I volunteered most of my life. At my last volunteer job, I had the opportunity to work part-time for pay. I feared I would lose my Medicaid and Social Security. My Medicaid and Medicare cover the costs of my professional psychiatric and psychological services, as well as prescriptions. I don't know how this system makes any sense. If you have little or no income, you get benefits; when you have private insurance, it is difficult to afford the co-pays, let alone finding a therapist or psychiatrist who takes that insurance. What happened to the parity law making it necessary for these insurance companies to provide equal benefits for both physical AND mental health problems? I find myself lucky(?) to be in the situation I am right now. Anyhow, one way to find employment could be to volunteer at anyplace that might need them. Hospitals, libraries, some local mental health non-profits are good place to start.

Has anyone tried to get a case manager? These people's jobs are to find housing, find affordable psychiatric and psychological help, and for prescriptions to be filled. They also are responsible to take you to appointments, if the need arises. They are usually found at your state or federal level offices under some sort of Mental Health title. There may be other agencies that also provide case managers. One way to request a case manager would be to have your psychiatrist or psychologist make a referral to this agency.

As far as stigma is concerned, I find myself in a sticky predicament. I am living in a HUD high rise apartment in a suburb of a small city. Because of my PTSD and ensuing PTSD flashbacks, the managers are stigmatizing me by claiming since my original PTSD episode was several years ago, it has nothing to do with my PTSD flashbacks now. That last PTSD flashback incident caused a lease violation. A couple more of those and I will be evicted with little recourse. If that isn't stigma, I don't know what is. But, in reality, there are subsidized housing options including HUD and Section 8 Vouchers.

As far as the current political scene, I don't think any of us living with mental illnesses will fare well. I have read article upon article from reliable national newspapers and journalists, saying that there will be drastic cuts made to any mental health programs and/or Medicare and Medicaid. It will make it all that much harder to get the services that we rely on and need so desperately.

Besides the gloom and doom political forecast, I hope I gave somebody a place to start to get on your feet again, as they say. Best wishes for you all. Keep your chin up despite all the stigma out there. But most of all, for those of you who will celebrate the season:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS1