Dual diagnosis, in the context of bipolar disease with addiction/alcoholism/substance abuse, has always presented difficulty to diagnosticians, because the symptoms of one disease tend to hide among the symptoms of the other disease.

This article should help you to see where symptoms may "overlap" and, with a little honest personal inventory or the help of a health professional, to help  you to see whether you or your loved one should seek direction or help.

Recent research has demonstrated that certain traits correlate positively with recovery from trauma. I will describe each of these traits and discuss their relevance to recovery from the trauma of a bipolar episode and to the maintenance of feelings of well being in the future.
These observations are based on studies of individuals who had to face the trauma of being POW's in the Viet Nam War for up to 8 years and had been subjected to torture and solitary confinement. I will focus on the particular traits, attitudes or perspectives which enabled certain soldiers to be most "resilient." John S. Tamerin, M.D.

"Suicide is a major problem for those with mood disorders. It is estimated that as many as fifteen percent of individuals with untreated Bipolar Disorder commit suicide."

By submitting this admittedly subjective article, I wish to encourage those to whom it may apply to learn to speak openly in the matter of suicidal feelings. Bipolar disease and addiciton/alcholism have plagued me all my life, isolating me from rather than connecting me to others at the most critical and devastating moments.
Whether you have been afflicted with bipolar disease, addiction, alcoholism, or a combination (dual diagnosed), or whether you merely seek a better understanding, it often helps to hear someone's first hand experience.

This is MY experience....