You are right Mari, some of the rules don't apply to people with bipolar disorder and drinking...

When I went to the intake interview at the first place, I tested negative for a substance abuse disorder because of the nature of the test questions, and because I was only drinking 1-2 every month or so at the time. I also passed the face to face interview because I just answered her questions and didn't offer anything extra. So, I avoided a further substance abuse evaluation and didn't have to face alcohol counseling at the time. I just didn't fit their mold.

You all know about my drinking history, why I stopped, and the relationship there between alcohol and hypo/mania. So I'll spare you, but I explained it in the class (minus the s/s attempt) and I made it clear that I was highly motivated to stop drinking because I'm BP.

I told the instructor that I stopped drinking for 3mo following the DWI, drank very little for a few months, and had my last drink on July 20th.
I also told him that I was very disappointed that the program didn't focus more on abstinence from alcohol, and I did mention my (limited) involvement in AA. I also told him privately that my husband is a heavy alcoholic and it worries me, makes me sad, and sometimes disgusts me to watch him drink so much that it actually makes it easier for me not to drink.

In my mind, that qualifies me as someone who has recognized her own problem is addressing it appropriately, and was discussing it as expected during a program that was aimed at alcohol education. Or at least a program that was marketed that way. There should be no "Gotcha!"

But according to the posts on the internet, it doesn't take much to get referred to aftercare. And the organization will not file proof you took the driving class until you meet after care requirements if you're referred. But you never know who's writing these posts and when they were written. I happened upon them by chance, and it's not like the internet is inundated with them. But there were plenty of warnings to keep your head down and your mouth shut. I wish I had found them before I went to the class. I think Mari had already warned me though.

After scouring the internet some more, I read that I was/am supposed to have a 1hr exit interview within 15 days of the class (I don't know how old the page is). And they use the information from the driving program and that interview to determine what kind of after care you need, if any. I received no such interview, and at no time was it mentioned. Of course I called the driving school because I'm a pain in the (expletive) They said they no longer do them. Maybe they have nothing to base recommendations for after care on then? Maybe they no longer make after care recommendations? I may still have to face an exit interview because my case is being referred back to the original organization and I don't know what their practices are.

I bet you can guess what I'd say if I have to have an exit interview...
Maybe I'll just get a phone call or a letter in the mail telling me that I have new requirements I must meet before I can even think
about getting my license back.
Or maybe the original agency will contact me to schedule that exit interview. But according to what I read, they have only have 15 days from the end of the program to do it.

When we all left on Sunday with suitcases in hand, we were left with the understanding that the ordeal was over and the paperwork would just be filed with the necessary agencies, with the exception of some people who were still fulfilling their alcohol counseling requirements.

Maybe this is all for naught, and there is no more exit interview/after care anymore. Or maybe the instructor isn't an (expletive) and realizes I don't need it and reflected that in his notes. But it makes me nervous that it took me 2 calls to the driving school asking about when the proof of the class will be filed- resulting in a mysterious consent form suddenly materializing that will refer me back to my original agency. I have a feeling the driving school might question why I was never referred to substance abuse counseling in the first place.

I caught the postman yesterday and delivered the consent form right into his hot little hand, so it should arrive at the driving school tomorrow. I have to wait for them to get it to the original agency, and then wait for that agency to act upon it. In my experience with the first agency, I've found them to be morons. After care or not, I expect some kind of mess.

I can't see myself waiting more than a week before contacting the original agency (if they haven't already contacted me). This will accomplish one of two things:

1) When they pull my file they'll tell me if I'm going into after care or
2) I'll find out if they've filed the paperwork yet

I'm suffering from high anxiety right now, and something that's probably familiar to most of you... catastrophic thinking....

I'm going to have to try to worry about things in steps because as a whole this is all daunting and overwhelming.

I'm going to worry no matter what, but this week I'm going to try to contain my worries to the possibility of after care and how in the hell I'll be able to meet the requirements without transportation and with limited financial resources if I have to deal with it. It's going to kill me to wait a week before calling to get some answers.

Hopefully, I'm worrying for nothing. That would be nice for a change.