hey hun i'm just diagnosed my self and in the same situation read this for i am getting ready to do 14 myself

http://dailystrength.org/discussions/Bipolar_Disorder/advice/414134
then send me a mesage to my in box
muggz

welcome kami. i think everyone here will tell you to get on meds & get therapy.

there are services that can help get you those.

the drinking and drugs will only make things worse.

good luck!

mb

Hi kami -- Welcome. I only speak my truth....perhaps not someone elses, but it's truth to me. If you have a new diagnosis of Bipolar and are still drinking, doing street drugs and not in treatment (including meds) then the hospital did you little justice and gave you minimal education about this illness.

This is a lifelong, genetic, brain disorder at least in part caused by chemical imbalance in the brain. It's not curable but very treatable. But, to do so, you must be in the drivers seat. You need to say no to drinking, no to street drugs, yes to medications and pdocs and tdocs. Yes to lots of support and tons of education. If you want to live as satisfying a life with this illness as possible, you need to do all the above and exercise, eat well, sleep well and learn balance in your life. Keeping stress levels down is a huge part of success of keeping episodes from re-occurring. Sorry if this sounds direct or abrupt, but this is the way it is and you need to hear it right from the beginning. Why bother wasting time?

I wish you well, Mary

kami i was diagnosed only a few years ago and ive had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse not to mension not taking my meds. i had to put myself in rehab and take my meds for real. it was the best thing i could have done. i was out of control wanting to run in front of driving cars it got that bad. but now since being out for 6months i havent taken anymore drugs and i doubt i will. ive had a reelapse in alcohol but have just done a detox and hope to stay clean so the medication works for me. medication doesnt work properly when you are self medicationg with substances darling and i only have recently found out and i feel a hell of a lot better.
go for it do the 14 day hold, get your head together, give your meds a chance and think about rehab. it saved my life.

hi kami, I hope you get help and ocntinue to get better.