Dual Diagnosed Recovery--Starting on the same page

For purposes of this forum, let's use the generalized definition of disease:

Disease--an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=disease+definition )

Let's agree that active substance abuse and active abuse of alcohol introduces harmful or toxic levels of chemicals into our systems. Let's agree that the use of mind or mood altering substances impairs our mental and physical functioning an observable way. Let's agree that bipolar disease also impairs our mental and physical functioning in an observable way.

Let's observe based on our own experience that alcohol abuse, substance abuse, and bipolar disorder have all four demonstrated "symptoms" or indicators of mood swings, emotional volatility, general dysfunction, and occasionally physical disorders, such as liver disease, inflamed septum, hemorrhagic conditions in the esophagus, stomach, and bowels, impaired reasoning, shrunken hippocampus, seizures, dementia, and others which you may verify for yourself.

Now we have indications of disease.

Let's give our target diseases a general description or definition:

Addiction, alcoholism--a disease which presents periodic or chronic uncontrollable craving for mind or mood altering substances. [a symptom of addiction/alcoholism would be periodic or chronic substance abuse.]

Bipolar disease--a diagnosed state of mental ill health which causes or affects extreme mood swings ranging from manic (exhilerated, energetic, positive, imaginative, optimistic) to depressed (fatigued, lethargic, negative, unimaginative, pessimistic).

Dual diagnosis--a diagosis of bipolar disease with addiction or alcoholism.

Now that we have agreed on the general foundation for understanding dual diagnosis--as it may apply in THIS support group, we can see that both we and the doctors have a handle by which to "diagnose" these diseases.

You may challenge the words, the meaning, or the science of this foundation; and I am sure, in doing so, that you can find many flaws in it. Therefore, it may help to explain that this forum does not seek perfection; rather, this forum only seeks to help you and me to recover.

I have merely asked, for purposes of drawing a boundary of understanding in this group, that, for the time being, you agree to see things a certain way.

In time, of course, we all change our beliefs and viewpoints; but, for now I merely ask of you to accept this as a "starting point." Okay?

So before we all go off and start "nit-picking" (nit-picking is one of the more annoying symptoms of our disease, isn't it?), let's just for awhile stay on the same page.

And, PLEASE, if you don't agree, don't "jump me" (I'm a sensitive person, don'tcha know! *Chuckle*)! If you have a question, objection, or rebuttal, just state it, and we all get together to "work it out."

Roy asked me to be the group leader here (I don't remember volunteering), but I am happy to turn it over to any of you. Besides, I prefer to have a group partnership in recovery as opposed to "group leaders."

On the other hand, as I see it, anyone may become a "guide" for others by sharing the appropriate experience, strength, and hope.

Thanks. Y'all for being a part of my recovery!

Jim

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dualdiagnosis.html

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/health-forums/addiction- and-recovery/474-bipolar-addicted-selfhelp

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23049

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/dual/a/aa981209.htm

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/dual/a/aa981209.htm

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/bipolar-support-forums/ tips/602-dual-diagnosedrelief-or-recovery

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/bipolar-support-forums/ tips/938-bipolar-or-addictedhelping-a-friend

http://www.mdjunction.com/bipolar/articles/