Today was truly a great day.
We planted a garden together, the first in our marriage or family. My husband is incredibly proud of this, and I am too. The kids just wanted to dig and they did, usually though it didn't offer much help.
I am really proud of him right now. He hasn't drank, and I know his problem with the courts is a big part of it, but still I am proud. I know it takes a lot for him to refrain, especially when all of his friends drink, therefore isolating him from everyone but his family.
I think the garden is a symbol and a way to nurture, since he can no longer nurture the brown bottle. It's symbolic because it is all new and fresh. We can grow this garden and make it flourish, a way to help wash away the past hurts, to start anew. I do hope it produces, I am afraid of what that will symbolize.
Our garden has a little bit of everything, corn, tomatoes, lettace and radishes. Watermelon and cantalope, cucumbers and carrots. If this garden does produce, we will have a very happy rabbit.
I watch him put all his energy into the house, garden and vehicles and I still worry a little. The court system is forcing him to quit drinking, but I truly hope he can pick up new habits that will enable him to stay sober when he is know longer controlled by the system.
Tomorrow is another day of promise, today was a day of peace, for now that is enough.
Pathway's of Life
There is always more than one and neither is ever clear.
Sunday, May 18, 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.