Co-Occurring Disorders Q&A
14 experts · 25 questions answered
Latest Q&As
Is Her Schizophrenic Drug Using Brother in Law Dangerous to Her Kids?
I can't answer whether this gentleman is dangerous any more accurately than this: Every human being is dangerous in some circumstances. Mental health issues, including schizophrenia, do not typically make people with them more dangerous with people without them. However, some people who use drugs be
Answered by Jennifer Liles
Should I Start Drinking in order to Feel "Normal"? Social Anxiety and Alcohol
One of the primary effects of alcohol is to lower inhibitions, so if you are looking for a 'quick fix' to feel less self-conscious, it would do the trick. However (and this is a huge however ), most addictions start when someone uses a substance or behavior to solve a particular problem (such as fee
Answered by Jennifer Liles
Small steps to what you want
I wish I could talk to you direct, but I will deal with the situation in broad terms and hope that some of it may be helpful. In your position, it would seem important to stop drinking in stages, to reduce slowly, or at least to get some medication to help if you are going to stop suddenly. You shou
Answered by Jill Edwards
Can You Be Fired For Being Hungover? Probably. (So what is next?)
A reader with dual diagnosis of alcoholism and depression, who attends AA and takes medication, asks if they can be fired for being hungover at work after vomiting in the parking lot. They feel discriminated against and question their legal
Answered by Jennifer Liles
My Brother Stopped Using, but He's Still A Jerk! What Do I Do Now?
It sounds like you're grieving for the kid your brother used to be and wondering (and hoping!) that the sweet kid comes back – and that is your real question. Is it possible that he has an undiagnosed mental health condition? Absolutely, yes. It's also possible that there is something that happened
Answered by Jennifer Liles
Dealing with risk
My 54 year old brother falls asleep in his Lazy Boy most nights after drinking too much in front of the TV. He has been a drinker for a long time so this is not new. Lately has started sleeping with a loaded handgun right next to the chair. He says people are looking for him but he won’t say who or
Answered by Jill Edwards
Overworked, Under Appreciated, and Depressed
A man in alcohol recovery who also has bipolar disorder and major depression describes feeling overworked, unsupported, and emotionally overwhelmed at his job, with urges to self-harm (not suicidal) amid work stress and family responsibilit
Answered by David Shannon
Managed Care is Evil
It sounds like your insurance company is hoping that if they delay long enough that you will cease your efforts. I urge you to be dilligent and to call them yourself - verify what information they need and fax it to them. Make follow up phone calls and stay on top of them. Get the name of each perso
Answered by Jim LaPierre
How Insurance Determines Treatment Coverage
There are several factors related to meeting "medical necessity" for treatment: The amount/frequency of Drug/Alcohol use and/or the need for a medically monitored detox Recent failure of treatment at a lower level of care (for example, outpatient treatment) The presence of a co occurring disorder su
Answered by Dr. David Sack
Teenage marijuana use and Schizophrenia
Your parents are not full of it. They have reason to be concerned. It is not clear cut that your marijuana (cannabis) use will cause you to develop schizophrenia, although the fact that your brother is diagnosed with it does increase the risk. It may already have caused other changes in your brain,
Answered by David Shannon
Substance Abuse and Therapy Boundaries
Thank you for your post. It sounds like you're very concerned for your brother. It is not uncommon for individuals diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder to self medicate with substances such as marijuana. In fact, substance abuse makes it quite difficult to diagnose many disorders because they can mask th
Answered by Dr. Lani Chin
Sounds Like a Diamond in the Rough
If you spend all day on your computer does that mean you don’t have a job? If not, why not? You say you can’t think of anything better to do. Why not get a job if you don’t have one? You say your life sucks. You sound to me like you are depressed. The way out of this rut is to find a counselor you c
Answered by Lita Perna
Being a Parent Means Making the Hard Choices
My heart goes out to you and your husband. I can certainly hear the desperation in your words and can feel the love that you and your husband have for your son. It is never easy to lose a child and then be on the cusp of a second one sufferIng from the same disease of addiction. It also appears that
Answered by Jeannie Cameron, LMHC
Classic codependency
Are there danger signs? Yes. Absolutely. Read what you wrote: "… he becomes’ mean, vilolent , very very agitated…. He is banned from several public places and an airline for abusive language. verbally abbusive and has been known in those times to break a few things.." 1. Find and get yourself to an
Answered by Lita Perna
Dont give up hope!
Thank you for your question. The length of your post was necessary to provide so much useful information. I commend your obvious efforts and devotion to your children. From what you have privovided, it seems to me that your son would be most likely to benefit from a therapeutic alliance with an expe
Answered by Patricia O'Neill
Helping other people to help themselves
Dear Mum and Dad Your is a story of devoted work to support the son in his difficult life. You are telling me that you are running out of resources for yourselves as people and also financially. I am hearing that he has been able to make some improvements in his life. He has weaned himself off of su
Answered by Jill Edwards
Tough Lady Fighting to Get Better
No Nancy. Your time is just beginning. You just can't see past the struggle. You're not 'trapped'. You're on a road. This site is your most recent stop. Here goes: First: You were very smart to leave your zip code. It enabled me to look up these places: Your first goal should be to contact one or al
Answered by Lita Perna
Treat yourself as ill not bad
A 27-year-old who drinks heavily and feels deeply depressed describes shaking at night and needing to drink to stop it, and asks how to quit when depression keeps them from leaving the house or attending meetings.
Answered by Jill Edwards
Laced Marijuana Can Lead to a Bad Trip
First, let me say that I am very sorry that you are suffering from this recent incident. The problem with buying or smoking marijuana is similar to the same dilemma we face we buy our food. We don’t know what is in our food unless we know the farmer. We don’t know what is in marijuana without knowin
Answered by John O'Neal
Hope for postpartum depression!
Greetings, Firstly, good for you for five years sober, we know you can do it! Having a baby is stressful for any of us, and some women struggle far more with mood changes and the effects of sleep loss. Your hormones are all over the place particularly in the first several months, which affects our m
Answered by Rachel Starck
Teen Alcohol Abuse with Asperger's Syndrome
As a former director of a teenage substance abuse treatment center, I know the problem well concerning co-occurring teenagers; those with a psychiatric diagnosis(es), such as Asperger's Syndrome, and alcohol abuse. First, I would like to commend you for identifying the problem(s) and actively seek a
Answered by John O'Neal
Switching addictions
It is not uncommon for addicts to switch addictions. The smoker who begins eating compulsively. The alcoholic who begins taking prescription medication. It underscores the statement addiction is addiction. If your sister is a compulsive eater, by definition she is using food and eating to deal with
Answered by Donna Hunter
Self-Medicating with Alcohol and Xanax
A reader with GAD and panic disorder is self-medicating with alcohol, Xanax, and opiates, feeling out of control. They need help but are uncomfortable with hospitals or clinics and struggling to quit Xanax due to severe panic.
Answered by Dr. Karl Benzio
ADHD Control
Congratulations on your sobriety. Your current investigation of possible ADHD seems appropriate. Several issues here: ADHD needs to be diagnosed by a professional who is qualified to do so. Typically this is done through a psychologist (PhD) and/or psychiatrist. It is important that you get a thorou
Answered by Jody Hansen
Bipolar – Involuntary Commitment
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Answered by Dr. David Sack