Great Help If You Can Get It
Generally my nonexistent spam catcher allows in crap from Viagra and penis enlarger services. Today I got what actually seemed like a real comment:
I believe there are so many depressed people in our society because they aren’t happy with themselves. There are sooooooo many outside pressures——including the ones we let in through the media etc., that we are bombarded with how we should act, feel , work, play and so on. Come on people—-forget the status quo!!!
Turns out it’s from a company selling a mix of Morinda officinalis root extract, Albizzia julibrissin durazz flower extract, Angelica dahurica root extract, Cyperus rotundus root extract and some other stuff. Of course they want you to forget the status quo.
Alternative treatments, however, are going to look more appealing as the economy gets worse. Thanks to Tim for sending in this story from the Wall Street Journal: Angst Is Rising, but Many Must Forgo Therapy. From Elizabeth Bernstein’s article:
Across the country, psychiatrists and psychologists say they are seeing an increasing number of patients who are worried about paying for treatment. Some are reducing the amount of time they spend in therapy. Others are trying to negotiate a reduced fee. And, despite doctors’ warnings that it can be detrimental, some patients are using tactics to make their medication last longer, such as taking half their dose.
I see my p-doc every week for 45 minutes, but I recently went to every other week due to finances. It wasn’t much of a hit for me because at this point we’re doing talk therapy, and I like having an extra week to process. But for those who are seeing their psychiatrists only once a month for 15 minutes, it’s essential they continue to do so. That’s a preposterously short time to begin with, so don’t skimp.
As for taking less medication, that’s a really, really bad idea. You’ll end up paying for it later, I guarantee. If you’re having trouble paying for meds, ask your doctor about it. When I didn’t have health insurance, my doctor helped me arrange to get meds for less. Or go to MHA’s prescription help page for more suggestions. If you want to talk to an actual person, find your own Mental Health Association outpost by clicking here. It’s a great referral.
In crisis? Call 1-800-273-TALK. Or 1-800-SUICIDE. For state-by-state crisis lines, click here.
Remember, in times of financial crisis, the suicide rate climbs. So let’s be careful out there, people.
liz | 12:27 PM | Uncategorized
i’ve recently found myself in this predicament. for a while, i was doing ok on meds and with therapy, but now that i’ve switched meds (that aren’t quite working as planned) and life stresses have risen, i can’t even afford to go as much as i’d like, and need, to! are those assistance programs just for people that meet certain income requirements?
This is such an important topic. Those like myself who have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder need to stay in treatment or be seeking treatment. Most communities do offer programs with a sliding scale or at no cost if you qualify.
Two quick tips:
1. If you call an organization or your insurance company for help and they can’t answer your questions, ask them who can. Call your State Division of Insurance if you are unclear of what your insurance must provide or if you aren’t getting appropriate care.
2. Look to your community for help in managing stress—MHA (Mental Health America or Mental Health Association), DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Alliance); even your local library may have free classes in stress management. Bipolar can make stress more difficult to manage, but you can always add new skills for managing stress to complement your treatment.
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