Senate Mental Health Support Thread

Thanks, guys. I kind of feel like I've hijacked this thread, but am really thankful for all the support I've gotten.

 

On the contrary, this would be exactly what this thread is for.

I don't really know what else to say either besides wishing there was something to say that could help

 

Harpua - here in the UK we have a charity called The Samaritans that people can talk to about depression, etc. Is there a similar US charity you can talk to about the issue with your medications and the insurance?

 

Not that I know of. I'll do some googling, though. Most of the advice I've found online suggests going to the emergency room. But if you follow the best friends thread, you know that both @solojones and I have gone to the er, thinking that we were having heart attacks, and found out we were having anxiety attacks. As soon as er staff ruled out a medical issue, we were kicked out into packed waiting rooms for hours. We both ended up leaving. So yeah... they say to go to the er, but er staff is clearly ill-equipped to handle mental health emergencies. In fact, once they realize it's mental health related, they kind of treat you like a waste of time.

 

If you could somehow get in to see a psychiatrist, they might be able to give you enough sample medication to see you through. I've done that before. Sometimes universities have clinics that don't charge an arm and a leg, and some areas have community mental health services, but in my experience you have to be prepared to wait quite a while to be seen. Of course, if you have to wait anyway, getting on a list might be worth it.

Also, at least in my area, if you're actively suicidal the ER staff doesn't treat you like a waste of space. I'm not saying you are suicidal right now, but if you get that way, please go to the hospital. Some hospitals will work with you financially if you don't have insurance.

 

Seconded. Beyond that, I don't have anything to contribute. That you're able to post about this and get a little remote help is what the thread's for.

 

I'll definitely look into it on Monday (already found a clinic). I'm trying to remain positive, but the "free" clinic I went to in Colorado was free to people with Medicaid, only.

 

Perhaps this could be of assistance? (it might be a longshot, but it's how the RI Free Clinic helps patients with no insurance get free prescriptions)

https://www.rxassist.org/

 

****ing hell. The pictures you're sketching with this and the other one about the lack of Samaritan-style support are nightmare fuel to those of us on this side of Atlantic - hope you can find a way through the minefield.

 

I know you have some Native heritage, but I'm not sure of your technical, legal status in terms of being recognized by a tribe or whatnot. I'm sure you've probably already thought about Indian Health. I've also forgotten where in the country you currently are; most likely, not close to an Indian Health facility, as they're not exactly on every corner, but I just thought of it as an idea.

As to you hijacking the thread, this is exactly what this thread needs to be: a place to come when you need support. Next week, it might be me or solojones or any number of other people around here "hijacking" the thread because we're the ones in crisis. This thread, I think, should kind of be a crisis center. When someone needs help, they post here and it's all hands on deck to give love and support. In most crises, we can't exactly be a big help to each other because we're so scattered, but this is the place where we come to do our best.

Anyway, you are surrounded by love right now. You are surrounded by people who would solve your problem in a heartbeat if we had the power to do so. We're your friends and if we have anything to say about it, you're going to make it through this.

 

I can't remember if anyone here already mentioned GoodRX, but that's an option too. It's a phone app that you can use to download coupons for prescription medication. Lots of pharmacies take them. You can look at the list of coupons and choose the pharmacy where your meds will be the cheapest. If you could get in to see anyone, even a GP, you could possibly get your scripts this way.

Edit: Just ran Abilify though it, since that one costs so much--my local Kroger pharmacy would give it to me for $28.11 with the coupon.

 

With a coupon !? There's no way for me to show how outrageous that looks from over here.

 

Yeah, I mentioned GoodRX because I've had to use them. That's still more than it ought to be, but could be manageable.

 

Hey guys. So I've kinda had a breakthrough. I don't wanna jinx anything, but for the past 6 days my mental health has sorta just... stopped? Ok, maybe not 100% stopped, because that would be almost impossible, but there's been a huge difference. For the first time in many years, I feel a lot less stressed, and a lot more relaxed. I went from my mind being a complete mess 24/7 every day of the year, to this.

How did I do it? It got to the point where it was worse than ever. Like rock bottom. So I said to myself, "Enough is enough", and I stopped. And everything has been a lot easier since. Something else I also did, which may have something to do with it, is quit porn. I felt like it was messing with my head, so again, like my mental health, I said "Enough is enough" and I just stopped. After almost one entire month without watching porn, I have next to no desire to look at it ever again. I've also tried to fix my sleeping habits by going to bed earlier.

Yes, it may still take a while for it to fully disappear, so I've still got a bit of work to do, but I'm really happy with how I am at the moment. Now I've just got to make sure it doesn't start back up again.

Maybe others could take something away from this. If anyone wants me to go into more detail on anything, I'd be more than happy to.

 

No, I probably wont go to the er if I'm suicidal (I'm not, by the way), because I'm a parent. I don't trust our legal system, and fear that my son would be taken away from me.

I know that sounds ****ed up, and it is... the stigma is especially unforgiving and brutal for parents with mental illness.

 

GUYS... I was going through a bag of toiletries that I hadn't unpacked since the move, and I discovered that I have a full sealed bottle of Abilify. I have no idea where it came from and why I didn't know about it. If I didn't know any better I'd swear that it was put there by God. So, I have at least some medication.

 

Well that's wonderful news. It's nice when life gives you a little miracle in a time of need.

 

Oh, same... I coach myself, do breathing exercises, get out in nature, try to value what I have in life, and try to think positively, but an outside person telling me to do those things, and suggesting that it's all in my mind, would make me feel like absolute ****.

 

Sentiment shared here. Besides, after a while, one can start believing those are true Notably when everybody in your environment, starting with your family and friends, keep repeating those mantras...

 

This is one of my favorites (in case you couldn't tell, I'm really into psychological comics)

 

Excellent news on the meds, harpua! If you have any other bags/boxes still not unpacked you might want to check them as well. Is there enough to tide you over til the new insurance kicks in?

 

Yeah, I need to go through everything and look, just in case. It's a month's supply, so yes, it'll get me really close to when my insurance kicks in (January 1). I mean, it's only one of three meds I take, but at this point, I'll take what I can get.