Hi there all,

I thought to introduce myself after reading some of the other posts. I'm so grateful and glad to have found a place where I can share freely and honestly.

I have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, and I am an addict/alcoholic and part of the Sydney, Australia Fellowships.

Here, for the most part at the meetings I attend, AA and NA are pretty cluey about dual diagnosis because so many of us have one (two?). I am pretty grateful for this because some members can be pretty harsh about the need for medication as part of the recovery process.

I have been clean and sober since 11 September 2002 but I had a pretty rocky road to begin with as the mental health system in NSW (and indeed Australia) is pretty appalling. I was initially prescribed Respirdal (for drug-induced psychosis)which was terrible for me, and then taken off medication and told to look for work. I did this, found a job, stayed clean, but had a relapse of symptoms. I was then seeing a private shrink who tried me on Seroquel which worked well, but was again taken off it and again had a relapse of symptoms. I am finally linked in with a community health centre that is okay and on a low dose of Seroquel that keeps most of my symptoms in check. I am almost accepting that I may have to take the medication for a long time, because it works so well for me and allows me to actually live a life of my choosing (and my Higher Powers).

The Twelve Steps does the rest for me.

And, I had a revelation today about that rocky treatment road - I don't instinctively trust psychs (who does?) and part of the problem with my treatment until recently was my incapacity to be completely honest with them. I have been doing some work with a skillful psychologist and finally am becoming more honest about what goes on in my head.

Anyway, I am SO glad you are all here,

Atalanta