[GaSusan]

If going to the dr, therapy and taking our "meds" is the key to overcoming or learning to deal with our mental health problems then WHY are there so many people on this site (no offense) and hundreds of others still looking for help?

[live2ski66]

Because the brain is the most complex item in the universe. There are no right/wrong answers, there are no black/white answers (and as much as I wish it had a "Shades of Grey") it doesn't. It is an infinite collection of colors and number combinations. What might work for you might not work for me and we both presented the same symptoms. To make an over simplistic statement, the best way to study these things is with identical twins because most everything is identical. Even in those cases with identical symptoms, oftentimes the solution is different. With this in mind it is very difficult to set up testing with control groups. Unfortunately the best we can hope for today is a trial and error approach to relieving symptoms, because that is what we do. We can alleviate a symptom, but if we don't know what caused the symptom, we can't find a cure.

Does this make any sense and does it answer your question?

I'd say it's because finding and having support from others who are living with mental health challenges is helpful.

[tryfunctional]

I totally agree with sister. We know the ropes..all to well I'm afraid...which makes it easier for us to actually BELIEVE in each other compared to the "professionals" who for some odd reason tend to skim right over the fact that we are SUFFERING in a way that a mere script can handle. The appointments are short and often too long inbetween so it's hard for them to be compassionate. My opinion in any situation compassion far out weighs any text book fix. When you feel like all is lost please try to focus on the fact that just by questioning things means that you believe somewhere deep inside, that there is hope.

[GaSusan]

Yes, it makes sense and i guess in a way answers my question but I just have seen and experienced so much of the mental illness merry go round in the that i feel like we arent doing much to fix the problems, if thats possible. I myself have been on more medications than the average bear just for mental problems and am ready to throw in the towel because of the side effects mainly, but if i choose not to go by modern medicine and take a pill to "fix" it what other choices do i have? I can tell you, none. Thats what im doing right now because other than medication the public mental health system has nothing else in my area to offer. So i suffer, alone and without any help and i do without and i know many more who do.Mental health facilities and options should be as plentiful as physical health as far as im concerned, if they were maybe we wouldnt have near as many travesties as we do in our country, and what our local, state and national govt doesnt understand is we need it NOW.

[GaSusan]

good answer Sister

I had no health ins before the healthcare reform kicked in in January. Now I have excellent insurance with full psych care. Have you tried to get health insurance?

[GaSusan]

Sister i signed up for it to begin with and it didnt do anything for me. I am in the process of getting my SSI started and cannot afford to pay for insurance, that is the only reason i go to the public mental health clinic, but i also know there have been some changes so i will try again.

[GaSusan]

Try....thank you for your response. I think that is the main problem with public mental health is they see so many that they lose their compassion and we just become a blur... Sadly...hope and faith are all i have left.

Originally Posted by tryfunctional

I totally agree with sister. We know the ropes..all to well I'm afraid...which makes it easier for us to actually BELIEVE in each other compared to the "professionals" who for some odd reason tend to skim right over the fact that we are SUFFERING in a way that a mere script can handle. The appointments are short and often too long inbetween so it's hard for them to be compassionate. My opinion in any situation compassion far out weighs any text book fix. When you feel like all is lost please try to focus on the fact that just by questioning things means that you believe somewhere deep inside, that there is hope.

[sunless]

Originally Posted by GaSusan

Yes, it makes sense and i guess in a way answers my question but I just have seen and experienced so much of the mental illness merry go round in the that i feel like we arent doing much to fix the problems, if thats possible. I myself have been on more medications than the average bear just for mental problems and am ready to throw in the towel because of the side effects mainly, but if i choose not to go by modern medicine and take a pill to "fix" it what other choices do i have? I can tell you, none. Thats what im doing right now because other than medication the public mental health system has nothing else in my area to offer. So i suffer, alone and without any help and i do without and i know many more who do.Mental health facilities and options should be as plentiful as physical health as far as im concerned, if they were maybe we wouldnt have near as many travesties as we do in our country, and what our local, state and national govt doesnt understand is we need it NOW.

I have gone to an acupuncturist(sp), a trainer, a doctor and a psychologist all in the hope of not having to use drugs, the few I have used don't seem to help, the opiates I use for pain keep me depressed, so I hope that I get some relief soon, those are my suggestions, keep trying new things, although it is pretty irritating right now it gives me a glimmer of hope.

[cool09]

Mental health facilities and options should be as plentiful as physical health as far as im concerned

Most States (at least PA) just got done downsizing and getting rid of Psych Hospitals and Psych Wards over the past 20 years because they feel it's better to keep these people in society and Hospitals lose lots of money treating mentally ill persons. Many PA State Hospitals were shut down in the 90's. You can not get admitted to a hospital for psych reasons unless you are a threat to yourself or someone else.

I ran up huge 5-digit $ psych ward stays in the early 90's during 30-90 day stays. Cost the hospital $1500/day for each patient.

[yumi]

Dismissing patients by shoving them out of inpatient care with meds with little money to even stay on the meds does not work. The system is in shambles. I for one want and NEED inpatient care now as I type, I don't have insurance and don't know what to do. I'm isolating now, so I don't let my loved ones see me like this, but its not an answer. I don't know how else to protect them. They don't understand me. They are normal. I'm terrified of hurtimg them anymore than I already have.

I guess that is why I am here. I've had a psychotic break recently and don't know where to turn. I want to be healthy for them as well as for me. I'm tired of watching them suffer and I'm tired of suffering, too.

Resources out there suck, especially if one is poor. I can't count the times I was dismessed in the past because of the old might dollar. It caused more damage than anything else.

[GaSusan]

Cool they have just started doing that in Georgia where i am from and it is crazy down here, even mental healthcare workers are at a loss.

[-jimi-]

Without what help there is today, some of us would not be on this site, they would be in a soft cell somewhere... Maybe for a long time.

[Onward2wards]

Find what works and stick with it. Advocate for yourself as necessary. I don't believe that there is one specific treatment that is best for everyone. As to what works, a lot of people have to do some digging. I wish it was a more exact science, it is still very much an "art".