Bipolar disorder, alcoholism. Getting a treatment. Worry?

Hi there ~

Nothing is impossible. Your son needs treatment from a deaddiction center for alcohol and then rehabilitation. He has to make his choices - alcohol or flight school in the navy. Obviously the latter takes precedence, however giving up alcohol might be tough. Once he has been through treatment he can be certified fit to join the Naval academy and graduate as well. I hope you consult a good substance abuse counselor and a psychiatrist that can help your son achieve his dreams.

I hope this helps. Take care and have a lovely day !

Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.

I understand your distress regarding your son's problems. Bipolar disorder is an episodic mental illness which can be controlled with mood stabilizing medication. However, there is a high chance of relapse if medication is discontinued or not taken properly. Excessive alcohol intake can definitely cause mood changes and trigger a relapse.

Generally, if a person's psychiatric illness is well controlled with medication and he is symptom-free, then he should be able to continue his job and function normally. However, certain high-demanding jobs may have specific criteria for the recruitment of employees and these criteria vary between different organizations and countries. So, please clarify this with his employer.

Wish you all the best.

Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist