Hi. I go through a state run clinic that is constantly losing psychiatrists to private practices. This means that once I see a doctor, they generally leave during the 3 months until my next appointment. Then I have to start the process all over again. The most troubling part of this process is that since it is a state run clinic they don't like to start patients on benzodiazepines for treatment of anxiety because a large number of patients have problems with chemical dependency (drug abuse). I don't have that problem. However, the department policy is that everyone has to start the same. So since I've already been through 3 different doctors in a 12 month period I've been stuck on Vistaril and it's not doing anything.

Does anyone have any advice? I am on Social Security Disability and I have Medicare. I can't afford to pay for a private psychiatrist out of pocket and it seems that the few I've called (from searching through Google) don't accept Medicare. I don't know what to do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.