Self Medicating

Let's talk about the very human tendency to avoid discomfort. I don't know anyone personally, although I'm sure that saints exist, who hasn't had a glass of wine or a cocktail medicinally. By medicinally, I mean for the primary purpose of the depressant effect of alcohol - in other words, to relax or calm down. Nicotine - the primary drug in cigarette smoke - can increase concentration, decrease tension, and actually causes an increase in the amount of dopamine in the brain, acting as an antidepressant. Marijuana and prescription pain medications induce relaxation and euphoria, a terrific sensation of well being. These outcomes are all very desirable.

Unfortunately, these temporary outcomes all come at a terrible long-term cost. Of the estimated 14 million plus adults that suffer from serious brain disorders in the US, at least 3 million have been treated for substance abuse. About 20% of Americans smoke, but it's believed that nearly 90% of people with schizophrenia are smokers. In a culture that encourages us to "take a pill" for nearly everything, we must consider that these substances affect our most vulnerable area - brain chemistry. Just as our prescription medication for depression, our antipsychotics and such, don't always work as well for us as they do the next guy- so drugs, cigarettes and alcohol can have unpredictable effects as well.

Substance abuse often masks the symptoms of mental illness, even as it erodes the physical health of the abuser. Many drugs used for brain disorders are toxic to the liver and can't be used after years of alcohol abuse. Studies have shown that marijuana use can dramatically increase the onset of psychosis. And don't even get me started on the cancer and other lovely perks of cigarettes. As if treatment for co-occurring disorders wasn't complicated enough, it often involves yet another territorial wing of the health care system. So it won't be funded through your provider, or your SA provider won't cooperate with your mental health provider, and the list goes on. Do we really need more complications in our lives?

I know, I know. One more thing that we - consumers (hate that word!) can't do. Everyone else can have that drink, or take a toke, or have a smoke with minimal damage - maybe. But we need to try to just say "no." More info on co-occurring disorders here.

How much is enough?

Caregiver or enabler? That is the question. And we ask it over and over again. How much is enough? You know that this person that you love is sick, but... how do we live with the behavior? She sleeps all day and doesn't even bother to shower. He stays up all night pacing, or playing that video game and has just run up another grand on the credit card you didn't know he applied for. And that's the easy stuff. What about the screaming in the driveway at 2 in the morning or the threat to kill himself? Or kill you? Where do you draw the line with someone you love?

Dr. Peter H. Gott defines the two terms as follows:

Caregiver - takes care of another person in need.

Enabler - someone who excuses, denies and accepts someone else's inappropriate behavior. This attitude prevents the person from facing up to his or her problems, dealing with it, getting help and making appropriate lifestyle changes.

Mental illness is not an excuse for violence. A loved one with a mental illness does not mean we must accept a life of chaos. When dealing with someone who can, by the nature of their illness, be irrational, get help. Make a plan that includes other family members, mental health professionals and if necessary, public authorities. There are usually warning signs of impending crisis. Don’t face it alone.

Taking action to protect OURSELVES is absolutely necessary. Just as we don’t want mental illness to rob our loved one of his or her life, we also can’t let their illness threaten our lives and well being. If your health deteriorates due to stress, lack of sleep or simply living in a war zone; if you collapse, who's going to take care of anyone? The person that you love is not served by your sacrifice. It will only cause them more pain. So do the right thing. Be a caregiver and start with yourself.

See more strategies for caregivers here.

Reversal

I'll confess that I've been in one of those black moods this week... you know the kind - absolute darkness that no amount of sunshine or chocolate or even good wine seems to budge. I'm not necessarily a sunny person on a good day, but this was bleak enough to make me wonder if I need some chemical help again. To top it off, or maybe because of this, I managed to break my little toe quite spectacularly. Pain and depression. Add the frustration of my summer schedule and you have a trifecta of misery.

While mulling all this over, I keep tripping over my negativity. How exactly are we supposed to be positive when the brain is busy following those well worn neural pathways of gloom - stewing in it's own soup of neurotransmitters, most of which are obviously out of whack this week? All these folks with their Secrets (you know that your thoughts are creating your life, so just change those silly thoughts!) are forgetting that many of us aren't on a level playing field when it comes to brain chemistry.

I want it to be that easy. I know my brain chemistry is part of the problem and I want someone to fix that. What I don't want is to take some pill that's going to do a lot of other things to me as well... things I don't need done.... like mess with my appetite or destroy my libido. I wish that I could go to my doctor and he could say something like "oh, your serotonin is off by 5% and dopamine needs a 10% boost... here take this." I wish they could fix my personal chemistry - make my own cocktail of chemical happiness boosters and chemical anti-cranky stuff until my brain was just a regular brain. You know what I mean. A cure.

Not yet. But I happened upon a post today - an amazing post. Seems some scientists reversed the symptoms of retardation and autism in mice. Didn't treat it. FIXED IT. They did it by inhibiting a certain enzyme, and they found that "not only were structural abnormalities in connections between brain cells righted, proper electrical communication was restored between the cells."

They cured them. Onward and upward, science, onward and upward!

Read about it here.