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

@BatGuano that is a very good point, it is hard for carers!

@Hobbit How can carers take care of themselves when trying to care for a loved one with an AOD/MH issue?

@PeppiPatty - I'm soo happy to hear that! It's wonderful. I know you are such a suppotive person and I think that is really what evetyone need when it comes down to it. Saying hi to your hisband too!

I think if the program is working, well that's great. If that is all he needs that's it. I have a little saying about recovery - as recovery is such a personal thing, and everyone is different, on a different journey, then I reckon if someone believes they are in recovery, then they are.Simple as that.

Good on you guys!

@Xander Ive actaully never been in that way of dual diagnosis but in a weird strange way, I've been pulled to very 'troubled people,' in the past.

I think your right though on dual diagnosis....thinking of my husband but he says that he had a lot of anger that he was very lonely and wanted to hide from his ..'diagnosis......

And I might be viocing @Jo here...I hope she can say if I am or not....but I had to learn to put me first to keep the love alive.........

Im sorry, Ive got to go but thank you for saying hi everyone @BatGuano @Former-Member @Xander @Hobbit @Jo @CherryBomb

In Western Australia.......we are probally behind NSW about 20 years. So sad. (This is my perception, I think I might be right too.........)

Well, you should not underestimate the kind of impact illness can have on you. You may become burnt out or the toll of taking care of your loved one might lead to ill mental health or physical health for yourself.

Additionally it is important that you do not blame yourself for your loved ones dual diagnosis.It's not your fault. While you can help your loved one it is important to keep in mind that the person needs to find own ways to deal with their illness. Your role as a carer is to support them. I think you shoudl keep doing the things that you enjoy and know that you are human as well.

It may also help them to recognise triggers and how to cope with them. It is crucial to not blame yourself if a lapse or relapse happens, or your loved one. Don’t let your loved one blame you if they lapse or relapse, and don’t blame yourself – you do not have the power to make your loved one quit. Try to remain non-judgmental and remain calm even if there has been more than one lapses. Remember, it won’t do you any good to become angry, or your loved one – it might just make a bad situation even worse. Encourage your loved one to call their sponsor or go back to treatment – be supportive of the steps that they are taking, and what has worked for them in the past. Give them the chance to talk to you about their feelings and about what happened.

You should also not give up hope – hold on to the belief that things can get better for you and your loved one. People can recover from severe addiction and mental health problems, and that means that it is possible for your loved one too. Having a lapse or relapse does not mean failure, it just means that they might need to try something different or seek additional treatment

Hi, I know your question was pointed to a particular person about substance abuse as a form of self medication, but I thought I would reply as some one who does self medicate, originally with marijuana until I moved interstate, so now it's just good ol alcohol.

I use it as a distraction, I have quit both many timea, it's easy if I am say away for work, on holiday with friends, but home alone or what ever where the mind wanders, or the bordom gets to me, it helps... distract me, a coping mechanism I guess, and if I come to work hung over, yeah thats cool, big night aye. Thats better then, oh so angry, you drank yourself to sleep.

@Hobbit, as you have mentioned about relapses, what can you do to help your loved one when they experience troubles in giving up their AOD and experiencing MH symptoms?

@BatGuano - what I would love to see, is more mental health support for those who try an attempt sobriety from AOD. If there was an underlying MI that was masked for a time by substances, then when one takes the mask away, the MI can surface again (it never really left I guess). This can be a big potential for relapse for a lot of people, as they may assume that if this is sobriey with all these emotions, then why bother?

I think there needs to be more suppor for these people.