Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

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culture shock

crybaby
crybaby

I have been reading a lot of posts and I am becoming more and more shocked by the differences in our countries......there are virtually no services in the UK unless you are really really rich, or a potential danger to society.......I will give you the example of my brother......he has suffered from ptsd and does suffer from acute bipolar disorder......his condition has meant he has never been able to work......his long term meds were making him physically very ill...his doc didn't have time or the inclination to re-examine his meds.....he came off his meds after 17 years and had a massive acute episode.....he was found beaten up in the street in central London (52 stiches in his forehead).....emergency admission to a&e and sectioned to mental hospital straight after......wacked up with mega meds he still took two months to stop being totally deranged.....he was then discharged......no after care, no counselling....no re-examination of his condition or the meds.

patti22
patti22
No not all rich, although that definitely helps.

Depending on where one lives, there may be services available for lesser costs.

Therapists...for the most part...work independently in the United States. So they can charge as much or as little as they wish. In some places, for some people that may make therapy affordable. Group therapy often costs much less too.

And then there are the AA based therapies (alanon, narc annoymous, etc) and those are all self funding and basically free. They used to ask a dollar a meeting...that was decades ago, to contribute to basic stuff like coffee...I imagine that they would like people to give a bit more now, but I'm fairly sure that it's free if you can't afford anything.
crybaby
crybaby
Hi asp......you sound a whole lot better.......is psychotic treating you better than depression bro? xxxxxxxxxxx
Achybones23
Achybones23
Crybaby, In the USA, therapy/counselling is not only for the rich. For example, civil servants who work for the government generally get modest salaries, but get good health care insurance. Those insurances vary depending on what government agency one works for, but generally they are good and many include therapy (some with limited sessions depending on the diagnosis).

Wow, I thought that since the UK has universal health insurance, one doesn't need to worry...
AngelaJo
AngelaJo
I have mental health care but 2 years ago when i was extremely suicidal with a plan (i am in the US) it took me NINE ER visits before they would admit me because i am on medicaid (state insurance for low income) Already disabled thru federal and state for mental and physical health btw and attempts of suicide in the past. It is so hard to get help when you are desperate. Thankfully once i got admitted it was very helpful! Then 2 1/2 months later i needed to be readmitted was a different hospital the shrink saw me once and sent me home the next morning he waited 2 days to even see me. Said i was fine when i wanted to kill myself. My shrink got me better but had thought inpatient would keep me safe. until meds helped. The last hospital the shrink said they send people home suicidal all the time............
crybaby
crybaby
AngelaJo........that is awful......I am so sorry to hear you had to be so desperately ill and still not be heard.........I pray you are not feeling as bad as you did.......that they found meds that suit you and you have access to therapy and counselling now.........my love to youxxxxxxx
crybaby
crybaby
sounds like the uk emergency services are WAY ahead of you guys........you don't need any money.........you just get treated.........the problems come with the complexities of care that isn't an immediate emergency.
AngelaJo
AngelaJo
I am on great meds now and having amazing therapist and do the DBT program i am in the graduate program and its helped so much!
crybaby
crybaby
OMG........AngeloJo.........that is soooooo goood.........WELL DONE........you give me hope that life can get a lot better ........THANK YOU
MarahIdellCatLuvr
MarahIdellCatLuvr
I don’t have insurance and I’ve reached out to severa community resources that offer hope they can’t deliver. Finally I found one who gave me 20 visits with a counselor who seems like a good fit but yesterday I found myself terrified to call her and admit how anxious I was. And it was a problem. Being a mom makes everything scary and I can’t tell if she really cares or is just doing her job.....and at what line she’ll say I’m not ok to be a mom I don’t know. I couldn't afford Obamacare but I signed up for insurance through work. My boss is paying $300 towards it. I still owe almost $200 a month. For just me. It’s the minimum. High copay. I make $12 an hour right now and I don’t have a home. And can’t afford one. Kids are on govt health insurance. Theirs is free. It’s not much greener over here. Once my twenty visits are up I won’t have a counselor to see
Community Leadermujicaptsd
mujicaptsd
Blue, I'm so sorry you still get messed around by the VA about coverage. I hear the same thing from my students who are veterans, too. Something's happened in VA policy since the WWII/Korea/Vietnam era vets time with the GI Bill and so forth that I don't understand. My Vietnam era classmates when I myself was a student in college had a different go of it with the VA than my veteran students do now. Of course, with the Vietnam era vets there were problems, too, like the Agent Orange issue.

I just wish that if you served your country and were honorably discharged then VA benefits were yours, no questions asked. Sigh.
crybaby
crybaby
Marah.......OMG.......I feel like you ........I am so scared because I am a mom ......and I am a single mom with no fam........my heart is with you sister xxxxxxxxx
crybaby
crybaby
Patti......thanks.....I'm getting the picture......in the US its absolutely random the care you may get
crybaby
crybaby
I am getting a horrible disturbing picture of the US regarding health care........its so random.....you may be a winner or loser by virtually chance........in the UK there is soooo much more consistency..........emergency cover is universal........your life is saved, if possible, with no charge,........its psychological services that are not available
crybaby
crybaby
In the UK we do have a pretty big homeless, rough sleeping population... in my town most of the city centre shop doorways are full of rough sleepers after the stores close........in the winter people do actually die on the streets here........and most of those people have mental health problems..........I think some non uk folk care think universal care means you get treated and looked after what-ever.....NO NOT TRUE.......BUT.......we do get saved in emergecies
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