When you live with or love someone that suffers from a dual diagnosis, it can be increasingly difficult to find things to be thankful for.
Dealing with a disease(s) such as bipolar and alcohol addiction can be draining and time consuming. Some days can feel like they will never end and nothing good is in the horizon. Some days you can feel the weight of the world on your shoulders and your world is forever darkened by the clouds of frustration and despair. It is during these times that it is most important to look deeper and find something, no matter how trivial, to be thankful for.
Taking the time to unburden the stress and rejoice in the good can be what makes the difference between surviving the day with your mind in tact and merely getting through another day.
Make a list everyday of something you are thankful for and add to it as needed. Don't worry about whether or not another person would view it as meaningful, what matters is you. Some days I am simply thankful that I am breathing, other days it may be more.
No matter how difficult it can seem, taking a moment to be thankful for something good, will help break apart those dark clouds and allow rays of sunshine in.
Today I am thankful for:
My family
My Health
My Blog
My Breath
The beauty in flowers.
The innocence of children.
Hope
The chance to do it better tomorrow.
Pathway's of Life
There is always more than one and neither is ever clear.
Friday, May 23, 2008
What is dual diagnosis?
Dual Diagnosis is a medical term used to categorize a person that suffers from both a mental disorder or illness and a dependency such as alcohol or drug abuse.
It is common to find that a person who suffers from a mental disorder such as bipolar, also has a problem with drinking or drugs or vice-versa. Both disorders can lead to emotional, financial and relationship problems on their own, combing the two can be twice as difficult.
Most people who suffer from a dual diagnosis are often diagnosed with either the mental illness or a substance abuse problem first and the other is discovered later.
For example, alcohol abuse can make if very difficult to medically treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder. The alcohol is a self-medication that allows the individual to feel temporary relief from effects of bipolar disorder. This fix is only temporary and because of that, the individual needs the constant medication that alcohol offers, which leads to abuse. It is in this way that someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder, who has no prior history of a drinking problem can develop one.