Last post Thu, Apr 10 2008 9:04 PM by jillwilliams. 27 replies.
Welcome Jay!
I'm a "newbie" too! I stumbled on to this site - it has helped me tremendously!! I have a tbi (traumatic brain injury) - I hope you find this site a resource you can come to in times of trouble!
Hi Sister Belle,
I've also been in the mental health system for many years. Mostly as a consumer but also as a state advocate.
I've know that finances shouldn't be a problem anywhere in the U.S. The Community Mental Health Act provides
free or almost free service at any community mental health center. You would have to contact the ADAMH Board
to find out where the service is provided if it's not listed in the telephone book. NAMI (National Alliance for
Mental Illnesses) also has a refferal service and listing. Every state has an office.
In my experience I find that the sweaky wheel gets the most service. If you need to talk to someone, don't take No
for an answer. They are required to at least take an intake interview. And if you are feeling even a little suicidal,
they must treat you as an emergency. That service is available 24 hrs a day.
Hope this info helps. Ray
Jen, I agree that your idea would be very helpful to so many.
I've always had to battle a certain degree of depression from childhood on up until about 5 years ago when I fell, fractured my lower back, couldn't work, and wound up medically separated by my employer. I managed to get on SSDI, but this ushered in a whole different lifestyle to which I was hardly accustomed as a majorly rehabbed post polio survivor since age 18 months. I found it hard to adjust to living on something like one-fourth my last salary, my father died the year after my fall, my mother followed him 8 months later, and some of my business concerns got botched up so that I was having to live like ... uh ... like a pauper. Life suddenly became all about loss, loss, loss. Loss of some of my friends who did not cease the inaccessible stuff we'd always done together, and so my social network had shrunk. Loss of my weekends spent in the clubs dancing and partying, loss of my abilities to hike across Mt. Tamalpais, or to wash my car on my own, or to keep up the thriving, lush garden I'd created over the years which has now gone to the weeds, or to just dash out of the house and fly off to NYC for the weekend, and so on and so forth.
This became, for me, a catastrophic health crisis, because not only was I losing physical abilities more rapidly and dramatically, but I'd also lost all the activities those abilities allowed me to carry on over my lifetime, and I was a very, very active guy. So for me, many a passionate involvement, including a virtually full time contribution to various political issues, were lost.
My depression/anxiety became severe enough and was costing me much needed sleep that I decided to see a shrink. He put me on a succession of psychotropic meds, like HMOs automatically do to cut corners on "cost", I got some therapy but none of those folks could grasp the central issue of the links and interactions between physical disability and mental health. Instead, it was as if I were fully able-bodied. That's how bankrupt the healthcare system is for the most part. They can't and usually don't want to spend the time to really help us resolve our issues. Instead, they relegate us to a life of popping pills -- which amounts to nothing more than chemically managing the patient, rather than attempting to cure him/her.
So yea. I think such a forum address PHYSICAL DISABILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH would be so helpful.
Justin
HI TO EVERYONE OUT HERE, I AM SO SORRY FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE SUFFERING. I NEVER KNEW DEPRESSION COULD BE SO PAINFUL. MY MIND HURTS SO BAD. I AM REACHING OUT BUT IT'S IF NO ONE CARES. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE ISOLATED MYSELF SO I HAVE NO FRIENDS AND AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING SOME FRIENDS HERE. IF IT WILL TAKE THIS EMOTIONAL PAIN AWAY, I CAN DEAL WITH THE PHYSICAL PAIN.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO COPE, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. GOD BLESS, WENDY
Hi Jen, I thoroughly agree, when you are isolated, can't go to the gym, can't work, and are in and out of surgeries one after the other, that is when depression really sets in. I am trying to find support groups in my little town before I go insane. I wish where we go for therapy offered them but they don't, however I am going to make suggestions. As of now, I am not a senior, but I am going to start going to the senior center for bingo, arts and crafts and maybe I can get someone to teach me how to crochette. I am now fighting for my life. If you have any more suggestions, they'd be greatly appreciated. with much empathy, Wendy
Hi Everyone,
I'm posting this to give folks on this forum some help and info. I have bipolar disorder 2 (hypomania alternating with irritability) plus depression. I have recently started on an anti-seizure medication called Lamotrigene (aka: Lamictal). Once I got up to 100 mgs. a day (it takes a while to titrate up to a therapeutic dose, you have to start with 25 mgs. a day) plus paxil 20mgs. a day, my mood swings and depression went away. The anti-seizure medications can be better than anti-psychotics for bipolar disorder because the anti-psychotics (seroquel, zyprexa, etc.) can cause weight gain, diabetes, and heart problems. Depakote is another anti-seizure med but it can cause drowsiness which lamictal does not cause, for me. I recommend that folks ask their physicians about anti-seizure meds if the doctors mention bipolar disorder. For severe bipolar disorder (mania alternating with depression), 200 mgs. per day might help.
Also, I had started on prozac back in 1991 for depression and this med really helped me. I had very few side effects and it took away virtually all my depression. Unfortunately, I went off it for a time because of a lack of insurance and when I tried it again, it wasn't as effective (for some reason, this happens with prozac). However, paxil can help with your depression just as much, it does tend to have a few more side effects than prozac and leaves the body more quickly, so make sure, if you do go off it, do it very gradually.
Also, glaxosmithkline, which manufactures lamictal, has a patient assistance program. A physician has to serve as your advocate to get on this (if you have no income from employment) and can sign you up from his office. Once, you are signed up, you can get 60 pills for only $10. The usual price for this med is up to $200 a month in the U.S. In Canada it is available as a generic, go figure. Paxil and prozac are available as generics so they are much less expensive.
Folks with depression and/or bipolar, these meds may help you.
Judy
Cymbalta in the morning and Wellbutrin at night. That combo seems to really work for me, but it does tend to curb libido (sexual appetite), which for us overly horny types could be a blessing in disguise. lol lol lol. Of course, yohimbine Rx will reverse that, or maybe just a hot partner who knows how to help you "transcend" the abyss of sexual desire caused by pharmaceuticals will do it. lol lol lol Other than that, I find no other significant adverse side effects from either Cymbalta or Wellbutrin. Cymbalta is not in generic form yet, but Wellbutrin is as Bupropion.
Whatever . . . you might want to check in with a psychiatrist (a real one with an MD), and not just rely on your regular primary doc. Why? Because medication is only half what it takes to live with depression/anxiety. Some sort of psychotherapy is needed if you are to go beyond only masking the feelings of depression/anxiety but actually start to resolve your issues that cause your depression. Otherwise, if all you do is pop pills, you're only being "chemically managed," not actually treated for the depression/anxiety.
Never take another person's psychotropic meds, by the way. Anti-depressants don't work the way aspirins do for a headache. You have to taper onto the dosage needed in your individual case, and if you go off, you need to taper off of the dosage.
hi my name is regina i have been diagnosed as bi-polar i go to a disabity hearing in four days and am scared to death anxiety i guess would anyone know what my chances are in receiving a favorable decision
Hi Regina, I have been on disability for a number of years. The hearing officer is looking to see if you are unable to work for at least one year.
He should already have your medical and psychratric records in from of him with a reccommendation from your doctors. This is what he mostly
uses for his detremination but he may also be doing an interview. If he does he needs to hear how you are on your worst day. Not how you are
feeling right then. Also tell about your worst day at your jobs. But I won't sugarcoat this. Most people do not get on disabily the first time.
It's all according to the heaing officer and maybe some unknown quanity about how much money is available that day. I've seen people in wheelchairs
get turned down the first time but then get it with no problem when they try again. Good luck, Ray
There are several great resources to discuss mental health. In addition to this site, which has a ton of information and a supportive community, local groups can also benefit greatly. As I have found with my MS, the best forum for questions is an audience who can relate to your problems. I meet with a group once a month to discuss issues relating to MS. Although I have wonderful friends and family, other people with my specific problem have proved most beneficial.
Try seeking out a local or online group that meets your needs and hopefully you will begin to feel better. Best wishes!
I would like to add that no matter what the outcome is of the hearing, be sure not to go into a tailspin and lose your "back pay" . Even if they say NO, read the paperwork closely and file all the appeals to keep your case alive, it will make a huge difference on how much money you will get when you actually get approved for disablity.
I am also appling for disablity for bi polar, i have not had a hearing yet but that is my next step. I have been told appearance is important, in their judgement of you, so do not wear your best clothes or jewerly.
try to come up with example of why your bosses, have noticed your disabliity, even if it was said nicely, noticing problems at work will mean alot to them.
You will do fine, don't worry, of course that is easy for me to say, but honestly they just need to hear the dirty side of bipolar and we have to tell them what it is like because they really can't understand how hard it is. They need to hear about the stuff we hide from everyone, and why we are only fooling ourselves believing we are effectly covering the problems up.
i hope this is helpful, be brave, tell the whole truth (the dirty side) and keep your back check alive.
good luck
Christy (chats alot at night as catherder)
hey i agree one hundred percent i have bi polar as well was diagnosed back in my teen years an i dont think there is enough support groups for people of any sort of mental illness just the stigma of being diagnosed with it is lonely enough an well society inst always as friendly as we would hope it would be.if you ever come across a group or start one let me know i would be glad to check it out atleast.
