How does alcohol affect you if you have bipolar?

[healthiskey]

I'm not sure if i have bipolar. I will be having a psychiatric evaluation soon to see if i do. I have severe anxiety though. With bipolar when you drink alcohol does it cause mania symptoms? Most times when i drink alcohol i get the urge to runaway and live the fast life lifestyle i guess. I feel like going to a place where everyone parties. This can happen after only like 3 beers. I've also done a lot of impulsive things when drunk too but i just put that down to being normal as alcohol can affect anyone like that right?

[sweetiepye]

Alcohol makes every illness worse . It offers no help to anyone. There are the exceptions who can drink in moderation, but you don't appear to be one. I know that's not what you want to hear. Pam

[En1234]

I agree with what Pam says. Maybe the issues you have are with alcohol and maybe this is what you need help with..?? I was never a big drinker but when I did (I stopped drinking a long time ago but recently, because of problems of my own, I indulged but soon realised I had made a huge mistake and have stopped again), I used to feel very panicky and anxious the next day. I didnt drink a lot. What I had in one night could have been what someone else would have before they went out for the night, but what I had was too much for me...

Nothing we do when we are drunk is "normal", because if it was normal, then we would not need alcohol to do it in the first place..

Maybe if you got rid of the alcohol, your life would not seem so bad. Maybe the alchol is the trigger for your depression..??

I dont have the answers you are perhaps looking for but I do know from personal experience that alcohol does not help things......it makes them ten times worse!!

Good luck.

XX

[fauxartist]

alcohol is a depressant...and part of being bi-polar if you are diagnosed with this, or depression in general...does not mix with drinking or drugging. I know, I am what is called 'dual diagnosed'.....and these are two separate diseases.....both effected by alcohol. Many self medicate and it does have long term negative effects, not only physically, mentally, but on everyone around you as well.