My wife has been diagnosed with dual diagnosis. Bi-polar disorder and alcoholism.

Please read

Bolch, John P., PHD, Bernard Golden, PHD, and Nancy Rosenfeld. The Bipolar Relationship: How to understand, help, and love your partner. Avon, Mass: Adams Media, 2009.

or

Last, Cynthia G., PhD. When Someone You Love Is Bipolar: Help and Support for You and Your Partner. New York: Guilford Press, 2009.

Also, visit psychcentral and look up bipolar disorder.

You should be able to speak to your wife on the phone. She should be able to e-mail you. You should be able to visit her. She should be free to leave.

Please re-state how you became aware of wife's illness, diagnosis, has she seen a doctor? Has she ever been hospitalized for behaviors, or a psychosis?
Why are you concerned again? How long have you been married?
Do you yourself have any substance abuse issues? Was your marriage in trouble?
Are you a member of the same religious practice?

This answer you made does not make sense, can you re-word it?
" The treatment program sought after numerous other programs did. Family members alcohol problem".

How can we help you, Rick?

Research on the internet, the program and any complaints. There is in existence religious cults who will isolate her and divide husband and wife.
Then, research cultbusters ( also using discernment here).
If you cannot see her, visit her, or take her out of there, that would be a red flag.
Consider this:
Signs of a safe group/leader.

1. A safe group/leader will answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
2. A safe group/leader will disclose information such as finances and often offer an independently audited financial statement regarding budget and expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you want to know.
3. A safe group/leader is often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging accountability and oversight.
4. A safe group/leader may have disgruntled former followers, but will not excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
5. A safe group/leader will not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records, books, articles and statements about them.
6. A safe group/leader will encourage family communication, community interaction and existing friendships and not feel threatened.
7. A safe group/leader will recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing with others.
8. A safe group/leader will encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of self-esteem.
9. A safe group/leader will admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism and advice.
10. A safe group/leader will not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.

You will not know what stage of illness your wife is in. If she becomes manic, she may be psychotic, hurt herself or others.
If she becomes suicidally depressed, she may not be able to ask for help.
Bipolar is a dangerous illness.
Can you visit your wife?
You can contact the FBI, who may have more information on possible cults in your area. Do not let her travel alone when she gets out of the program, imo.

Given that you wife has bipolar disorder and is likely using alcohol to self-medicate, she may not be a true alcoholic, but only using it to self-medicate.

Who diagnosed her with bipolar? I assume that she was at one time on meds. If so, what was she on? Also, when did she stop and start drinking?

This whole situation sounds very frightening to me.

This terrifies me for your wife. You can't pray away bipolar anymore than you can pray away cancer. And this group telling your wife that she can pray away bipolar is sending the message that bipolar is a failure of character or morals. That if she's right with God her chemical imbalance in her brain will resolve itself and this just isn't true and is actually a very dangerous way to treat it.

Like Angel said, bipolar is a chemical imbalance in the brain. The way it's treated is to introduce synthetic chemicals to resolve the balance. Medication. Nowadays there are many medications available that don't take weeks to become effective but even if a medication would take that long that's better than trying to pray it away. Who ARE these people? They sound like arrogant loons. Any Dr. worth his salt would laugh at the thought that prayer and meditation can cure bipolar. There IS no cure for bipolar, only medication. This kind of program can only do harm. I get angry just thinking about it.

It is not unusual for people with bipolar to self medicate using alcohol. Without the alcohol her mood swings will be worse and if she goes into a full blown manic episode in which she becomes psychotic, they will have more on their hands than they know what to do with using only the Bible. I hope they don't take it to mean that she has a demon. When she swings down into depression, they will likely tell her that she needs more faith, needs to get right with God or needs to rebuke a demon of depression which there is none.

How did she get into that group?

Angel,

thank you for your prompt response. The treatment program sought after numerous other programs did. Family members alcohol problem. After I learned how restrictive the program was in any case I became more concerned. The letters I receive from my wife are also very concerning it seems almost like brain washing. The facility however, has well-established since 1981. But the multiple medical and psychological and those experiencing resources i've contacted all seem to agree not incorporating medication was in total.

What I'm attempting to do his research objective information from as many sources as possible to just to my wife the best course of action. I appreciate any information you can provide.

Thanks again Rick

Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is a physical problem that manifests a mental illness. Add alcoholism into the mix and it can be devastating. You cannot fix a chemical imbalance with prayer. While I'm all for coping mechanisms that involve a higher power and the use of prayer and meditation to help with things like agitation and anxiety, they are not a substitute for medical care. You are correct that the period after the program ends will be a trial by fire so to speak. The bipolar disorder will be in full force, especially if she is still emotionally addicted to alcohol (the physical addiction will be taken care of in detox and the month or two afterwards -- I'm assuming they will detox her which includes a medical protocol of medication or else she will have a seizure which can be deadly).

Who chose this treatment plan for her? It seems very lacking.

Angel