I am just telling this because many of us here are going round in circles with untreated, undiagnosed mental health problems with virtually no access to care unless its life or death.........many of you guys do seem to be getting long-term medical help in all sorts of ways from medication alternatives to different forms of counselling........some of us are self-diagnosing using google, and then what? Please be patient with the ramblings of your oversees sisters and brothers......some of us have never had any professional help.

Good post, Crybaby. Thank you. How to hold steady through the confusion of "Getting Help" is hot topic in my own psychotic adventures.

In my own perception, the equation varies more by decade than country. My therapy has spanned 3 continents and more than 40 years. The diffs between the 70's and 2k's look far greater to me than the diffs between the US and Bolivia, language barrier included.

The common denominator I perceive in that mushy, gushy equation is that the healing journey is different, yet equally difficult for each of us. Finding your own healing path isn't easy of any of us, whatever the resources available.

We get by with a little help from our friends.

In the US, some people have great insurance, and many have none at.

Thank you arfie........I know this is so true........back in the day 'mental health' was a disgrace that you didn't even talk about......and further back....you were put to death for being possessed by the devil........actually that's still the case in some parts of the world....I guess your experience of 'help' has spanned an enormous spectrum.......God help those in the non-first world.......Jesus thank you I am in a first world country......sometimes I read about places in the third world and I just have to stop....it is so heart-breaking I can't bare it!!!!!!!!!

patti22.......what happens to those with no insurance.......is Obama care similar to uk nhs? or has trump done away with Obama care?

No Obama care isn't close to UK's system.

One still has to buy Obamacare...and it's not cheap.

Honestly, this is a really political question in the United States, and I'm FAR from an expert on the subject. I hate to suggest this...but maybe google it if you're interested? My best advice...read both left and right wing sources...the truth is usually (but not always) found somewhere inbetween.

Just know that there are many types of insurance in the United States: Private, medicaid, medicare, Veterans Administration, and none.

I have "Good Insurance" and it doesn't simplify anywhere near as much as advertised. The biggest problem I see with Obamacare is that it is based on a fatally flawed system.

I grow ever more convinced that "Good Insurance" is an oxymoron.

I'm fortunate enough to have made it through a career to the point that after this semester, in 2 more years of teaching I can take early retirement on the condition that I not do so in the USA. I can't afford to live on the retirement of a teacher's pension in the USA any more.

Even though I got PTSD as a kid in the Tupamaro War, it's fortunate that I grew up in Mexico and Uruguay as a missionary kid, then. Uruguay is pacified and is prosperous now, with an excellent health care system open to foreigners, and Mexico is cheap, including for health care.

Since I have late stage 3 kidney disease along with my PTSD, I have to be careful in my choice. Part of me wishes I didn't have to make a choice at all, that I could stay here in the USA where I live and know my doctors and have my support system.

I'm trying to count my blessings instead. I've returned for frequent visits and find I still feel at home in Mexico and Uruguay from my youthful days still, so I know I can do this, even though it's a big move to make alone. A lot of Americans retire abroad, so I'm counting myself as someone who's going to be another one of them.

The whole project is driven by what you say, though, crybaby, that there's a lack of complete security as to stable health care in my future. This even though I've taught for 38 years and have teacher's health care and a teacher's pension.

I'm so sorry about what happened to you brother there in London. Something similar just happened to a parishioner of one of the two little churches I serve on weekends. He got hit by a car and was found by police in rough shape.

Taken to the hospital, he was found to have a head trauma and half of his ribs broken. I'm stuck at home recovering from surgery so I can't get out to help him, but parishioners have gotten him home from the hospital and we're getting him a lawyer now to try to get his medical bills paid for.

I think we'll be able to help him get back on his feet. I hope your brother gets back on his feet, too.

patti....arfie.......I am deeply grateful to be born in the uk where life is mostly safe and there is fantastic free emergency health care.......I am now reading about all the different systems in the world, and I understand the US spans from the best to the worst in a first world country.........am I right in thinking that all the guys talking about all their therapy, counselling, etc etc........are basically the rich ones? Do poor people come on this site too?

I'm fortunate enough to have made it through a career to the point that after this semester, in 2 more years of teaching I can take early retirement on the condition that I not do so in the USA. I can't afford to live on the retirement of a teacher's pension in the USA any more.

Even though I got PTSD as a kid in the Tupamaro War, it's fortunate that I grew up in Mexico and Uruguay as a missionary kid, then. Uruguay is pacified and is prosperous now, with an excellent health care system open to foreigners, and Mexico is cheap, including for health care.

Since I have late stage 3 kidney disease along with my PTSD, I have to be careful in my choice. Part of me wishes I didn't have to make a choice at all, that I could stay here in the USA where I live and know my doctors and have my support system.

I'm trying to count my blessings instead. I've returned for frequent visits and find I still feel at home in Mexico and Uruguay from my youthful days still, so I know I can do this, even though it's a big move to make alone. A lot of Americans retire abroad, so I'm counting myself as someone who's going to be another one of them.

The whole project is driven by what you say, though, crybaby, that there's a lack of complete security as to stable health care in my future. This even though I've taught for 38 years and have teacher's health care and a teacher's pension.

I'm so sorry about what happened to you brother there in London. Something similar just happened to a parishioner of one of the two little churches I serve on weekends. He got hit by a car and was found by police in rough shape.

Taken to the hospital, he was found to have a head trauma and half of his ribs broken. I'm stuck at home recovering from surgery so I can't get out to help him, but parishioners have gotten him home from the hospital and we're getting him a lawyer now to try to get his medical bills paid for.

I think we'll be able to help him get back on his feet. I hope your brother gets back on his feet, too.

muji......your account of your circumstances makes me understand much better than any of those bloggers/journalists who just write cold columns, with no personal experience or understanding at all.........I feel sick for you that you have served your community faithfully for all your adult life, after a childhood of abuse, just to have to face leaving to live in exile from the country you come from and have served faithfully...........I thank you with all my heart for your insights........and my heart is with you xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Most poor people can't afford counseling. Unless they have Medicare and /or Medicaid (govt health care) to cover it. And Medicare comes with copays unless they have Medicaid to cover it.

I have both veteran's (VA) health care and Medicare. Both are govt insurance plans.
The VA covers everything (no copays), but there's a catch. They are extremely limited and the wait list is very long. They also only provide the very basics and often ignore you which makes their care some of the worst in the nation.
I have Medicare but can't afford the copays... so it's listed as my back-up insurance.

I should mention... one of my specialists has a problem with the VA being my primary insurance and Medicare being secondary... because he said he'd like to help me more, but the VA will not approve. He said this happens to many vets... their health falls into critical condition because the VA will only provide basic care. And not address their critical needs to get them back on their feet.

I am getting the picture........its the rich guys getting the help

Cry, I live in the U.K. Too. I have been sectioned atleast 7 times but only after I have come extremely near to death.
Getting medical care here always means atleast a 6 months plus waiting list whatever the issue. Physical or mental. But I can not afford private so I'm in most ways greatful. When I moved to London 6 months ago my psychiatric care was transferred over straight away and I saw a new nurse in matter of weeks. However they say I'm psychotic ATM and they choose not to put me in hospital. I'm ok though.

Health care is poor everywhere tbh with u cry. There's always going to be people left behind who are not treated for months or get no treatment till it's very extreme and for the extremely poor away in USA get none.
It just sucks.