[asylumgardens]

I have no money, no insurance, no medicare.. I have no way of going to a doctor and/or taking medications so that is totally not an option. I need advice on what I can do on my own. My technical diagnosis is PTSD with depression. I want to get out of this.. there must be a way to do it alone, thanks

[Cyran0]

Asylum, there's everything from books to helpful people here on PC. I recommend these resources.

But I also recommend looking into free and/or sliding fee mental health resources in your area. You might be surprised by what's available to you.

Cyran0

[asylumgardens]

Thanks. I tried the free place here and I didn't like them at all.. they were very mean to me, and they can't get my prescriptions for free anyway, so it didn't work out.

[GoodMama]

My daughter is in the same boat ... lost her job, so no insurance to cover visits to her T. Luckily, she has a T who doesn't want to give her up and will help her via email or phone calls. Daughter also journals just about every night and sends a copy to her T. When she's having a particularly bad time, even a few minutes with her T helps ... and her T pro-rates the session. Maybe your T could do the same?

I <u>know</u> journaling ... writing everything down, especially the bad stuff ... has helped my daughter a LOT. So does talking with her Mom, now that she's learned to trust me enough to tell me everything. As I said in another post to you, it's difficult to trust someone with your "secrets" ... but you have to start somewhere, Sarah. Try starting with your friend! My guess is, she'll surprise you by not running ... unless you push her away so hard she doesn't have a choice.

Take care and hang in there! (((((((((Sarah))))))))) If you think I can help you in any way, please PM me. I promise I won't judge you ... or run. I'm still learning about severe depression, the effects of continued abuse, and SI but my five kids think I'm a ...

GoodMama ... and I'm trying to be even better

[Cthomas]

Asylum, Im sorry i didnt see this soon. so i had to post. Did you know that walmart has a 4dollar prescription drug program for us without insurance? i showed the list to my general doc and she worked on the meds from within the list. Now i get my depression meds for 4 bucks!!! There is a list of about 20 mental health meds on that list.

I suggest seeing your general doc, and trying to get at least on meds that way. then look for your pdoc to see if you can find one you like. Otherwise, journaling is good too. of course so is pc....
take care, hope this helps.
Colleen

[mrsmoggles]

it is not a widely known fact but many of the targets have matched walmart on the 4 dollar month supply price...and the lists are slightly different so if one doesnt have it, maybe you could look into the other. or if one is closer...i journaled for years until i could cry again...just hold a pen to paper and let whatever come out out...you will be amazed. some days i wrote enough to fill a whole journal other days just a word or a phrase over and over.

oh well just my two cents... melanie

[asylumgardens]

i do actually keep a journal regularly. i have done so for four years. sometimes it saves me but sometimes it just doesn't seem to help at all.

yes, i've thought about the four dollar prescriptions, but i don't even have a general doctor. i don't have anyone i can go to.. it's very hard. i was on some medications that helped me a lot, but they were very expensive (effexor and wellbutrin) so i stopped and now i'm depressed again.. but i feel like i don't like medication really anyway. it's like it just covers up the problem and doesn't really do anything to solve it. i feel like if i had done something other than just take medicine before, stopping the medicine wouldn't have left me in this position afterwards. i'm interested in cognitive/behavioral therapy and stuff but i don't even really know how to go about trying..

[GoodMama]

Where there's a will, there's a way, Sarah. I've been poor so long that it's second nature to find the least expensive way of doing things. Have you <u>tried</u> going to a walk-in clinic if only to have a doctor there prescribe something? Here's a list of Walmart's $4 prescriptions:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/4273106.html

but i feel like i don't like medication really anyway. it's like it just covers up the problem and doesn't really do anything to solve it.

HUH? Maybe it's different with some anti-anxiety drugs? Maybe. I do know sometimes it IS good to "cover up the problem" ... I have chronic pain and my pain meds work <u>because</u> they cover up the pain. I used to be like you with 'em ... until my son made the great comment, "but Mom, that's why God made pain pills!" Medicines do NOT take the pain away ... whether it's emotional or physical pain. Medicines take the edge off so you can <u>function.</u>

Hang in there, Honey ... you're doing the brave and strong thing by coming here for help. When you share your problems, you let someone else carry part of them. Keep sharing, Sarah! Keep sharing!

GoodMama

[asylumgardens]

well I guess the point is i don't want to just cover up the pain. i want to do something to make it go away forever.

[nowheretorun]

have you tried yoga? the exercises are stress relieving.. not high impact like others.. slow motion stretches...

studies have shown the brain reacts in a positive way to the effects of yoga...

its simple, you can find a book about it at the library and practice at home or, if you feel brave, in the park...

people do it in groups where i live.. its cool to watch them too...

[Doh2007]

Have you thought about counseling by a pastor? Just having a live person listen does wonders.

[GoodMama]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
asylumgardens said:
well I guess the point is i don't want to just cover up the pain. i want to do something to make it go away forever.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I hope and pray that will be possible for you ... it's a great goal. Trouble is, IMHO, it's an unrealistic goal. I'm going to relate it to chronic pain, again. The pain does NOT go away forever. It's with me every single day, from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep, and often it will wake me in the middle of the night. BUT ... I can <u>function</u> thru the pain <u>because</u> of the medications. I'm a better, stronger, happier person <u>because</u> of the medications.

If a medicine can make YOU a better, stronger, happier person why wouldn't you want that? Please think about it?

I'm still trying ... and learning to be a

GoodMama

I'm resistant to psych meds and can relate to gardens goal. I took meds for a time at the start of my latest depression to 'take the edge off' the extreme effects that had me very sick. Like garden I encountered difficulties accessing medical care that I trusted and the cost was prohibitive to use meds for very long. I focus more on alternative therapies I can trust, access and afford to help me cope and recover from the depression.

With or without medications a person needs to work at getting well. Talk therapy is critical especially if not taking any meds. There are some good resources for CBT here on PC. I've worked through some of the Self-Help Manual. It is very user friendly and been very helpful.

I think some people, in some situations, in some conditions can overcome anything without the aide of medication. They will have to do the extra work and have other resources to get the results medications provide.

If medicines can aid recovery and they are accessable then they should be considered in a person's therapy. How long a person uses a medication will depend on the severity of the person's symptoms. It may be possible to recover without medications. It will likely be harder in some ways and it may not be possible in other ways.

I think a key to trying to recover without psych med is to maintain an expection of getting better. Set timelines for improvements to avoid getting lost in the depression. That can lead to merely existing and that's not recovery. If the efforts taken without medication are not effecting the changes you want then medication has to be brought back into the equation. The point is to never give up trying every options put before you. Don't discount any therapy without considering it carefully and objectively.