily she was there for 7 days until I took her out of the hospital because I believed there was nothing wrong and the staff at the hospital couldn’t help her anyway.
the first time Rachel had her BP episode she took 6 months to straighten herself out we ( Rachel and I) both believed she didnt have BP she was just stressed out with medical school.
Rachel met someone they had 2 children , that relationship was violent. Rachel began to drink and to take drugs around the children , she would fall asleep during the day and leave the children to their own devices her young boy ( he was around 8 months and walking, at the time), was found trying to climb over the railing on the balcony of their apartment ( there was a 5 metre drop to the pavement).Her behaviour got worse and worse Rachel was combining alsorts of alcohol and drugs as well as the drugs she was taking for her condition ( she was in denial at the time so Im not sure that she took them at all)- because I too was in denial too, I would get her the booze, I would validate her behaviour by saying to her everything was ok ,I even excused the baby incident.At this point Rachels behaviour became wildly erratic and overly weird – there were things she would act out in public : it was at that point I had to get her help and quickly or my daughter was going to seriously hurt herself or her boys.Suffice to say from the onset of my noticing Rachels behaviour to her second BP attack and hospitalization for BP took 5 years. I will always regret I hadn’t taken action sooner , they do say hinsight has 20/20 vision.
Suffice to say if a supporter is in denial and actually actively working to undermine any help available for their loved one ( like rejecting any suggestions their loved one needs help, like excusing outrageous and risky behaviours their loved one is exhibiting)-these supporters could be risking their loved ones life.
regards
Shona
Dear Dave,
I would like to continue my comments by also adding that after many years of hell, Rachel is now stable and she has been for the last 4 months: she has a position at the university as a research administrator , Rachel has been drug free and alcohol free for the last 11/2 years.She has so much courage and tenacity to win out over this most dreadful affliction.We know that there are no cures for BP only for the sufferer – maintainence forbearance and courage and awareness.
Regards
Shona
My son is 25 now. He self medicated with various drugs and alcohol since he was 16 years old. Now he has both to deal with, along with the bipolar. He now lives in a residential house with others who have a mental disorder also. He goes for day treatment every week day, but I don’t know if the other problems are being delt with. I appriciate your e-mails. Thank you.
Dear Dave et al, My name is Lynn, and I’m a ‘real’ alcoholic. I also live w/Bipolar II on a daily basis. I’ve referred to myself as ‘dually-diagnosed’ b/4, so I’m not unfamiliar w/the term. I’ve said it here b/4, but I’ll say it again; it’s worth repeating!! I must do something for my alcoholism recovery on a daily basis, AND I must do something for my bipolar recovery on a daily basis, for my recovery to be balanced. It’s the only way I can remain in spiritual contact w/my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God, and deal w/my bipolar, so I don’t end up in the ‘nut-hut’, suicidally depressed. I take my meds religiously, and see my therapist and A.A. sponsor regularly, and all this helps, one day @ a time. This has been my experience. Thanks for allowing me to share.
i have bipolar and i have no need to drink alcohol. but if i do on a going out basis i go mania extreemly excited happy, but can turn extreamly violant !!!
and the next day get very depressed not hung over !!
that makes me not want to drink because of the down turn the next day….
same as in party drugs, i feel the punishment in my body the next day…
but my drug addiction was steroids,… of 7yrs
but just recently i went to a new sych and in a half hr visit he said i was compleatly normal and that i was wrongly diagnosed .. and to taper of my 1250mg a day of lithiam strait away, !!! so i did , i was ment go back in a month to see how i was going, but i didnt go back cause i felt great !!!!!!!!!
then a bloke owed me money ?? and i went into a frenzy on him kicking him in the head whilest he was sitting in hes car still with the seat belt on… when i finished i slamed the car door then re opened it and gave him another 3 or 4 kickes in the head, i then slamed the door and casualy walked up the street like nothing had happened, not even raised my heart beat..
but on the lithiam ive had blokes dance around in front of me shapeing up and telling me to hit them and just larfed and didnt care !!!
so after this incident i went back to the sych and said what had happened and i was going to charged and a court case and also said that i had no money… as he charged $350/ half hr and $400-$600 for letters to lawyers for courts… as soon as he knew i had no money he wasnt interested and said he would send a letter to my gp and said he was happy for him to treat me with medication..
i went back to my gp 2 weeks later and said what the sych said about the letter and my gp said that he didnt recieve any letter from him at all ???????
my lawyer said he sent requests to my gp and my sych for coart and he said that he recieved a letter from my gp and nothing from my sych……. DO THEY HAVE A DUTY OF CARE ??? OR WHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT SO DO THEY ?????
OR DOES THIS CLOWN RELISE HE STUFFED UP AND MAY GET DRAGGED INTO COART…. AND WORST OF ALL FOR FREE !!!!!
David, I drank with medication for a long time, becoming
loud and boisterous in public. It made me feel brave
when in reality I was being impulsive. When I realized
I was going to get a bad reputation, I stopped drinking
altogether and haven’t touched alcohol in seventeen years.I was lucky not to have gotten very sick or died.
Thank you for bringing up this issue as it is so important not to mix meds with alcohol-it can only
damage your health and destroy your personality.
Cindy
Dear Dave, which one should be treated first. My therapist tells me, Bipolar should be treated first. Then the alocholism. Because he says if Bipolar is left untreated you can’t resolve the rest of it. I am not sure about that. I have a friend who is on bipolar meds and drinks. But somedays she does not drink. She finally got a job and said she will not be drinking as much because she wants to do well on her job. Her meds have been the same for the last 2 years. She is scared to go to the dr(psych) for fear of being put in the hosptial. She has only been once and it was a bad experience. She got a new job this week. I hope she can make it. I am living with her and her husband as a roommate and friend. She is only 27 and doesn’t understand the dangers of drinking and taking her meds. What can I do besides being supportive of her new job and her not drinking? I was just curious. Thanks,
Thank you for bringing up this issue…
I was just diagnosed as bipolar two years ago. Since the diagnosis I have wanted and have drank more than I’ve ever done in my life. I drink during the day, I say I won’t but then go buy a 12 pack of beer and it takes the edge off, but it also causes me to act impulsively and I’ll drive, to the Mall, buy clothes, make up, then the next day, have to take it all back because I have no money.
Each day I say I won’t drink, then each day (almost) I end up telling myself it’s OK. I didn’t realize it, but I am an alcoholic.
I just said it, for the very first time. I AM an alcoholic.
Thank you