am i dual diagnosed?

I'm new here, hope this is OK to ask this question (don't want to come up as ignorant).

i have troubles with substance abuse ( i think this is the appropriate way to say it)and i am also disabled (chest down).

is this group for me? do you have another one?

thank you,

George.

Generally, I understand, "dual diagnosis" refers to a person who has a mood-affective disorder or disease (e.g. bipolar disease) in combination with addiction, alcoholism, or chronic substance abuse. Bipolar with addiction/alcoholism/substance abuse is the primary focus of this support group, but "dual diagnosis" may have a little broader meaning for some. That's okay, though.

As I understand it, an affective disorder is one which presents extreme mood swings, and it is one which is generally associated with a state of mind or with the function of the mind.

Many diseases may cause a state of mind such as will produce mood swings. The mood swings in themselves, I understand, do not prove bipolar disease, but they are indeed evidence of a disease or condition which induces mood swings.

A common example of a disease which apparently is related to mood swings is thyroid disease.

Many have said that other common causes for mood swings may be diet, substance abuse itself, trauma, lack of exercise, too much sleep, too little sleep, stress, emotional drain, and so on.

In the matter of your admitted substance abuse, you may consider that you have come to the right place!

So maybe you can see a psychiatrist in regard to your question of bipolar, but, in any case keep coming back!

Regards,

Jim