Posted by Racer on August 27, 1998, at 11:55:13
In reply to Re: Thanks, there's a bit more to the story..., posted by Toby on August 27, 1998, at 8:28:22
Thank you for taking me seriously. Thank you for taking the time to respond, twice even. It's nice to have someone listen, which obviously ain't happ'nin' with the doctor who can see me face to face. I'd be embarrassed for her if it weren't for the part about being stuck with her.
My county has very limited resources for mental health. Basically, they can pay to have me in the hospital, or to see one of their doctors about half a dozen times. After that, there's almost nothing. After the 4 - 6 visits to the psychiatrist, they shift over to a med clinic where they give you the meds, and send you on your way. If you don't like the doctor, your choice is to drive across county, about 40 minutes, and go to the walk in clinic where you may or may not be able to be seen. If you are seen, the doctor can change your meds, stop your meds, or write you up as a danger to yourself and lock you up. As for talk therapy, the sliding scale goes down to about $35 per session, no billing, pay as you go. Since my depression is tied up with my inability to find work, gee, that sliding scale is still way out of my reach. I can't buy food, how can I pay rates like that? Not alot of choices there.
Thanks again, though. I am trying the drug, just don't feel very good about the whole thing. I do wish that I could talk to someone I could trust about the side effects and my concerns, but unless I can find someone to give up a couple of hours to drive me up there, well, not much to do about it. (Don't know if it's the drug or if it's knowing about the potential side effect, but I am feeling kinda disoriented and lightheaded. I'm trying to tell myself it's the latter.)
poster:Racer
thread:381
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990501/msgs/406.html