To the
Essay List * To the Main Gluten
Page * To the
Symptoms List
Alcoholism/Drug Abuse
Among mental disorders, Bipolar Disorder has perhaps the strongest association with gluten intolerance. Bipolar doesn’t feel very good, so sufferers will instinctively find ways to feel better, such as drugs, extreme sports, or comfort foods.
"Of all of the psychiatric disorders, bipolar has the
highest lifetime risk of alcohol abuse," CNN Medical Correspondent Dr.
Sanjay Gupta told Paula Zahn in a Jan. 30, 2003 interview[1].
"People try and self-medicate themselves if they're feeling particularly down. That's why they take the alcohol," Gupta said[2].
According to About.com Bipolar Guide Kimberly Bailey, The term "self-medication," is defined as "the process by which some individuals may abuse substances in attempting to use them to relieve other problems such as anxiety, pain, sleeplessness or other symptoms of bipolar disorder."
More to come….