Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
Hi. A friend passed me along this forum, and I wanted to get some advice. I have some sort of bipolar (not sure... it could be schizoaffective bipolar disorder, or Bipolar 1 with psychotic features), Borderline Personality Disorder and PTSD. I'm currently applying for disability in the US (I live in Miami) and I have no income at all. At this moment, meds are not an issue, but I need some sort of therapy. I'm going through a "phase" as I call it, when my disorder is more active than normal. I could really use a therapist... I have good friends, a pretty supportive family and a supportive husband, but nothing beats a therapist. Does anyone know of any sort of free therapy in the Miami, FL area? I tried CHI, the low-income clinic, but they said they wanted $140 a session. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
sorry i cant be helpful, i dont know anything about miami. im from ohio.
i did want to welcome ya to the group tho.
Be Safe
((hugs))
I'm guessing your husband makes too much money. Especially if a clinic is trying to charge 140$ for a session.
Honestly I'm not entirely sure what to tell you. It's much easier to get help when you have nothing. Sadly our safty nets are really designed to help people before then end up in a critical state. Sucks I know but that's the way it is and has pretty much always been.
The only think I can tell you is to look in the human resources section in you phone book. Call numbers of organizations that you think might help you. Also if you absolutely can't get therapy try to find a free support group in your area. It's not the same as therapy but can at least help you cope.
Also try applying for welfare any way even if you don't think you qualify. Ask about alternative programs for low income families. If you make too much for welfare they often have some form of low income sliding scale insurance. Unfortunately often there is a waiting list. So sign up now that's your best bet.
Good luck though I hope you can find some help from some where.
I live in the Tampa Bay area (St Petersburg) - so we're across the state from one another! I haven't been to Miami after living in Florida since 1989...what a shame. I will see if I can find any info for you.
Take Care
I see that you are trying to get SSDI, you have to make a case for your self. You need medical records backing up your illness. You also need to get a lawyer, no one gets disability with out one that I've ever heard of yet. Many of them will take a lump sum out of your back payment from the time you applied and will only take a payment if you win.
Other than that good luck.
@doorknob- My husband is on SSI as well. I have meds right now because I had health insurance a couple months ago and I'm a pill-saver. Any time I could get samples from my doctor or fill a script a couple days early, I would. Then at my last session with my pdoc, she cut my dose of Seroquel XR in half, from 600 to 300. I had just filled my script for 60 300mg pills, so I'm working through those. Other than that, I'm on Prozac, which I can get at Target for $4.
I, too, was under the illusion that it's easier to get help if you have nothing. Sadly, it doesn't matter. I applied for welfare and got turned down, I got food stamps for one month before they cut them off. The only way for me to get them back is to go to their office and see what the problem is. I can't do it online and their phone system has no people to talk to.
As for a lawyer, I'm hoping I don't need one. My husband was approved the first time around with no legal help. I'm not under the delusion that I'm going to be that lucky, but I am hoping that I won't need a lawyer. Nobody would understand why I'm "wasting money" since hubby got his so easily.
Doorknob, thank you for all your help. It may seem that I'm dismissing you, but I'm not. I let things like this sit and stew in the back of my head.