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Mood Disorders
Many things can occur during
the years of drug and alcohol addiction.
Physiological changes occur within the human
body and brain when a chemical is introduced at
toxic levels for long periods of time. In a
sense, the mind and body are changed and in some
cases, this damage is irreversible. It is a
sometimes a fact that the individual may be
required to accept regardless if they are still
administering the chemicals into their body or
not.
One thing to consider about
addiction is that it is a process and not
usually an event. Addiction usually takes
extended periods of time to develop ranging from
months of chronic chemical abuse to years.
Depending on the individual and their own
chemical makeup, they may or may not become
addicted and, in a sense, physiologically
changed for the rest of their lives.
But what does this mean to the
individual who has admitted themselves into a
rehabilitation facility. Of course not all newly
sober drug addicts or alcoholics will develop
behaviors similar to mood disorders. But there
are some that inevitably will. Maybe they are
unaware of any mood disorder within themselves.
What usually happens is the constant input of
chemicals of the years has hidden or masked any
symptoms of a mood disorder. Sometimes mood
disorders are directly associated with the
chemical abuse and once the abuse is removed,
the individuals symptoms cease to exist. Though
there will be some who will discover things that
resemble mood irregularities over the course of
their stay in the treatment facility. For
others, these symptoms may not show themselves
until later in recovery. Whatever the case, the
absolute best course of action to take when a
mood disorder is suspected is talk with a
qualified professional such as a doctor,
psychiatrist or psychologist. Friends or family
members who have been diagnosed with mood
disorders are not qualified to diagnose yourself
or anyone else for that matter. Though you may
be showing similar signs and behaviors of a
person who is suffering from a mood disorder, it
is not wise to take the advice of someone who is
not qualified to do so.
Mood disorders are usually
classed into two categories: Depression and
Bipolar Disorder (aka Manic-Depression). There
are varying degrees of each category and usually
a few appointments with a qualified specialist
will be able to determine if you suffer from
either of these disorders. Please remember that
in the early days of recovery it is common to
feel emotions and mood swings for the first few
months but this does not imply that you suffer
from a mood disorder. Mood disorders are
usually ongoing or cyclic in nature. They
usually have little to do with what is going on
around the individual. Though these disorders
are not fully understood, there are many new
treatments to help the sufferer through to a
normal life.
Mood disorders can be a by
product of years of chemical abuse. They can
also be one of the reasons why the chemical was
abused in the first place. Either way, mood
disorders are not to be taken lightly. They can
range from mild to very serious in nature.
Again, only a qualified specialist should
diagnose any symptoms related to mood disorders
and then only after numerous visits to the
specialist needed. Thankfully today and with the
advent of new medicinal options, people who
suffer from mood disorders addicted or not, can
now live happy and purpose-filled lives.
By: Patrick McLemore
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