“The mental health industry is corrupt. What you are diagnosed with depends on who your doctor is. That claim means nothing to me. A druggie will appear exactly like a bipolar person. The mom may or may not have had a mental health problem. This young lady has a drug problem, I would guess. In this case it is an educated guess. All of this sounds oh so familiar to me.”
Like it or not, there is a category called “dual diagnosis” which means addiction and mental illness.
Some mentally ill people try to self medicate. Of course the two conditions compound and wind up making matters far worse.
I know some clean/sober people like that. They have shared with me how difficult their lives have been. My sister never drank or used drugs whatsoever, but she has serious depression problems.
I have had three friends in AA, that committed suicide.
I am sorry for the experiences you speak of — with your friends. That is very sad.
Count me as a cynic on this topic. Which came first, the mental illness or the substance abuse. I say the later. Counselors frequently say the former. But then they are very inclined to look for anything and anyone to blame except the person deserving blame — the person sitting in their office.
I have many examples. I will share the latest. My niece. She has been told she was a one who tried to “self medicate.” I disagree. She made bad choices. Her behavior reflected it. Then she was looking for a excuse.
That may seem harsh but I actually think it is kinder than providing an excuse. Better to accept responsibility. It is the only real way to improve.