R700?!!! That's 70 Pounds.

[ChrisC]

After booking a visit to the Psychiatrist, they told me what the fee was. I can't afford that. What exactly will he/she do anyway. I'm already on a Beta Blockers and Alprazolam for anxiety. Citalopram for depression and Olanzapine for Schizophrenia. Is it justified paying to see them. I feel better and don't think theres anything more than can be done for me.

I mean if I flip out maybe yes, but I'm becoming more stable as each day passes.

What do you people think?

[Al Simms]

Hi Chris,

Glad to hear you feel you are becoming more stable. Keep taking the medication, but might I suggest you check out complementary therapies, if you haven't already.

You're obviously into Taoism, so I would guess you'd be happy with an oriental therapy. I think the therapist is more important than the therapy, but I would suggest you might gain some benefit from Zen Shiatsu.

This has helped transform my life in a profound way and I now practise it myself. Unfortunately I'm half a world away from you otherwise I'd be delighted to treat you myself.

Hope this helps.

[admin]

I was in talk therepy for most of my life, and I'm all right now (maniachal laughter). Seriously, it helped me, so I think it is worth it if you can afford it. I don't know your financial situation. I've also heard good things about meditation, though I've never tried it.

The statistics say that medication + talk is better than either alone.

Good luck!

Rick

[ChrisC]

Thanks for the advice people.

[spacecat]

My house mate is bi-polar. I know this is a very different health problem but one thing that may be similar is that staying on the right meds is supremely important.
Having a mental health professional to talk to regularly is also important because it can help to head off problems.

This may be even more crucial to someone who is bi-polar because the nature of their illness is to be constantly in a state of change - from depression to manic and back. In their case medicine must be adjusted regularly to keep pace with their changing mental state. That makes it very important to be seeing some one regularly.

I don't know enough about schizophrenia to know how the therapy ties into it. But I do know that there are usually lower cost options - that are still effective ways of keeping in touch with a professional.
Such as group therapy and community sponsored or sliding scale counseling.

And yes, when one is doing fine it's not really that necessary - but it is needed for those times when one is not doing 'fine'. Like insurance, one of those things we all rail against having to pay for - until it keeps us from losing it all.
Good wishes.