can someone explain this for me?

[kariann330]

So say a person in 100% normal, they decide to go out with friends, go to a party, or go to a bar, getting drunk is just that, getting drunk. What has me confused is why is it the second a mental diagnosis gets tossed into the mix weather it is bi polar, schizophrenia, schitzo effective, transgender etc. going out and getting drunk with friends suddenly gets grouped into the category of self medication? Same with say smoking a blunt, or bowl if you prefer, or any other form of intoxicant for that fact.

This just really has me confused especially with being accused of it on numerous occasions because of my Bi Polar 1 with psychosis and my being trans.

Thanks everyone.
Kari.

[kelly_aus]

I'd guess that people assume that if you have these issues, your reasons for getting drunk/high/etc are a result of that..

I've always thought that people do it simply because they enjoy the effects..

I self medicated for years with all sorts of drugs.. Some I enjoyed, but it was mostly about staying too smashed to face up to certain facts about my life..