Mental Illness

[JBKlyde]

I think the biggest part of recovery is admitting you have a problem. Once you accept that you are mentally ill you sort of take you meds and submit to the doctors. Could you imagine someone with cancer saying.. "I'm not sick". Alcoholism is a disease in an of it self. I don't have a problem with it so I don't know. I've been to a few AA meetings for weed but I'm not an addict. My advice get help asap, the longer you go untreated the harder it is to recover.

[Aliantha]

Has anyone else been wondering if this is Pensive Pams sister?

[classicman]

or brother/mother/father/cousin....

[monster]

surely no-one on here is naive/stupid enough to pass on the password to a banned user..... oh wait....

[classicman]

Huh? You mean I wasn't supposed to post it on FB?

[wolf]

Monster is right about setting boundaries ... sisteranonymous calls at three am because you answer the phone.

Express your concern, certainly, but set those limits!

Talking to a drunk isn't typically productive. Try to call her when you have an expectation of sobriety. If she calls drunk, tell her you'll talk when she sobers up. If she calls drunk and threatens suicide, send the cops to her house.

[wolf]

P.S. Anon, feel free to PM me from your regular account.

[it]

wait what exactly are the indicators that she's mentally ill? i've seen way too many people cry wolf over that one...

[wolf]

Well, we've at least established that she is a drunk. And here in America, consistent drunkenness and mental illness are considered two sides of the same coin. Crazy until proven innocent.

[it]

Originally Posted by wolf

Well, we've at least established that she is a drunk. And here in America, consistent drunkenness and mental illness are considered two sides of the same coin. Crazy until proven innocent.

well that's just an addiction... something you might genetically tend towards but not a condition you are stuck with... and most uses of mental illness sort of suggest the later (even if it doesn't always applies).

just a thought - i remember reading that the pill that is useful for smoking is also useful for reducing the affects of other addictions, and its really easy to get a subscription too (by saying that.. well, that your a smoker. whose going to check?). could be better then AA.

also, low-calorie beer... can anything get you off of alcohol quicker?
then there's... you know, AA.

i really don't think there is a point in diagnosing a mental illness until you take the alcohol out of the way, it's like trying to diagnose whether you have ADD when your on weed.

[wolf]

Mentally ill people abuse substances, substance abusers have signs or symptoms of mental illness. Hard to say which is the chicken or which is the egg, even when the individual is sober.

It's hard to fathom, traceur, but Americans have a very different relationship with alcohol than folks in other parts of the world.

[it]

Originally Posted by wolf

It's hard to fathom, traceur, but Americans have a very different relationship with alcohol than folks in other parts of the world.

different how and... from which parts?

edit: i've just learned to be extremely skeptical whenever someone says the words "we are different"

[monster]

and now you just learned that wolf is a very experienced mental health professional who is known for being spot on.....

[ZenGum]

Traceur, before you go much further, read these two threads.

Tales from the Nuthouse: Lest You Think I have a Really Cool Job

Tales from the Nuthouse: Lest You Think I have a Really Suck Job

Not only will they establish Wolf's credibility in dealing with mental illness and alcoholism, but they're as entertaining as any thread here.



"Cry Wolf " Bwahahaa.

[Aliantha]

Actually, I'm curious to know what makes Americas relationship with alcohol different to that of other countries.

If you wouldn't mind wolf. I mean no disrespect at all and I'm really surprised by that statement.