Posted by KaraS on January 24, 2005, at 17:06:12
In reply to What's Out There In The US For The Likes of Me?, posted by snakeadelic on January 22, 2005, at 2:03:59
> I have generalized social anxiety (unable to cope with the presence of GROUPS of strangers; I'm very high function in one-on-one situations) that has not responded to any of the medications tried on me. Right now my option is a dwindling supply of diazepam, taken only when I know such situations are imminent. Group therapy for this, to the surprise only of the social services agency unwilling to pay for any other form of counseling, was NOT successful...Hmmm, stuff someone whose anxiety trigger is strangers in a room full of strangers and hope it helps?
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> I also have what may rank among the strangest of all phobias--moving vehicles, whether I'm in them or not. I am, when a passenger, subject to full-on panic attacks (shortness of breath, clenched muscle groups, cardiac arrhythmia, inability to think) and for reasons that should be obvious I am no longer able to drive. Again, diazepam in advance is all that's helped.
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> I may also be a borderline sociopath, having been told by at least one mental health professional that the day I stop viewing other live humans AS human is the day I cross that line.
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> I have NO income at all, having not been released back to work by any mental or physical health professional for five years. I have NO case with Social Security for disability--I'm too young and my medical history shows no evidence of disability despite the fact that MD's, PA's, AND a PhD counselor have all refused to release me into the job market. I have NO medical insurance, as the state I live in cannot come up with the money the federal government would require in order to implement that program for anyone who does not have children.
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> So...anyone know of any kind of help available in the form of accredited one-on-one counseling or medication recommendations (at this point I think my b/f would marry me if HE had medical insurance, just so I could get some help!) in case I do come up with a way to seek medical/psychiatric help in the future? Diazepam does work well for me, but it's not something I'm okay with taking daily, and I can't afford to go out and buy herbal supplements that may cost as much as $10 per dose and are supposed to be taken multiple times daily!
Some states have free clinics that you can apply to go to. Other states have major hospitals that you can go to and apply for their free care programs. You can also apply directly to the drug companies for free medications. Many of them have compassionate use programs - although they require a physician's involvement.
poster:KaraS
thread:445609
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050101/msgs/446956.html