[badmouse]

Disability money barely covers expenses, haven't had any success getting medicare to cover therapy - Is there any therapy that won't cost anything? I've been through therapy for depression, and frankly most of it wasn't worth paying much for. I still have a lot of the meds left over but since I take a lot of other meds, I'm scared to mix them without good advice . I also need help with organization.

Any ideas?

[(JD)]

That's a tough place to be. Cognitive behavior therapy is done by the patient with an expert's guidance..but the work is still the patient's. In the Psychotherapy forum read the thread on the 10 Cognitive Distortions and what to do about them...

Changing our thinking from negative to positive (even and especially when we don't feel like it or believe it) works in the brain and changes chemicals that help us feel better.

Also the book by David Burns: The Feeling Good Handbook can lead you to helping yourself out of depression...if you work it like you would work in therapy with a doctor.

[Fuzzybear]

[nottrustin]

Couple of ideas: I know they are not free but much cheaper than seeing a therapist. There are a bunch of workbooks on different subjects on Amazon, My therapist has had me do a couple.

Also if you live near a college you might be able to get therapists who are students doing their clinical. We have some at our hospital that work the school year add see clients,

Worth looking into

[shortandcute]

Here are a couple of websites I like:

GET.gg Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Self-Help Resources

www.psychologhytools.org

They have all kinds of things you can download and print off-like worksheets, etc.

There are alot of good books out there, and many libraries have them. Here are some books I've checked out from my local library:

Get It Done When You're Depressed, by Julie A. Fast & John D. Preston

Breaking Free From Depression, by Jesse Wright and Laura W. McCray

[shezbut]

You may want to check into the links below.

http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinic...=list&state=nj

NJ211 - Need help? Start Here

I don't know if you've checked into these things before, but it didn't sound to me as though you have. SSDI can be a real bear to work through, especially if you had a relatively decent income before the disability struck.

Very best wishes to you!

[pinkbutterfly]

Some areas have free counseling services. A lot of times they are connected to churches. But that might be a good avenue for some counseling that won't cost anything. If it's a "good" place they will respect whether or not you want to incorporate spiritual aspects into your treatment.

[kim1975]

Originally Posted by badmouse

Disability money barely covers expenses, haven't had any success getting medicare to cover therapy - Is there any therapy that won't cost anything? I've been through therapy for depression, and frankly most of it wasn't worth paying much for. I still have a lot of the meds left over but since I take a lot of other meds, I'm scared to mix them without good advice . I also need help with organization.

Any ideas?

These days, just to see a therapist to talk for an hour costs almost $200. A psychiatrist who prescribes the meds cost much more. It is a ripoff for people who need mental health care but who cannot get help or insurance coverage for it are most definately SCREWED. The system needs to change because it costs a whole lot more than going to a regular doctor for an exam. Mental healthcare officials charge so much that if you do have insurance, especially like Medicare and the like, then the state pays an extremely big amount per year on just one person. Think of how much one mental health clinic can get in one year from the state, like Medicare and the like, for people who need help.

[Perna]

The online book below, in the Self-Help forum is good: Psychological Self-Help

[RTerroni]

I have Medical Assistance so I am able to go to certain Therapy places for free.

[seeker1950]

Originally Posted by badmouse

Disability money barely covers expenses, haven't had any success getting medicare to cover therapy - Is there any therapy that won't cost anything? I've been through therapy for depression, and frankly most of it wasn't worth paying much for. I still have a lot of the meds left over but since I take a lot of other meds, I'm scared to mix them without good advice . I also need help with organization.

Any ideas?

There are many good suggestions here. I personally have found the serious self-work I have done without a therapist to be more beneficial (and a lot cheaper) than working with and paying a therapist. Some of the books I used, I literally read and re-read underlining passages and committing them to memory. Now, I look back on that and wonder, why did I need to do that? But at the time, it was totally necessary, and even a therapist wouldn't have helped. Doing it on your own can be very validating and self-affirming.

[shortandcute]

I, personally, need some one to kind of help me along, so to speak. But of course, my medicaid covers it. On the other hand, I've tried for several years to "do it on my own" and it never worked.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by seeker1950

There are many good suggestions here. I personally have found the serious self-work I have done without a therapist to be more beneficial (and a lot cheaper) than working with and paying a therapist. Some of the books I used, I literally read and re-read underlining passages and committing them to memory. Now, I look back on that and wonder, why did I need to do that? But at the time, it was totally necessary, and even a therapist wouldn't have helped. Doing it on your own can be very validating and self-affirming.

yup, been there too, good stuff. Thanx!

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by Perna

The online book below, in the Self-Help forum is good: Psychological Self-Help

great, will give try!

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by (JD)

That's a tough place to be. Cognitive behavior therapy is done by the patient with an expert's guidance..but the work is still the patient's. In the Psychotherapy forum read the thread on the 10 Cognitive Distortions and what to do about them...

Changing our thinking from negative to positive (even and especially when we don't feel like it or believe it) works in the brain and changes chemicals that help us feel better.

Also the book by David Burns: The Feeling Good Handbook can lead you to helping yourself out of depression...if you work it like you would work in therapy with a doctor.

so sorry for loss of your beloved Caleb!!!!! He looks lovely!!!!!

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by shezbut

You may want to check into the links below.

Free Clinics List - NeedyMeds

NJ211 - Need help? Start Here

I don't know if you've checked into these things before, but it didn't sound to me as though you have. SSDI can be a real bear to work through, especially if you had a relatively decent income before the disability struck.

Very best wishes to you!

Thanks much, shez, will look into!