FauxLiz
Diamond Member
I love where I live; I had never considered how much the environment means when dealing with mental health issues however, 2 1/2 years ago, I moved to Florida for a job, and the climate and access to water/beaches have made a huge improvement to my daily mental health. Unfortunately, the metro area where I live has been out of control growth and the availability of access to both psychiatrists for med management and therapists (that have higher education than just LPC or MSW) is nearly impossible to get and those with solid experience are all private pay, no insurance and the going rate is roughly $275-$300 per visit. I make a decent salary but the cost of living keeps going up, and insurance rates are out of control for housing and auto eating up more than any annual salary increases will ever achieve.
So now I am trying to figure out if I should start looking for employment in a state with a lower cost of living but allows for either all remote or hybrid work environment that would allow me to spend more time in this climate during the winter months when the gloom and grey of winter and cold weather have serious negative effects on me. Living in the Florida climate has improved some of my physical health issues as well, so that has to be considered. I am at a point where I hate my employer and the job that I am doing, so I am starting to look for a new position I just don't know if I want to consider another major relocation to an area where there are maybe not more resources but a lower client/patient to provider ratio.
For perspective, in the last two decades, I have relocated for employment reasons 7 times, it is a major stressor every time and has prevented home ownership as the continual moves eliminate any equity. Also, considering the political climate in the US, I am not sure I really feel safe living in the US anymore, and I was born here.
So now I am trying to figure out if I should start looking for employment in a state with a lower cost of living but allows for either all remote or hybrid work environment that would allow me to spend more time in this climate during the winter months when the gloom and grey of winter and cold weather have serious negative effects on me. Living in the Florida climate has improved some of my physical health issues as well, so that has to be considered. I am at a point where I hate my employer and the job that I am doing, so I am starting to look for a new position I just don't know if I want to consider another major relocation to an area where there are maybe not more resources but a lower client/patient to provider ratio.
For perspective, in the last two decades, I have relocated for employment reasons 7 times, it is a major stressor every time and has prevented home ownership as the continual moves eliminate any equity. Also, considering the political climate in the US, I am not sure I really feel safe living in the US anymore, and I was born here.