Support *hugs* for all those without insurance.

[Locut0s]

Just wish to throw out some random *hugs* and some virtual support to all those suffering from emotional problems who don't have any medical insurance. I was just in a chat room tying to console a person having a panic attack and trying to decide whether to go to the ER or not cause they couldn't breath. This person had no health insurance and was just about broke. She was terrified because she couldn't breath and had never had an episode like this before despite suffering from anxiety for 10 years. I told her it was most likely just a panic attack but that she absolutely should go to the ER if she felt like she needed to. There should be no stigma in needing to go to the ER for mental health reasons, though I know there is. Many amazing people work there and can help you no matter what your problems are, emotional or physical. We have a family friend who would not be alive now were it not for the kind people at the psychiatric unit at the local hospital where he was brought after a suicide attempt. It just pains me to see someone like this woman I was trying to help have to deal with TWO calamities, their own emotional turmoil (which I know can feel like death itself), and the prospect of hospital bills you can't afford to pay. Makes me feel all the more lucky for living in a country, Canada in my case, where I don't have to face that extra burden. *hugs* to all those facing this!

[Tobin S.]

1. Thank you, Locut0s

Another problem we have here in the states regarding health insurance for mental health problems is that many policies to not cover care for mental illnesses as well as they do other health problems. For example, I've had health insurance in the past that only covered 50% of the cost of a psychologist and then only for 25 visits a year.

[mdmc]

3. I thought that was illegal now due to obamacare or one of wellstone's bill

could be wrong..

[Neoma]

4. Not all of it has taken effect yet.

I was denied coverage. So since I'm still young, I get to go on my parents insurance until 2014, when the pre-existing condition thing becomes illegal. You can be on your parents insurance even if you're married and not relying on them financially until you're 26.

[mdmc]

5. My health ins. has already changed to conform to the law

in NYS both HIP and MVP have already done away with their shitty MH coverage..

I'm glad that you can get some ins. through your folks.

God bless and have a great day..

[BeHereNow]

6. You must be close to my daughter's age...

She is 25 and thankfully covered through our insurance because
this has been a TERRIBLE year for us medically.

My question is, what happens when she turns 26?

I am thinking seriously of getting her on disability, because she is
a LONG way from being able to make it on her own, and I shudder
at the thought of her out there in the world not being able to
get the meds she needs to have some quality of life.

My fear fantasy goes like this-
What will happen to her if something happens to her dad or me...
The thought scares me to death sometimes.
The only preventative measure I can see is to apply for disability.
She qualifies, without a doubt.
BHN

[Neoma]

7. I've been going back and forth on the issue on whether I should go on disability.

Yes, there's no family income, yes I have a disease. But the disease really shouldn't define me, and the money wouldn't be enough anyways.

[BeHereNow]

8. May I ask your diagnosis, if that is not too personal?

My daughter is BP.
Going without medication is not really an option for her.
And she thinks like you, she doesn't want the disease to define her,
but in so many ways, when she is in a bad patch, it does-
She can't function like she wants to- hanging out with friends,
reaching out to friends- things like that become impossible for her-
and then the depression deepens because she feels like a loser.
Which she is not, btw...

BHN

[Neoma]

9. The situation is different, in that I have my husband taking care of me.

The comfort there is a lot more intimate. And we might have different types of bipolar.

You cannot go throughout your life believing that the disease will define who you are for the rest of your life. Because instead of being in control of it, you let it control you. That is what happens when you define yourself as bipolar, you let it control you.

Put it this way. When you introduce someone, would you say, "Hello, this is my friend ____, she has cancer." ? Probably not. People say, "She is bipolar" instead of "She has bipolar." It's not very nice to define a person purely by being bipolar. There are other qualities about her that she probably wants to flesh out to overpower the distinction that she is purely bipolar and will always be bipolar, and that will seem to her, like they're saying she can't be other things. It's a, "why can't they define me as an artist, or a movie-goer, or a soccer player?" Believe me, it's important to define her as other things.

The easiest thing for her to do, in order to feel normal and not bipolar, is to get off her medicine. That's called fighting for normalcy, whether you know it or not.

You have to understand the three sides of a bipolar personality:

1.. Mania: Oh my god, I feel great! I can't wait until I can do everything damn thing on my list of things to do because I'm going to be an astronaut/zoologist! And somehow have the time to become a famous rock star. Oh look, a building! I bet I can climb that!

You're excited that you got out of your depression because now you feel that you can do anything in the world! And some very successful people have done it because of this mania.

2. Hypomania: I'm depressed...but I feel like I can do things. I wonder where the knives are.

Having Mania and Depression at the same time is not good... There's a lack of impulse control usually, when you have this. This is the point that bipolar sucks rocks for me. Fortunately I have it under control.

2. Depression: Oh...I can't do this many things at once, how fucking lame of me, thinking that I could do all that. Stupid universe won't let me have all the time in the world. Might as well shoot my goddamn self. I'm a wasted resource on this world anyways. Need better population control...

That's sometimes what depression is like for people with this disease. Low self-esteem to the point where you can't get up. You're a useless piece of junk that can't accomplish anything because you're not normal. And "not normal" is usually replaced with the word "bipolar." When you're diagnosed.

I hope that gives a birds eye view.

[BeHereNow]

10. Yes, you have stated the condition VERY succinctly!

Not so sure getting her off medication is a good solution in our case though.
We've had too many dangerous episodes.

At one point, early in her diagnosis, she seemed to function normally
with a combo of tegretol and wellbutrin.

It has been a med merry go round sever since then.

Her depression at this point is completely OOC and preventing her from
doing anything.

She finally got some sleep, which helped, but she is in the state you describe
in #2.

Can't get out of bed- feels worthless etc...

It breaks my heart, truly.
Because I can't fix it.

BHN

[Neoma]

11. Oh no, I don't mean she should be off her meds.

I'm saying that's the easiest way for her to try and attempt to not be bipolar, in her mind. It's a "Why can't I work out my emotions by myself like everyone else?" Deal.

[mdmc]

2. I know someone that went to our local clinic that is run by the state

They only accept medicaid, but they treated her, really well, imho, for free.
She gets monthly med management and therapy twice a month.

Hugs for those without access to medical care.. Insurance sucks, care is where it is at. I with we had universal health care..