[soledad1]

I've had loads of therapy and I guess I always took it for granted that it would always be there. Boy have I had a rude awakening lately. I am disability and have Medicare plus another insurance which doesn't help any with mental health care and I can not find anyone that will accept it. Plus I can't afford the deductible anyway. Wouldn't it be more cost effective for Medicare to pay for therapy to help people get back to work? They pay very well for hospitalization or day treatment but not for outpatient therapy.

I feel poor and trapped and it's a bad feeling. I always thought I was an anti-material girl and all that but I guess I was kidding myself. Being poor stinks.

I was offered the number of the CMHC but I have heard truly bad things about it. I am getting therapy from a psychiatrist who accepts my insurance and waives the rest but I had hoped to find someone who would take a different approach. Th CMHC refuses to treat someone who is seeing a private psychiatrist and I am not willing to give him up.

Well that's my rant for the day ( oh that and the new neighbors have pit bulls chained up in the back yard and I'm semi terrified to go out in my back yard any more)

How are people who can't access therapy handling it?

[shakes]

It stinks. I have no health insurance right now so it equals no therapy or meds, which would really help me out. I just try to fight it everyday. I try to do the best that I can do.
I just have hope that things will get better and that I can get help someday.

Jessica

[h0kie]

If it wasn't for the clinic in our area we would be S.O.L. too. We have no health insurance and practically no money. I'm lucky if I can pay all our monthly bills without asking for help. We have no money for food.

If there is a clinic in your area that works on a sliding scale, at least go check it out. What will it cost you? I'd heard mixed reviews about our place...but for us, it is the best! I'm not thrilled with out first pdoc, but we switched. For us, the pdoc is primarily for meds. The t is the important thing...and she is fabulous! You never know until you check it out.

You're in my thoughts.

[Raynaadi]

I'm not either. I'll be getting new insurance in March. I don't how I cope! I just need a professional to talk to. Luckily I don't need meds, so that's not a problem. Coming here helps.

Rayna

[gloria]

There are a few options for you.
Go to theDept of Worforce Services, they should give you a referral for VR, the VR has funds to pay for therapy, but they can only use them if you are in their case load. You may go drectly to Vr, but I think the funding is handled diferent if you are not a referral from de Dept of Workforce Services.

Another source is United Way, they have t's all over that are in the sliding scale, regardless if you are in public assistance of any type or if you have insurance.

I hate that things cannot be simpler, but anyway, at least here is an option for you.

[StargazerLily]

I haven't been in therapy since August. As much as I like not being in therapy it's just nice to know you have someone you can talk to about anything, assuming you trust them. I hated therapy when I was there and it wasn't until 4 months after I left that I started to change, but I guess that it did do me some good. But times do get hard sometimes, and here is a great place to be. Here and just being online talking to friends on IM. Sometimes I'll go into a chat room and IM them just because it's easier to talk when you don't see the person, most times.

But that's how I deal, for the most part. Doesn't always work so well..like now isn't going so good. But things get better.

[soledad1]

Thanks everyone. At least I have a little more hope now. I'm having a rough time. I want to go to the Department of Mental Illness and resign...........but in the mean time I really appreciate the replies.

PS welcome starbright I see you're new. I hope you like it here

[wisewoman]

I like that comment, go to the dept of mental illness and resign. I am paying about a third of each paycheck for insurance and then we pay deducts and copays on docs and meds, and t's but mine waived that. If I dropped the family mine would be free but then my college kids would have no insurance. So, I pay, I pay, I pay. Don't want to think about what I would do without t, she has taught me a lot and I am still learning.

[Wants2Fly]

I've been very poor --and if my savings and credit run out I am going to be there again -- and yes, it sucks. Every least little thing becomes a crisis. If there is anyone who is really poor who manages NOT to be depressed, it is a MiRacle.

I haven't been in therapy since mid-November. I can be, bec. I am maintaining my insurance so far. But I am finding that keeping busy and being a member of my prayer community and of the forums is enough for right now. I pray that I am doing enough to establish good support for myself.

I agree that it might be a good idea to check out some of the free and/or sliding scale therapy opportunities. When I am in crisis, that is not a good time for me to be looking for ways to help myself. I am likely to feel better if I know these things. I am a person who likes to know what my Plan B (and Plan C) are.

I have no health insurace....thus, no therapy. I went to VR and have an appt in February. We'll see what happens. P

[Isolated_Guy]

I have yet to go to therapy but I'm seriously thinking about it for a change. I don't want one who's main purpose is to get people on drugs but just someone to listen to me and not concentrate on the clock on the wall.

[h0kie]

Therapists (psychotherapists in our experience) can't put you on any medication. Only psychiatrists. Hopefully that helps give you some reassurance.

[SpazKatt]

I'm not... I don't have money... and yeah... I feel uncomfortable about it.

[blackdragon]

I dont have health insurance cause i was suppost to get it from the place i work and its been pushed back month after month so i have no had it for over a year and i cant aford my medications so i been without meds for a year and quit therapy due to the price, since then i started cutting again, my mood changes more times then i have had changed underear, i also have bad days more than good days. the way i handle my life is never stop working if im working im not cutting my motto. even though i had one day where i came to work a mess from a 11 minnute yelling by my moms friend and ended up talking to one co worker and thinking about suicide. which after i started working i felt much better. but i take it day to day.