Going Back Into Therapy

[Yumeko-chan]

Almost 10 years of PTSD and I've never been in therapy... Part of me thinks I should give it a shot, but I'm afraid to. Cost prohibitions (I am dirt poor), plus what if they wanna put me on something (again, dirt poor) or ask why it took me so bloody long to get going?

 

[dust]

Yumeko-chan,

I saw your intro post - is there not a support fund for survivors of Columbine that you can access? Therapy really helped me. Don't worry about the time it took you to get there, some people take much longer to get to therapy (myself included.) Thing is, an individual can only deal with these things when they are ready to! As with She-cat, our recoveries are life-long and we may be in and out of therapy as out lives change or when we are ready to face more of our pasts, or just because we need extra support for a while.

It is REALLY hard to go back and it takes courage to do so, but if you treat yourself with kindness during the process you will be able to make it.

dust

 

[Deleted member 541]

Not sure where you live, but if you are still in the states, then there are places that can help you for free or for very little cost.

Therapy and medication could help you tremendously, you should really see if there is someplace that can help you. I would suggest that you start by searching Mental Health organizations in your community.

Good luck!

 

[kers]

From personal experience, it is highly unlikely that they will ask "what took you so long." On the contrary, they will probably marvel at how well you have coped on your own for so long.

Also, a good therapist will not urge medication. They might bring it up, but the choice is always yours. You get to be in control of your treatment.

 

[Auburngirl]

Also, depending on the medication it may not be that expensive. Generics can be quite cheap, and where I live medication is subsidised by the province for low income folks like me, so I spent less than 5 dollars a month.

 

[Yumeko-chan]

Yes, I am still in the States.

I was on Zoloft for a couple years in college, first at a 50mg dose, then it was upped to 75mg when 50 stopped working. It did make me feel a little better, although I think it stifled my creativity in my writing (though I'll admit I was buried in schoolwork at the time too, so it could've been that :rolleyes:) and I did still have panic attacks and the like. Still, even with my student insurance it was really expensive. I was given samples instead, but after I graduated I couldn't get them anymore. When I started to run low I tried tapering off, but even that didn't work, because once I ran out I was in withdrawal for three solid months. Horrible.

As for a fund I can access, if there is such a thing no one's told me about it.

 

[Deleted member 541]

There are stores now that you can get prescription meds for as little as $4 a month if you have no insurance. Walmart, Target, and even some of the larger food stores are now doing it also.

I would suggest that you check to see if you have one of these stores in your area and fill out the forms required to get on the program.

Good luck.

 

[Mercy]

Dear She cat,

You sound more settled than before. Has your therapy started, if so how do you fell about it?

Please know that lots of people are wishing you well. About the food thing, I wonder does it go better when your self-esteem goes up? I had to remind myself to eat a little when I took my meds because food is a kind of med too.:Hug_emoticon:

 

[Deleted member 541]

Mercy,

I am 3 weeks into therapy. Feeling *somewhat* better as far as the issue I went for. Still trying to sort it all out, guilt, anger, loss, and just the whole death scene that is still very fresh in my mind. I just wish that I could accept that his life was one huge lie, and than NO ONE that he knew ever saw it. That is hard to deal with.

Time will tell.......Self esteem????? You mean that we are supposed to have one??? LOL!!!! Mine is in the pit somewhere, I guess I need to drag it out someday......

 

[Auburngirl]

Yumeko-chan,

If it's an option, and you do end up needing medication you may want to check Cdn pharmacies. I'm Cdn and my friends from the US often comments that drugs are cheaper here, there are websites that market to the US, and tour buses of senior citizens who come up.