bipolar and addiction

[stateofnevrmind]

Hi there
I was wondering if anybody out there ever suffers from the same dilemma as myself. what comes first the the mental illness or the addiction???? See I can never figure out if I started because of the bipolar or I just started using and the illlness progressed because of... so.. I was just wondering if anyone else had the same deal??

 

[assembled]

I was always a little bit different than other people..

Drug use lead me into mental illness which may or may not have presented itself if I had not started using.

Now that I am clean except for 2-3 drinks a week, I still have emotional issues, but for the most part free of any serious mental ailments.

Still different than the majority of people though.. I'd say if you have mental illness stay the fuck away from recreational drugs. They don't help one bit. Ecstasy especially can make things worse.

 

[Sl1pp3Ry]

Hi, I lost the better part of ten years of my life due substance abuse issues that were co-morbid with my bipolar disorder. Unfortunately for many, the two go hand in hand like green eggs & ham and can be quite debilitating if not managed effectively.
I have been on and off several medications, with only lithium and seroquel working the best for me over the long term. As you probably already know, the negative effects of bipolar can manifest themselves in a ton of other ways than drug use/abuse. Some of these ways include engaging in other risky behavior (ie gambling, unprotected or compulsive sex, spending sprees, spontaneous/impulsive urges to just leave situations or neglect responsibilities).
I was in your exact situation at one time, where I was presented with a choice to either manage my illness in healthy, constructive manner or to try and escape it through substance abuse while having to deal with the disastrous consequences that behavior invariably causes to people with our condition. Take care to heed your head, your emotions, and spirit. Do not go down the same road I did, it could end up costing more time and energy than you could ever imagine.
Be responsible, if you are going to use then do so with the utmost of vigilance and caution knowing that it bring you further into the abyss if it is not kept under control. I learned to equate the swings in my B.P. with my inherent lack of discipline when it comes to self gratification but it took many years and A LOT of pain and suffering to do so. I hope this reply is of some use to you and best of luck in your future endeavors.