Expert: Rebos - 1/5/2008

Question
i have a close friend who is an alcoholic and has recently moved closer to me....and it's crazy...it's either extremely high or extremely low...everything is the end of the world...i need help in coping and i want to help my friend with the alcoholism!!!

Answer
Good morning Shelly and thank you for your question.

I would suggest that you start to attend Alanon meetings. Alanon can be reached by calling 1-800-344-2666 (United States) or 1-800-443-4525 (Canada). However from what you briefly described your friend may also be Bi-Polar. If she is seeing a doctor for a bi-polar condition; is she taking her medication as prescribed? Has she ever been detoxified or tried a program like Alcoholics Anonymous? If not maybe you should suggest that she try AA, and that you will go with her (temporarily) if she is reluctant to go alone. Non-alcoholics are welcome to attend “open meetings”.

Alcohol has the same chemical formula as ether, (the anesthesia) except that ether does not have any H2o (water) in it. As with ether, alcohol is a serious depressant… and indeed can have a profound effect on the depressive part of being bi-polar. Of one thing I am sure, alcohol will diminish the effectiveness of the medication she takes to control the depressive part of her condition. Likewise… any drink that has caffeine in it will result in having a negative effect on the manic side of her illness. If she is bi-polar I would expect that her doctor has advised her of a number of products that she should avoid for her continued well being.

Depending on how close you are to her, you may want to caution her if she is having trouble stabilizing her mood swings. In any case alcohol can be serious stuff to a person with a bi-polar (or an alcohol) problem whether or not is taking medication.

If I can be of further help please do not hesitate to contact me again. Thank you Rebos