If you answered yes to any of questions above, you may want to talk to a health care professional about a possible mood disorder. Mood disorders are not personality flaws or a sign of weakness. Like diabetes, they are documented physical illnesses, and they can be effectively treated—once a correct diagnosis is made. If you or a loved one may need help, getting that diagnosis is first step to recovering from these disorders and living a joyful, healthy, productive life. ************************************************************************ Learn more about Julie at and bipolar disorder at www.bipolarhappens.com Email: comments@bipolarhappens.com

•Some people require medication to treat their addiction The American Medical Association has for years recognized addiction as a disease. It should therefore not come as a surprise that many addicts need medication during and after rehab. Sometimes frowned upon by some individuals in recovery truth is that these medications allow millions of individuals to live normal, productive lives.

•Fifty percent of people with an alcohol/drug problem also have a mental health issue People may be using drugs to deal with mental health problems or they may have mental health issue because of their drug use. In fact, studies have shown that fifty percent of people who have one also have other. The most effective way to deal with these two “co-occurring” disorders and deal with addiction is to treat them at same time.

•An addict does not have to want treatment for it to work A common myth is that someone has to want treatment before it will work for them. Based on research, this is not case. In fact, treatment is just as effective for individuals who are court ordered to do treatment as it is for people who figure out need for it on their own. Families can be just as effective at getting unwilling addicts into treatment. Frequently, a family’s first step to getting someone into rehab may be performing an intervention with help of a professional interventionist. Call your local alcohol and drug help line to locate these professionals in your area. •Treatment duration counts The appropriate duration for an individual depends on his or her problems and needs. Research indicates that for most patients, significant improvement is reached at about 3 months. The research suggests that this may be residential, outpatient or a combination of both depending on individual’s needs. After this initial period, additional treatment can produce further progress toward recovery.

•Don’t lose hope Your loved one may successfully complete treatment, but then relapse. Don’t lose hope. Alcoholics and addicts may need lengthy treatment and more than one time in rehab before they can enjoy long-term abstinence and full restoration to a drug free life.