Bi polar disorder and drinking alcohol

[southernbelle47]

Bipolar Disorder & Alcohol Don't Mix


Millions of people ring in the New Year with a few drinks - or more than a few. For many, no harm comes from drinking moderately and responsibly. However, no amount of alcohol is safe for people battling bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness characterized by extreme swings in mood, from highs (mania) to lows (depression). The condition affects roughly 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the U.S. population aged 18 years or older, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH). It is the sixth leading cause of disability worldwide.
Alcohol consumption, even in moderate amounts, can worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder, particularly suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Many people with bipolar disorder abuse alcohol and recreational drugs during manic episodes, and some individuals develop secondary substance abuse problems as a result. Bipolar patients often abuse alcohol as a means of self-medicating in an attempt to treat the symptoms of their illness or side effects of medications currently being taken. Other times, bipolar patients may abuse alcohol to help counter the feelings of guilt and shame that can accompany their mental illness.
Alcohol consumption, even in moderate amounts, can worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder, particularly suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This is particularly alarming for patients with bipolar disorder because as many as one in five individuals with the mental illness commits suicide, according to the NIMH. For this population, ringing in the New Year sober is especially important.
Here are some tips for enjoying New Year's celebrations sans alcohol:

• Do not make alcohol the main focus of holiday partying. For example, if you are hosting an event, provide an assortment of non-alcoholic drinks and starchy foods (e.g., pizza, fried jalape?os stuffed with cheese). Carbohydrates and other foods containing starch have a calming and soothing effect on mood. If you are attending a party, concentrate on consuming such goodies and keep away from the alcohol.
• Build a support network. Tell your friends and other partygoers about your need to avoid alcohol so they do not offer (and help encourage you to avoid it).
• Be aware of the dangers of drinking, especially when taking any prescription or over-the-counter medication.Avoid drinking any beverage while attending a party without first asking if it is spiked with liquor; if it is, ask for a plain version instead.For the general health and safety of all your guests, close the bar at least an hour before the end of the party, even if you have to hide the alcohol from your guests. Arrange for transportation (or overnight stay at your home) for guests who you suspect may be too intoxicated to drive safely.

Although challenging, avoiding alcohol during the holidays - and throughout the year - can help prevent worsening and/or recurrence of mental illness symptoms and may help aid in the recovery. Have a happy and sober New Year!


Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness characterized by extreme swings in mood, from highs (mania) to lows (depression).





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[Lou]

Bi polar disorder and drinking alcohol

Nancy

Thank you so much for that information and advice....boy do i know about alcohol worstening suicidal thoughts and tendancies. I myself am due an assesment on 22nd of Jan to be formaly dignosed as bi polar so that i can be given the correct meds to treat the condition...my GP is certain i have bi polar and tells me that drinking is often a syptom of the illness (self medicating) but cannot give me the mood stabalisers i need until iv been for a psychiatric assesment.

Lou-Lou x

[Flip]

Bi polar disorder and drinking alcohol

My doctor just told me about the link too, and has suspected for some time that I am at least mildly bi-polar. I have just started taking medication for it (about a month) and guess what??? haven't had a drink for 31 days!!! ( in conjuction with Campral). The first week I felt really 'flat' and very very tired. But now that has past and I feel 'normal'. not overly 'happy' or 'sad', just like I think a 'normal' person would feel.

I always knew that the drinking was making me feel worse, but I couldn't stop as it made me 'happy' every day. So, drink to make yourself feel better, have hangover next day and feel worse (guilty) so drink more that night to make yourself feel happy again.... what a cycle!

[boycie]

Bi polar disorder and drinking alcohol

Thanks Nancy for the info it is very helpful my ex partner has boarderline personality disorder and she use to get tones worse with a few drinks. Think she was part of the reason I drank so much. Happy New Year. Kim

[eustacia]

Bi polar disorder and drinking alcohol

Nancy,

Thanks for your timely and important post. People with bipolar disorder are not always the chandelier swinging characters we might imagine. In other words, none of us knows whom among our midst . . . Also, sadly, the comorbidity of substance abuse and bipolar disorder is quite significant.

E

[pansy]

Bi polar disorder and drinking alcohol

Thanks Nancy and E,

I think it is really hard to tell - I mean they are us. I know people in my field who are on meds (we don't know who, just know by the med sheet print outs that are NOT attached to names or IDs). They are some VERY high functioning people. Sad for me to see people painted as less than by so many in society. Also, how hard it must be for children who are experiencing the beginning stages - very scary and SO misunderstood.

Pansy

[southernbelle47]

Bi polar disorder and drinking alcohol

You are right Pansy......some of the most brillant people in our history were bi polar.

I think the alcohol abuse is sometimes to calm down the very active brain so some sleep will come.
It would be great if more doctors knew how to treat it successfully.

Anybody can have a bi polar TYPE reaction when coming off certain drugs or under stressful conditions.

Thanks everybody for your input.