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Topic Tuesday **CLOSED**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Topic Tuesday **CLOSED**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Dual diagnosis. It's like a double dilemma and it can feel like a merry-go-round supporting a loved one's recovery when there are mental health issues as well as substance abuse. It can be hard to tell what symptoms are related to mental illness or substance abuse, making it challenging to provide support.

Sometimes people mental illness will use drugs and/or alcohol as a way of coping with their symptoms. The effects of substances can help to mask symptoms that would otherwise be more evident if they were sober. This means that when people stop using, the symptoms that were once hidden by the effects of drug and/or alcohol, can rear up, making it hard to stay so sober and to get off the merry-go-round of substance abuse.

So how can you as carer support someone through these trying times? Join us Tuesday 23/02 from 7-9pm AEDT @Former-Member and @Hobbit this Topic Tuesday to discuss how.

2 things you can do right now

1. If you haven't already, register so that you can take part on evening and elsewhere on the Forums.

2. Click 'like' if you can make it, and we'll send a call out to you as a reminder on the night.

Can't make it? Leave your question below, and it will be answered during Topic Tuesday

53 replies

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In response to: Topic Tuesday **CLOSED**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

If the self medicating works (using the term works loosely) sometimes its enough for the person to feel like they avoid the stigma in the first place

In response to: Topic Tuesday **CLOSED**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Tay I made it!! I'm so happy to see my friend @Hobbit!

In response to: Topic Tuesday **CLOSED**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday 23/02: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Hi @Hobbit

How are you?? How cool to see you again......

Im unsure of the care your talking about ...something informed care....I read the substance abuse in MI that was done last year and I really really liked how you said your mother said to you;

"I've done what I can do." Was those the words??

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Hi @PeppiPatty long time no 'type' ha ha!

How are you doing?I read you questions and what I can say is htat in NSW, there is new legislation that allows for much more carer involvement in the treatment process. I'm not too sure about other states though.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

@Xander ( like your name...)

My husband who is sitting next to me says that he had a lot of anger issues he needed resolving to get to the place to stop

In response to: Topic Tuesday **CLOSED**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday 23/02: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Oh @Jo

Yes, I was so there re; giving in.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday 23/02: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday 23/02: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

That's right - she basically told me she couldn't hlp me anymore. This was essentially her setting her own boundaries, and taking responsibility for her own wellbeing. She has told me since how hard it was for her, but she did it ou of love. And it worked (in the end!)

I want to acknowledge that she was basically creating certain boundaries for herself that said things such as;

  • Acknowledging that she has needs too
  • Learning to say no to unreasonable demands that may be unreasonable and unmanageable
  • Kept doing the things that she enjoyed – activities, interests, goals

But the important thing was that she kept telling me that she loved me....

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Its good seeing you @Hobbit

I got back with my husband, he got into a very bad place when I put restraining order on him from drug use and his alcohol then, he ent to the GP and decided........to use the m...... program and he says now.....it's all he needs.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday 23/02: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday 23/02: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

@PeppiPatty

Trauma informed care (TIC) asks not what’s wrong with you? Instead it asks what happened to you? TIC recognises the coping/survival skills and doesn’t traumatize an individual or re-traumatize them when they seek help.

It's a very deep and caring way of helping a person.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Re: Topic Tuesday **Now running**: Supporting recovery through substance abuse and mental illness

Its rough for carers, being in the frontline. They need to be included because they can be very useful, but they can burn out real quick.
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