[Nonfat dry human]

Hi everyone.

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder over two years ago, and have abused alcohol off and on for far longer than that. Both issues have come under control recently, coinciding with a move 2/3 of the way across the U.S. (exercise combined with high altitude has blessedly made it easy for me to fall asleep at night, a major issue for me as both manic and depressive episodes can be triggered by insomnia, which has dogged me for years).

I attended a DBSA group back on the East Coast and I really enjoyed it, so I was eager to get connected with the chapter where I am now. When I e-mailed the person in charge I was told that in order to attend, I needed to have been formally diagnosed with BPD (no problem) and also needed to be currently in treatment with a mental-health professional (big problem--not only did I just get here but I have no insurance and very little money).

Have any of you who have used DBSA groups as a resource encountered such restrictions? I haven't heard back from the person since e-mailing her a second time to explain my situation, but it almost sounds as if I wouldn't be embraced by the group even if I'm given the green light to attend since I am not currently on any medications (I was on Depakote for a while, with equivocal effects) and am not (yet) seeing a mental-health professional.

[Moreta]

I've never heard of DBSA requiring that you be in treatment. The one here, you don't even need to be diagnosed with Bipolar. Many people where there for other mental health issues, like Depression, OCD, and Borderline Personality Disorder.

Maybe you could look on their website and see if there's any guidelines on there.

http://www.dbsalliance.org

We've also started our BP/Depression chat back up on Fridays @ 7:00 EST, if you need support.

[Bipolarmother]

unfortunatley each chapter can set up their own guidelines and have their own board members, professional advisors etc. I had a problem with one of the DBSA groups where there was total control by one or a few members with no such guidelines in place. So the group was not run in accordance to what the "group" wanted.
DBSA is a member run group so each can set up accordingly to their needs. It is possible they have had problems in the past with members and for the sancuary of their group they had to propose some restrictions.

Each chapter is run differently due to the nature of the members and dont forget a member run or peer to peer group could have its downfalls with the ill leading the ill.

I would keep trying different DBSA chapters, maybe you will find one that you will like. You can also try NAMI as well.

[Special-K]

Have you tried looking for a therapist that will work with you on a sliding scale? My insurance has a $1,000 deductible, obviously I can't afford to pay a grand out of pocket. So I see a counselor on a sliding scale & I do see a psychiatrist for med's. But your post said you just had to see a mental-health counselor so maybe this would be a possibility? I don't know what DBSA stands for ...

[Nonfat dry human]

Thanks for the input, everyone! I have never heard of NAMI but will look into that.

[Bipolarmother]

National association of mental illness (NAMI)

if you have a bipolar diagnosis it is considered a medical diagnosis and then covered under medical not mental health of insurance. It greatly helps with my therapy which I can go an unlimited amount of times. It is coverage with only a copay versus mental health coverage that usually covers 30 visits per year.

Originally Posted by Bipolarmother

if you have a bipolar diagnosis it is considered a medical diagnosis and then covered under medical not mental health of insurance. It greatly helps with my therapy which I can go an unlimited amount of times. It is coverage with only a copay versus mental health coverage that usually covers 30 visits per year.

Wow, I know that it *should* be, but I've never heard that. Really? That's encouraging. Who is it that considers it thus? Insurance or ???
Nonfat dry human, I go to the local NAMI bipolar support group and have found it a good resource (especially as I've got nothing but my meds right now )-- no p-doc, no T -- I *want* them, I just can't seem to get in anywhere, which is very frustrating, so it's good to at least have *something*, you know? --(big move too, and know no locals outside my NAMI group.) So I totally understand your frustration in hitting a wall in something we'd assume to not do that! Check out the local NAMI though. The only "restriction" --for ours anyway -- is a desire to get help/better, which with the hell BP can be is not a hard "requirement" to fulfill.) and let us know how it goes, ok?

[Bipolarmother]

Yes insurance BC/BS