Thanks great thread. I too have been getting frustrated at times when it seems the same people are stuck in the same problem areas day after day and waiting for t hings to change instead of trying to change it. This happens in the real world too. I know someone that I would love to just grab her and say wake up will you and at least try things instead of staying stuck.

I live in america and think that is is a terrific place to live. I don't work and don't have terrific medical insurance but thats no reason to stay stuck in mental and or physical pain. The united states has many free agencies that can help those without insurance for example the state medical card. Yea its limiting in that you have to see the professionals on the approved list but I can tell you those professionals are just as good if not better then those that people see in private practice. one reason is because they see more low income people so are able to understand things that a low income person goes through. Many professionals in the united states also has a program called Sliding scale where they only charge $10.00 a session at a minimum up to full price depending on the persons income if they don't have health care insurance. A person just needs to look for the agencys that can help them for example planned parenthood isn't just for birth control and pregnancy issues. They have therapists that do work with clients that have PTSD, child sexual abuse and rape issues. As does domestic violence agencies, rape crisis centers. There are many many therapy and support groups out there for just about every mental and physical problems that are free. One woman that I know couldn't find what she was looking for and put an ad in the newspaper and started her own support group and the local hospital donated the use of one of their hospital auditorium rooms one night a week for the group. Just because someone can't afford blue cross/blue shield type insurances doesn't mean there isn't affordable and great health care out there. All it takes is someone being fed up with staying stuck in their situations and opening the phone books, newspapers, asking their physicians, walking in to local thrapy agencies, calling hotline numbers and saying I need help and not much money to do it on does your agency have free groups or sliding scale programs. That is how I have found 17 out of 19 therapists across the united states.

I love doing things that make me healthier. for me life is too short to wallow in self pitty and waiting for others to fix me so I do the depression inventory and the anxiety inventory in the book Mind Over Mood everyday to chart my depression and anxiety levels, I also do the weekly conscious living activities listed on Nancy J napeirs website A am also always on the lookout for things to help me every day. I do all the workbooks listed in the resource list located in the dissociation message board.

Thanks again for this thread.