In need of therapy

county mental health?
check with united way or local hospitals for support groups

go to a doctor, a general physician. Try to scrape together the money ok. Have him put you on a medicine for this illness, and tell him if it is stopping you from working a normal job. If it is I would suggest you go apply for Social Security Disability Insurance.

I would suggest through the county. They may also be able to provide you with places that provide counseling on a free or sliding pay scale.

I haven't had insurance since August and understand your concerns.

All of the above are excellent recommendations. Please make the calls. In the meantime, do all of the online reading you can to understand your condition, that does help cope when the waves flow back and forth.

Look in your phone book and call every "counselor/psychiatric" listing. Ask for their Business Manager and explain your financial situation. Definitely ask if they guage their rates based on income? This can often be very effective. This might also be accomplished through your local hospital or an emergency/suicidal type of lifeline?

If, by some chance you are a veteran, check with your nearest VA. I disagree with the person who said Mental Health care sucks. I have received excellent mental health care as an outpatient, both in the civilian sector and the VA, since 2004. My wife spent some time as an inpatient in 2001 and also received excellent care.
Starting with your county health unit is in fact probably your best bet. Good luck and God bless.

First, you are very brave for speaking up and asking for help. I know it is not always easy. Second, the others are right, the county clinics and hospitals do have free or sliding scale support groups or therapists. You should also check out this website... they offer "online counseling": http://counsellingresource.com/counselling-service/index.html Good luck to you!! And we're always here if you need to vent and most of us probably understand how you feel.

I don't know if this would help with bipolar, but there was a study done recently that claimed exercise was as effective as anti-depression drugs. Don't know if it's true, but if so it might help.

Hi,
I stumbled on you by accident. (Trying to find an article by the character above...)

Having dealt with depression (not bipolar per se - but it's not far off) since I was a kid here are a few things that have helped me survive.

Before I get into that - definitely try to get a psychiatrist or a Ph.D. pyschologist with experience in your specific diagnosis.

Depression covers a very wide gamut of illness and is not a one-size fits all diagnosis - nor is bipolar disorder. There are degrees of it - some worse than others so try to get someone with the right area of expertise. The county/city is a good place to start and many private docs do have sliding scales. If you can do some research, you might find out about clinical trials in your area that you could participate in and link up with some researchers who would be willing to work with you. My experience has been that the doctors and researchers in this field really want to make a difference and some even share the pain of this disease so they know first hand how bad it can get.

My tips for survival - hope you find something you can use:

1) Remind yourself daily that you are a survivor, not a victim, of this disease. As silly as it sounds - this a big thing. If it takes putting a sign on your bathroom mirror - do it.

2) Exercise is important because of the brain chemicals that are released when you exercise. For some types of depression - strenuous exercise is the key - for others T'ai Chi or Yoga may be the ticket. (T'ai Chi works well for me.) You can pick up a book or a DVD/tape at any bookstore and many used book stores. If you do T'ai Chi or basic Yoga you won't need special equipment, clothes or shoes - just a space to move around in.

3) Diet is another biggie (I am NOT talking about weight loss by diet) - certain types of foods - carbohydrates or things high in fructose/corn syrup tend to exacerbate my depression. If I am eating lots of refined wheat or sugars (basically anything white) - it tends to push me towards a bipolar state. I strongly suspect that it is related to glucose/insulin levels - but I am not doc or a researcher so...you may need to experiment by keeping a food journal and seeing if certain things affect you more than others. I would advise cutting out anything that seriously affects your moods. Those that have an effect but aren't significant you can curtail if you really like them.

4) If at all possible stay away from alcohol. For one thing - if you do get on meds they do not mix with alcohol. At all. (You will get the worst headache of your life at a minimum.) For another, it is a depressant and if you are already depressed...'nuff said. If you happen to be on the manic side it tends to heighten the risky behavior aspect.

5) Reach out to the people who offer to help but understand if they don't understand that they are not being unkind - they just don't "get it" - if someone hasn't walked this path, trying to explain it is almost impossible.

6) When you reach out to people - tell them what you need. Don't let the "mind" trick you with expectations that "if they love me, they'll know what I need" - unless they are psychic, they won't know unless you tell them. Be specific. And again, understand if they can't meet that need - right at that moment in time - it is not personal so don't make it personal - that won't help you and will alienate them.

7) Know that you are not alone. There are many of us out there - the statistics on depression are pretty amazing.

It is a disease - not a stigma or a fashion statement.

There is a quote from a song that for some reason is a talismen for me when it is bad:
"I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert, but I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime. In a big country dreams stay with you, like a lover's voice fires the mountainside. Stay Alive." (In a Big Country, by Big Country off the album The Crossing)

Take care,
Maggie