Substance Abuse

[Seph1212]

How many people here have a history of substance abuse? Did it result from or result in any episodes?

I abused cannabis off and on from 13 to 20.
I abused LSD from 16 to 20.
I abused alcohol off and on from 21 to 37.
I abused morphine & oxycodone at 40.

Yikes! I also tried a few other things, but they never really took hold.

It's hard to say whether the first three were an attempt at self-medication, laid a bad foundation for future mental health, were just fun, or a combination of these.

I think cannabis and alcohol are commonly abused as self medication, and I'm pretty sure at least the later will complicate things. Although I've read of people who've had relief from their affective disorders by using cannabis.

On the surface I find that hard to believe, but then again it is a pretty complex plant, which unfortunately our (the US) government (likely at the behest of big pharma) won't allow proper research on.

My maternal side is full of affective disorders and alcoholism up the wazoo.

I do know that when mixed, hypo, or manic, I begin to drink more. Then again, at those times, I do everything a lot more. Of course it makes things worse. I begin to start more fights and engage in a more poor judgement, as if I weren't doing those enough already.

Also that episode with the opiate abuse was the result of an episode, and I'm sure didn't make things any better. I think I was trying to dull the symptoms. It didn't work and to this day the thought of opiates makes me sick to my stomach.

[Seph1212]

I don't think what you describe can be diagnosed BP according to DSM IV as manias induced buy drugs are excluded from the diagnosis. That said, it doesn't mean you don't have BPD either. I think I've read that the DSM 5 will allow for AD induced manias to count, at least for BP 2.

I wasn't diagnosed until after ADs set me off the rails, but in retrospect I was constantly cycling between depressions, hypomanias, and mixed states at least since my early 20s. It's just that the later two were overlooked.

Drug use and a psych disorder...it's a chicken and egg type thing. But for me I think the cycle comes first, then the drug (alcohol more specifically) use, then the cycle is intensified.

[neen8699]

substance abuse is the only thing that gives me episodes.  I wonder how much of the drugs and alcohol actually starts the process of these disorders.  Everyone says I am a patient and kind person and i usually just keep my mouth shut about things. Throw some alcohol into it and i am out of control and telling people what i really think.  I may be depressed afterward but i have no remorse for my actions afterward.  Sometimes i wonder if it really is a bipolar issue like everyone says it is.  I mean really who nowadays thinks logically.  I have been bipolar for 10 years and i see people around me doing and saying crazier things than i ever would.  I don't know just a thought.