My therapist is extremely clued in to my life and life circumstances. She has even demonstrated some understanding of what the limits are on one's existence owing to living on assistance.

However... my primary psychiatrist seems to have no idea. He knows my financial situation yet repeatedly tells me to sign up for and undertake activities that have costs attached. I've told him over and over that there simply is no money in my budget to do so. He looks at me with an expression of not understanding and infers that I am fighting his suggestions. He seems convinced that my choice not to drive is one based in anxiety when I have told him several times that I just can't afford to insure and plate my car. He gives me all kinds of menus and recipes for healthy eating despite the impossibility of affording the ingredients. Oh he's very good in other respects it just seems that empathizing with and understanding the reality of my money situation is incomprehensible.

Examples. When expressing my emotional loss and need for trees and forest he has told me to go out to the lake. Really? And how do I get there? How do I pay for the park entry fee? When expressing my wish for more physical activity (on top of the fact I walk everywhere) he tells me to go to a gym. Really? And how do I pay for that? When expressing the fact I actually hate living in the city he responds by telling me I should fly out and visit my daughter. Really? wtf