co-occuring disorders

 have heard that co-occurring disorders are common in mental illness.  This is defined by one or more disorders running concurrently. Typically they are (but not limited to) substance abuse and mental illness.  The basic theory is that those with mental illness seem to self medicating.  Then again it can be the chicken and the egg theory too.   I personally believe it can go both ways.  There are certain times that the illness comes first and are biologically based and others I believe some can be drug induced.  I tend to weigh heavier on the biologically based for certain illnesses such as bipolar I can not see how it is drug induced.  I think that the withdrawal symptoms from drugs and other drug related symptoms can mimic the disease however they are not a true mental illness.  I believe also that Dr.s are too quick to diagnose those with withdrawal symptoms with mental illness before they let the withdrawal wear off first.  Sometimes it is true and other times people are misdiagnosed.  Diagnosis of mental illness is so difficult in the fist place, when you add in alcohol or substance abuse it becomes even harder. I am hoping that this article will help the understanding of that it is like to diagnose a mental illness with another disease. Doctors have a practice of medicine because nothing is ever perfected.  The time it takes to diagnose properly could take years or decades.  Lets take women for instance with bipolar disorder.  As a teenager it might just be said it is their emotional ups and downs at first then if you ad drugs and alcohol into the mix the sexually promiscuous behavior and other risk taking behavior is also typical of not only alcoholism but other similar disorders.  For myself I have been diagnosed from everything from bad mood swings due to puberty and depression to borderline personality disorder.  No one ever put two and two together for at least 35 years.  Lets admit it no one goes to the Dr. when they are feeling really well and to do to the Dr. in depression it simply looks like you are depressed.  Also the Dr.s are only as good as the information you give them since I was never really honest about everything they made the best guesstimate they could.  It is not fair for me to blame them for not giving them all the information.  The stuck me on antidepressant the will help those who are bipolar swing into mania is misdiagnosed with out a mood stabilizer.  My suggestion for a proper diagnosis with a co-occurring disorder is to be completely honest with you Dr. and to use a psychiatrist for a diagnosis of mental illness. Some physicians like to dive into that area and they are not always well equipped to handle such diagnosis.  Using a mood chart you can print off line will also help determine your patterns of behavior.  Sometimes with co-occurring disorders self medicating takes precedence over anything else.  Be smart and treat yourself well you deserve it!