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People with alcoholism are more than six times more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder than the general population, and almost four times more likely to have major depressive disorder. When there is a dual diagnosis of alcoholism occurring together with another psychiatric condition, this is called co morbidity or dual disorder. The alcoholism (or other addictive illness) often makes diagnosis and treatment of the second psychiatric illness more difficult, because the behaviours and symptoms of alcoholism mask the symptoms of the other illness, and also prevent the client seeking help.
Bipolar disorder, formerly manic depression, is described as a mood disorder, because it severely affects an individual’s emotional responses. Moods swing from high to low, from one pole to another – sometimes in a very short period of time, sometimes over days or weeks – but when it does happen it’s always severe.
There are two types of bipolar disorder: bipolar 1, the most severe type involving mania, and bipolar 2 disorder, still very serious, involving hypo mania. Hypo mania is a less severe form of mania not usually requiring hospitalisation. There is also substance-induced mood disorder, which is brought on by the physiological effects of a substance, e.g. cocaine, ecstasy or prescribed medication.
These disorders can be difficult to detect, especially in the early stages. The main points to look out for are:
What goes up must eventually go down, so on the other end of the bipolar scale the mania will usually at some stage switch into a major depressive episode. Your depression may last for months, weeks or only a few days before you return to mania or hypomania.
Major depressive disorder is major depression only, without the mania. If you feel you’re suffering with depression only, then the symptoms listed below will also act as a guide. Dysthymia is a milder form of depression, more subtle than major depressive disorder, and therefore not easy to recognize. Dysthymia doesn’t attract as much sympathy from family and friends because it appears as if sufferers are just feeling sorry for themselves. But it’s a diagnosable condition in itself, and needs treating.
Signs of depressive disorder include:
To meet the criteria for bipolar disorders, most of the high and low symptoms must be persistent and continuous over a sustained period of time (or less if you have needed to be hospitalised).
If you do have any of the symptoms listed – or if you think a family member or friend is suffering – it doesn’t necessarily mean that you or they are suffering with bipolar disorder. There could be many reasons for some of those highs and lows. If you have recently been detoxed for alcohol or drug dependency, you may still be in the early stages of recovery, and mood wings are normal at this stage. If, however, you’ve been in recovery from addiction for several months, and recognise some of these symptoms described, you may have a dual disorder. Getting a diagnosis for a secondary condition will not interfere with your twelve-step recovery – in fact, you may be in danger of relapse if this goes untreated.
Another cause of highs and lows could be that you’re suffering with another type of mood disorder. Or you may have been feeling on a natural high due to something going well at work or in your relationship, and then that has come to an end, and you now feel really low and down.
If you have been suffering with any of the conditions described above, then give yourself a break and get the support you need.
Please fill out the form and you will be contacted. Your information will be treated confidentialy.
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I wanted to drop you a quick message to thank you very much for your help and support during my stay within Ibiza Calm. Each and every person in the house was important in his own way in my recovery. I feel very grateful to all of you. It’s not always easy but it is achievable. My life is way much better than it was before coming and I am definitely a better version of myself now.
My son attended two rehab facilities before going to Ibiza Calm. Ibiza Calm, however, was exactly what it professed to be. They worked with my son as a vital ally in his recovery process, not as a person to be broken and fixed according to a set regimen, who would be blamed and shamed if he did not respond appropriately to the facility's treatment protocol and schedule. The therapist assigned to my son struck the right balance between allowing him to move at a pace at which he was comfortable and pushing him to keep a challenging pace of self-discovery and recovery. My son has come out of this treatment calm and self-aware; whereas he finished the other programs angry and even traumatized. My son has only been 6 weeks out of Ibiza Calm, so the long-term success in remaining sober remains to be seen, but the change in his attitude and behavior is so profound that I have great hope for the future for the first time in years. I recommend Ibiza Calm without reservation, rather with overwhelming gratitude.
I was at Ibiza calm from the 4th of July to the 29th of July 2020, I am 23 years of age and was in a horrific place in my life From drink and cocaine. My girlfriend is pregnant and outright had enough of my selfish behaviour. I was really ready to start my recovery, I settled in fantastic they have amazing staff so helpful and caring, the food is unbelievable thanks to Danny the main man in the kitchen, the grounds are beautiful, the bedrooms are very nice I overall found my stay amazing. 10/10 couldn’t fault it many thanks Francis.
My husband was in the priory 6 months ago, which I wasn’t totally convinced by not only experiences of others but the surroundings/ Set up and approach to it .. he is only 2 weeks into his journey at IBIZA calm and it’s the first time in a long time I can finally hear happiness in his voice, and motivation on his healing / sobriety journey , commitment to his inner and outer health.. I know this is just the beginnings But both billy and Luca have been extremely helpful and helpful to myself ! If your looking for yourself or a loved one, 100 look no further this is the type of place someone who is suffering needs- the surroundings, the programme, the environment , and amazing team!
I can't thank the team at Ibiza Calm enough. I had a friend who spent time with them and what they have done is amazing. From the therapy to the meetings have all set him up for moving forward. Once he left he was not just left and has a fantastic aftercare system in place. Thank You.
I am writing a review on behalf of a friend who prefers to remain anonymous and wishes to express his thanks and gratitude to the staff at Ibiza Calm. He had previously stayed at two rehab centres in the UK, and found the experience at Ibiza Calm to be far more beneficial than either of the UK centres. He said he felt the therapists were much more experienced and caring in their approach which in turn gave him the confidence to finally fully open up about his triggers and issues. He has been sober for the longest period since he has started his road to recovery and it's all thanks to Ibiza Calm.
I'm so grateful for my month at Ibiza Calm. It's a beautiful place, and I learned how to manage my life in a positive way, with healthy food, exercise and self-awareness. I've had many life challenges since I left ( over 2 years ago), but I haven't used any of the destructive behaviours I previously relied on. I gained clarity, freedom and sanity, for which I will always be thankful.
ibiza calm is a great place for treatment I was using drugs and drink all the time my life was a mess until I went to ibiza calm in april 2016 the staff were fantastic and cared for me the treatment I recieved was second to none I can't thank ibiza calm enough and also my family have there son and husband back in there lives thanks to this place I am grateful to the owners who have always supported me through the years