@MEA... Welcome to the community and thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm so glad that you have finally asked for help. That's a courageous step and I'm proud of you for taking it.
I happen to disagree with what you've been told about having to be clean before your mental health issues can be addressed. So many people who used drugs to self-medicate and feel "normal" have what they call co-occurring disorders. That means that in addition to the addiction, they also have mental health issues. Oftentimes, the self-medicating is a result of those mental health issues. I think most experts these days believe that in a patient with co-occurring disorders, BOTH problems--the addiction
and the mental health issue--must be treated simultaneously. If they aren't, whichever problem
isn't being treated will just get worse. I think that's what I see happening with you.
My advice: Find an addiction specialist in your area and go see them. They can assess your individual situation and recommend the best next steps for you. Also, be sure to tell them that you also have mental health issues and want to get help from someone who specializes in dual-diagnosis patients. That is, in my opinion, the help that you need.
We're here to support you however we can, so please don't hesitate to reach out anytime. In the meantime, I'm sending you positive, clean & sober vibes. And lots of hugs full of encouragement and hope.
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