Understanding Dual DiagnosisUnderstanding Dual Diagnosis
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu explains how conditions like anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, borderline personality disorder and ADHD often appear alongside addiction. He outlines symptoms, risks of self-medicating, and therapeutic options such as CBT, DBT, EMDR and exercise to support recovery.
50:56•27 Sept 2021
Making Sense of Dual Diagnosis: Anxiety, Bipolar, PTSD and Beyond
Episode Overview
- Substance use is described as a symptom of deeper issues such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, personality disorders and ADHD.
- Long-term use of anti-anxiety medications can numb emotions and delay healing, making therapy and support crucial for lasting change.
- Bipolar disorder involves cycles of mania and depression, and understanding these patterns helps reduce relapse and relationship strain.
- PTSD and severe trauma need careful, professional treatment, with tools like EMDR used only by properly trained therapists to avoid re-traumatisation.
- Borderline personality disorder and other mood issues can be addressed through therapies such as CBT and DBT, alongside strong support networks and healthy habits like exercise.
“The substance use, the drinking, the using of drugs, that's just a symptom of the deeper problem.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of Addict II Athlete takes that question and applies it to dual diagnosis – those times when addiction shows up alongside mental health conditions. Coach Blu sits down solo and talks through the most common co-occurring issues he sees in treatment: generalised anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorders with a special focus on borderline personality disorder (BPD), and ADHD.
He breaks each one down in plain language, explaining how symptoms show up in day-to-day life and why so many people end up using substances to cope. You’ll hear him call out the danger of relying on certain medications long term, particularly with anxiety: “It won’t make you feel good. It won’t make you feel bad.
It makes you feel numb.” Instead, he emphasises courage, trust and proper support, saying, “The substance use, the drinking, the using of drugs, that's just a symptom of the deeper problem.” Bipolar gets extra attention, with clear explanations of mania, depression, and the difference between bipolar I and II, along with how changes in the seasons can sometimes tie into mood cycles.
PTSD is handled carefully, including a description of EMDR therapy and a warning that trauma work must be done by trained professionals to avoid re‑traumatising people. Borderline personality disorder is unpacked in detail – fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, emptiness, explosive anger – all framed without judgement, with practical pointers towards therapies such as DBT and CBT, plus the vital role of support groups.
The tone stays down-to-earth and hopeful throughout, aimed at anyone in recovery, their families, or those curious about why addiction rarely travels alone. It’s especially useful if you’ve ever wondered, “Is it just the drugs, or is there something else going on here?” Who in your life could benefit from better understanding the link between mental health and addiction?
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