Dual Diagnosis: Double the Challenge - Episode 29
Show Notes
Getting personal on this episode about the effects of addiction (drugs or alcohol) on the family - and the double challenge when it co-occurs with SMI (Serios Mental Illness) - in our sons’ cases: schizophrenia.
Are we ever really out of the woods? Are our loved ones?
What can we do? What must we let go of?
The 3 moms get personal here. Solutions? We wish we had some - but we do share ideas of actions and attitude.
Maybe you’ll hear your story inside of ours. You are not alone.
-----------
What is dual diagnosis? (Co-occuring disorder)
What works? What doesn’t? -
“Harm reduction” treatment?
12-step programs?
Why is it so hard?
Similar symptoms - delayed SMI diagnosisGrief
Grief, Lost Trust, lost time
Relapse disappointment
Stronger drugs now
What can the family do?
“Trust, but verify” - blood tests, Urine tests
Set your boundaries/rewards/consequences
Do what works - even if your break the rules you thought you knew
Balance of letting go/stepping in
Support a healthier community and purposeful activity for our loved ones
Get support or help for yourself (the family) - AlAnon? Therapy?
“Know that you’re dealing with something unknowable, and do the best you can” (Mimi)
Look for Integrated Care for your loved one - treats both diagnoses together
Keep watching carefully
Be aware (and providers be aware) that what looks like “just substance abuse” may indeed be early symptoms of SMI - alert the family
Links:
Dr. Laitman - listen to our episode 18, June 2021
Samhsa has resources: 1-800-662-HELP
https://www.samhsa.gov/families
NAMI:
https://nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Substance-Use-Disorders
Cedar Ridge: https://www.meridianprograms.com/program/cedar-ridge-mens-residential-stillwater-mn/
NAMI Family-to-Family
https://nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-Education/NAMI-Family-to-Family
Book: Beautiful Boy
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Boy-Fathers-Journey-Addiction/dp/0547203888
Who Are the 3 Moms?
Randye Kaye -Broadcaster, Actress, Voice Talent, Speaker, and Author (“Ben Behind his Voices”)
Miriam Feldman – Artist, Mom, Author “He Came in With It”
Mindy Greiling – member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for twenty years. Activist, Legislator, Author (“Fix What You Can“)
https://schizophrenia3momsinthetrenches.buzzsprout.com/1604296/9542600
