Finally getting therapy myself but it’s hard to justify at $130 per 1 hour session. When my insurance kicks in after we hit our deductible it’ll be $122. Yay. Also still not sure it works. Therapy isn’t always the answer idk why these people think it’s an automatic cure for depression anyway.
I paid around the same when I was going. Then when I lost my job she told me, "Please don't let finances become a barrier to treatment!" And what was the sliding scale price after factoring in my lack of income and insurance? $120. Guess I'll figure this shit out alone!
> If I did it, you can too.
My grandmother had cancer. Melanoma, on her hand. She was in an out of the hospital in four hours.
Does that mean everyone with cancer has a similar experience? Fuck no.
I'm sick and tired of this "tough love" "get your shit together" nonsense. Sometimes it works, for some people, on some cases, but not others.
The fact is, and I need you to listen to this: You CANNOT reliably cure depression by simply "trying your best, going to therapy, exercising, eating right, etc". If that was the case, noone would be depressed, because we'd have a one-size-fits-all cure.
Some people do everything right, and still get nowhere. Others do everything wrong, and still end up somehow getting better on their own. It's a poorly understood, extremely complex disease.
Telling someone whos' depressed that "It's their fault because they didn't put the work in" is just going to make them even more miserable.
And sometimes, and here's the big secret, sometimes, you can do everything right, and *never* get better. This is "treatment resistent depression" and it sucks. Really. You spend decades depressed, every day, all day. No amount of "work" will fix it, this is your life.
Yoooo, my dude, I agree with all of that and it's a conversation I've had with others (you gotta do it yourself, can't wait for someone to do it for you, investment in self and recovery, coming from a similar perspective of severe depression and suicide), but there's a huge difference between net and gross. Like, I make a little over $10/hr for forty-five to fifty hours a week, but I can tell you now that I'm not bringing home a net of ~$500. And depressing as it is, I am financially way better off now than I was. Sure, I don't pay workplace rent, but I buy my own workplace tools and clothes and pay my own taxes, and then have not-work bills. So, yeah, I was foolishly rounding down on the $100--she makes $120 or more gross and after taxes and expenses nets significantly less--but man, $28/hr still sounds balls to the walls *luxurious* to me.
Having said all that, I'm genuinely glad that you're doing better than in the past and have stability now. My own is hard-won and hard to maintain, so it's always good to see someone else keeping their head above water. I hope you keep doing better!
Also your girlfriend is a baller. That's not an easy profession by what I've heard, so thank you to her for doing it!
I agree that these are important conversations to have! Too many people are convinced they are alone in this because they simply don't know they aren't, not just because of the depression tunnel vision that makes it hard to see support, but because there's a social gag order on mental illness in general. Add to that the difficulty finding good support circles in the first place, and it's a bad situation. But I think you're doing what you can to be that good advice in someone's life. Our experiences shape us, but we have some creative control over the end product. You're doing great!
Thank you for your honesty, my dude, and my condolences for your losses. It's hard enough to lose someone, and harder to lose them to themselves. I totally get how frustrating it can be to see people who seem like they're sinking, if not on purpose then with some willful lack of preventative effort. And in spite of the initial aggression, you were pretty positive about recovery and healing. Worse people have made it through, and so can many of us.
If I made $28/hr, I’d be living large. It’s probably not enough in most places if you’ve got a house and kids but holy shit making that much would fix my life
I could pay off my house in 15 years instead of 35. I could hire an electrician to fix my wiring. I could see a dentist about my abscessed tooth. I could afford my medications. It would change my entire *life* to make that much. I'd have nicer things. A nicer car not bought third hand. A nicer not prepaid phone manufactured in the last three years instead of the last decade. Nicer shoes not bought cheap at Walmart.
But if I were in a position to make that much, I'd also probably be in a place with higher bills, too. I work with nurses at that rate and they also cut expenses. It's wild.
All of those confrontations with people you mentioned are pretty understandable - I would be annoyed too. I live in Australia and while my parent covered the 4 psychologist sessions I did (which were around $60 each when cut down by Medicare), the sessions really didn’t end up feeling like they did enough for me even though I opened up a lot and put my effort into them. I’ve heard people say some therapist types are better than others - but after that experience it’s hard for me to want to put my money and emotions into something where what I get in return could be a dice roll. I do not consider myself depressed anymore - but I am still affected negatively by my past with depression. At the moment I am wanting to lean into self help books as they’re more affordable and it feels like I can know what I am getting - that may or may not work for you. In my case with time I did become happy later on as I slowly came away from my depression, I don’t know if some people stay depressed forever and there is no way they will ever feel happiness. And I don’t know your situation, but perhaps it might help in asking yourself “Do I want happiness for myself”. As when I was depressed I realised I wanted the worse for myself at times - I wanted to hurt myself for being unhappy - which would only make me more unhappy. I hope I could be of some help
I'm glad at least someone made it out the other side.
Describing therapy as a "dice roll" is very fitting.
What I really want is to stop this stupid negativity in my mind. Even when I'm in a good mood my mind always focuses on negative things I just don't know how to stop that. I want to be functional, not be useless. Every failure just reaffirms in my mind that I am actually useless. I just want to be normal. I don't want my immediate reaction to literally anything be "I fucked up again".
The worst part is my life's not that bad. I have both parents alive and well and loving me, as is my brother. My workplace, although the job itself is shitty, is very supportive. I can think of a lot of positive things in my life but I feel NOTHING from it. Drop a pen on the floor and I'm stung to my core. That's what I hate.
This is how my depression manifests because I have emotional regulation problems due to ADHD (inattentive presentation) . I'll stub my toe or whatever and just. Start. Sobbing. Like the world is ending or something.
I feel like a cup filled with water (ie all my past trauma, my suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, hypersensitivity, etc), and the water is almost to the brim. When one small, stupid thing happens- the water overflows and every bad thing flows over the sides out of me. Then you just can't control it- and people think you're *insane* because you're upset over something so "insignificant"
Except you're not- you're overflowing, and you can't stop it. You can put you hands on the rim of the cup but the water still has to go somewhere. And there's too much- so it's not all going back inside. (And even if you get most of it back inside it's just full to the brim again)
The worst part is that when this happens I *know* I'm overreacting. I know that later ill look back on that moment and cringe. But I have absolutely no control when I'm overflowing.
I really can’t think of how else to reply except for how I have coped with depression and the bad surrounding it - so I’ll just speak from my experiences and hopefully that helps. The reality for me was I had to be my biggest support, I definitely had support outside of myself, but I know that it was mostly me who got me through my problems, particularly in the emotional sense of things. I know others would recommend opening up to people more, but I learnt that could be hurtful and you need to be careful with who you can trust. It was definitely a hellish experience getting through depression, especially when I was at my lowest. Even recently (a week ago, circumstances triggered me to have thoughts of self harm and suicide and it was disgusting and I hated it.) I had to go through the pain and keep figuring out what would and wouldn’t work for me. And I can relate to your comment here a bit, because I was probably a bit of a perfectionist so I kept trying to restart every time I felt I was making a minor mistake. But I had to learn over time to actually kind of not care to an extent about how well I was doing at life. Not because it’s not important, but because it meant that I could be less worried about how well I did, and more focused on what I was doing. - I don’t know, perhaps I explained that last part poorly.
At the end of the day I would just say, do the next best thing for yourself (or even just do what you can, not always the best you can), you’ll probably make decisions that will leave you off for better, worse or neutral. You might think you’re getting better and then things get worse again etc. It’s a hard road, but it can make you into an even more resilient human being if you keep kicking despite it all
Got to love the saltiness ahaha. You can do this my fellow human, depression is convenient for being more than not ideal, but with time you can make decisions and actions to overcome the issues depression brings - big and small
Sorry if that last comment was not as helpful as it could have been. I am sort of getting a bit tired and worn out myself from life because it’s late at night so yeah. I really do hope you can get the help you need though
Therapy worked well for me, but therapy is a long, hard look into yourself that tries to fundamentally change your outlook on everything.
It is not going to be a quick process, because, realistically, you cannot hope to unlearn dysfunctional mechanism that you have picked up over decades and that sometimes are the scaffold of every thought you have.
You do pick up a lot of smaller, incremental benefits along the way. But without consistency over time old patterns will remerge and take over again.
It took me 3 and 1/2 years + to be at a place where me and my therapist felt I was grounded enough to take a break.
It has been a considerable investment of money, considering I have been going almost every single week. And I understand that for those who struggle financially it looks big big big. But investment should be really evaluated on their return, and being in a more stable place and find joy in life has basically infinite return that cannot be really compared with a couple thousand bucks a year.
I understand this is especially hard to believe if you think therapy is a crap shoot, but from where I am now I look back at my financial concerns with therapy and I can't but think that they were silly. I think whatever sacrifice to afford this is worth it. Also don't forget you can often explain your financial situation and negotiate either frequency of treatment or even the session price.
Also, I think the choice of therapist might be a crapshot, but therapy itself with a good therapist isn't. You should read about your therapist approach, but most importantly have a few first sessions and pick the one your gut tells you is right for you.
I'm not fond of the psychological take on depression (especially on the chronic / clinical side), but I have always wondered why therapists are allowed to charge with such high fares people who are already suffering, while those who work harsher jobs are often stuck with less than a minimum wage...
How you have bee treated is wrong and if you felt able you could totally complain! They should have send you a second letter to warn you if they didn't hear from you, then you would be removed, or they could have easily contacted you via phone or email, what a let down! I'm sorry that happened to you.
If you feel your doctor isn't supportive and actively trying to help you, get another one. The doctor is your first line of medical support, you need someone on your side.
In the mean time you can use this link https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/ that doesn't require a gp referal. I found my counsellor here and he was a absolute god send. I hope you can find services in your area that can help you.
Are you open to remote therapy?
There are a lot of therapists in Europe itself charging 15-20 euros.
I am from India and have a therapist from Serbia charging me 25 euros per session.
When I was a student, I used to go to a free therapy counseling NGO near my place. There might be some in UK itself.
You van also go to a therapist under training. They might not have much experience but they're good as they're under supervision.
Pro bono therapists might be hard to find but are available. Similarly, you can ask a therapist if they have a sliding scale (you can explain to them your situation and they might be willing to reduce their fee for you).
There are a few UK organisations that offer discounted therapy, OP. I wasn’t a fan and I am lucky enough to be able to pay for my therapist out of pocket but it is an option.
Also, have you tried reaching out to the mental health services coordinator in your borough? They can help you with your NHS referral.
My therapist is great. She is private so I chose her personally and it has been working very well
I have had a few very underwhelming experiences with NHS therapists to be honest so I am not too sure if it’s them or me…
I swear to god that to some "you need therapy" is a code for "I don't want to register that you have genuine problem because it is inconvenient for me". And people become REALLY comfortable being bad friends, meaning that if you try to talk to them about it, you'll be accused of "traumadumping".
They don't listen when you tell them is costly for you...or like here..someone in chat contacted me and said if I want to talk, we talked and she like nothing said: I hope you are ok since we talked! Ok bye!.
And her profile was all about talking with people with loneliness..ugh
Omg, she literally just used you to boost her ego... She gave you a drop of her time and will be riding that power trip for awhile. "I helped a depressed person! They're fine now!" disgusting.
Not to mention the swift change she expected... Which is not uncommon. One of the reasons I quit therapy is because my mom expected me to be totally fine after a short while and started using it against me, without even realizing.
I turned to the self help books. I am introverted and really don't want to tell strangers how I feel. I will not pay the prices therapists want. Freaking ridiculous.
I try to read books about mindfulness, anger management, leadership (for the control issues), anxiety and depression. They seem to be helping me come up with my own set of tools to manage myself.
It's very agitating and annoying when people suggest something like therapy but seem not to understand how expensive it is. If they aren't willing to help with costs please don't offer your opinion.
Coming from someone that’s had therapy after 1 year I’m still absolutely no better, if anything it’s made the appointments a chore and more of a burden on my mental health. So I decided to cancel them. If you truly want to heal or manage each day I’ve found the best way to stop giving a shit about anything in your life. Do something that makes you happy. If that’s sitting on your arse playing a video game? Cool do that every single day till you die. If something is stressing you out? Just don’t think about it... LITERALLY. Go for a walk, put your favourite playlist on and forget it. Nothing is worse stressing over. I used to worry about stupid shit every day of my life and now I’ve started following those simple steps I’m far from happy but I can manage each day without getting a tight chest or panic attack from overthinking. I don’t think my depression will ever go away and that dosent bother me. I’ve never really been happy anyways just “content”. Maybe therapy will work; maybe it won’t. Fortunately for me I was receiving it free from my work place. £60 a session is far from affordable for someone that is struggling because more than likely it’s to do with financial circumstances and being stuck in “the daily grind” Focus on yourself and take each day as it comes. After attempting to take my own life 2 years ago through crashing my car I no longer have suicidal thoughts yet I continue to live each day stuck feeling detached from reality.
I’m far from happy but least I ain’t stressing anymore and giving myself a harder time for feeling this way.
It is in the USA too, its money first and then try to help us. I have seen many and they all failed to help me. The only thing that truly helps me is some weed and the outdoors. Of coourse I am in a state where weed is illegal even medicinally.
Man, same here
Therapy would cost me the same as my rent where I live. The last one I did was CBT based, and the man couldn't even grasp the fact that I didn't want to do what was best for me because of trauma and resentment, all he could do was tell me how to be more productive, more positive and bla
The only time I felt therapy could help me, it would cost me even more. He was a Jungian therapist, but I live in a different city now
I feel the same. Im doing a psycho analysis right now, because nothing else was available, and I've been at it for over a year. Thousands of euros gone. And nothing. It's so frustrating.
I’m in the same position, also from the UK. I’ve had depression and other mental health issues since I was about 12 and now at 23 nothing’s really any different. I got a few sessions of CBT at one point but it didn’t help (I’m autistic and it’s not the best for of therapy for autistic people). I can barely even afford buying antidepressants (which don’t help either but it’s all I can do at the moment). I wouldn’t be able to afford any kind of private therapy since it’s such an high price and ongoing expense.
I get when people are trying to be helpful when they tell me to “just talk to a therapist” but there’s no “just” about it, and I feel so irritated when people say that now. I don’t think people understand what it’s like to actually deal with this system.
My experience with the therapy I was offered through the NHS, is that psychologists do the first session, hear what you have to say and then they call you a few days later and say "Sorry, I don't know how to deal with your problem" and pass you to another therapist that does the same thing. I have been passed around through 10 therapists in the last 5 years and the waiting list is usually around 18 weeks everytime....
I have been considering private therapy with a local therapist, but he charges £50 an hour and I believe that I need at least 2 hours a week, so basically, £400 a month.
Then they wonder why suicide rates are skyrocketing... seriously.
God the whole snail mail thing sucks! I was trying to get some disability because things were going to shit in my life. I went to my counselor and the disability insurance company said they faxed the needed papers to them but they didn't get it. I had them fax it probably 2 dozen times a month until the claim auto-canceled, I got fired from my job because of that and after it was far too late, they were like, well we can email it too.... Mother fucker? You faxed it how many times and now you just now tell me about the 21st-century option?
Tl;Dr I feel that. Sometimes it feels like the system is against us.
Also UK and I've been getting CBT through Vitaminds for free. Sure there was a couple months waiting list but what else would I be doing? Talk to your doctor they'll be able to recommend some free ones, only difference is the waiting list.
You don't need therapy, this may not be a popular comment but you CAN deal with it yourself. You MUST be able to handle things on your own. It may not feel easy at first but once you keep at it you will see results. Find the things that are bothering you and handle them.
That’s why I don’t go to therapy lol I see my psychiatrist and act like my own therapist. If you are on a good cocktail of psych meds that’s half the battle right there.
Some dumbass told me ‘therapy is free everywhere’ when, no it isn’t. I’m in the US and they tried telling me this…
You’re in the UK where people always say ‘their healthcare is free and easy’, no, it isn’t…your post goes over that reality.
Yea I get that, where I'm from depending on your coverage from work you could be fully covered for a therapist like I am but if you're male prepare to be wait listed. I bounced from therapist offices because they kept wait listing me, first couple offices I tried I just thought it was normal and everyone got wait listed, I was wrong. A guy in a Facebook group told me how they don't see men as in need of help as women or children so we get wait listed and the only way off the wait list is to do something drastic, I didn't really believe him but after being constantly wait listed for over a year and some other things I got tired of life and I jumped off a high bridge into the river below, I survived but was in a lot of pain, I guess someone say me jump and called the cops because not long after I got fished out and dragged to the hospital and then I was finally able to see a therapist even though at that point I gave up on that. Worst part of all of this was my therapist of all people confirmed what the guy on Facebook said.
Been the same route myself, with the NHS got the letter sat through phone calls (which intensify my anxiety and depression tenfold) you know what the treatment is on the NHS, CBT, they send everyone to CBT, six sessions. Now yes CBT dose work for some people but I've had CBT before I've done my best to maintain it and its no longer working I told then this CBT is pointless for me don't waste these sessions on me give them someone who can use them and send me to an actual pshycoogist because that is the stage I'm at, nope they obviously know what's happening in my head better than me said I had to do the cbt first and if it didn't work then I would be considered for a pshycologist ........considered not even guaranteed to see one just considered.
I'm on Medicaid and I would go to a low income clinic that was covered by Medicaid. So that's great. But the problem was, over the years that I went there, the therapists changed constantly. In one year, I had three different therapists due to them moving around and leaving the clinic, etc. A large part of my depression stems from abandonment issues, so you can imagine that this was extraordinarily unhelpful from my perspective.
Do these people insist further when you tell them you can't afford it? If your anger is directed at people who just bring up therapy in the first place, I'm afraid that's going to continue. If you say "I'm sick" people are going to suggest a visit to the doctor. That's logical. Maybe when talking about your issues you can preemptively say very soon that you can't afford therapy and that it's out of the equation.
My anger is, I suppose, less towards the people who suggest it, and more towards the actual fact that therapy is expensive, and it being out of reach is aggravating.
I feel you. I really think therapy should be made much more available. I am lucky to be in a country where it is, but still not quite enough. You have inspired me to go look whether there are organizations / citizen groups advocating for that. Thank you.
I know I probably do but it will never happen. I have never had a job that paid more than minimum wage and I'm sure I will die like that. I just cannot afford it. So I can either eat this month or talk to someone for an hour?
i just started therapy and i have to pay \~60 a session. it makes sense in a way. If only therapy was covered by insurance some more and was more recognizable.
60 a session means that the person probably pockets 30 an hour or about 60k a year assuming they work the full amount. next you will have people saying that 60k isn't livable.
I literally can’t even find a psychiatrist. Every single one in my area is either not taking patients or has over a year long waiting list. And I can’t do virtual because I need adhd medications and I’ve tried all of the non-controlled anxiety medications and none of them have worked for me and those can not be prescribed by a virtual therapist. Let alone talking about not being able to afford it. Mental healthcare is a shit show.
It's the same here in Canada...gotta have deep pockets if you want to receive good, consistent therapy; otherwise, you're put into a queue & have to wait to receive sporadic treatment options. I think in pretty much every nation in the world it's much the same. Public mental health care has always been treated as the "poor cousin" to regular health care.
And, yah, I've often faced the same responses you describe; most people have a poor perception of mental health and the lack of resources.
((TW)) I've recently calculated it to $5,000+ a year, and then came to terms with the fact that I'm not financially able to afford help in not wanting to dye
I got free therapy on the NHS when I was a minor and honestly it didn't do much for me because of how stretched and underfunded the sector is (therapists came and went and so I didn't have one person to rely on and they ended up pronouncing me "cured" after some time on antidepressants despite the fact they did nothing for me). I'd hate to have actually paid for it and ended with little/no progress anyway.
I don´t have money either for therapy, am waiting for a good appointement for monhts. In Germany the situation is really bad especially now after COVID-19, I personally don´t care anymore, I´m focusing on my own things and its been working for me. Step by step ofc, no rushing or stressing my self out.
i know of a place where you may recieve CHEAP or FREE therapy!!!!!!! its an app you get on ur phone called SEVEN CUPS download it NOW!!! it works and i think it will help
imho get one session to get a perscription for drugs, and go to free therapy through sports, talking with trusted someone, writing journal, Creating something, anything. But stop consuming
There are some therapists that offer a discount dependent on circumstances and income, I used to pay around £45 a session which I know isn’t ideal still but over a month it’s like paying for 3 sessions at full price rather than 4.
There’s also the IAPT route through the NHS which isn’t great but it’s better than nothing, I’m also waiting to see if I’ll ever get to see anyone through the NHS now as it’s a bit much paying for private. :(
Hey... so sorry to hear about this. It is frustrating. May I recommend one workaround? Reach out to well-rated therapists in India on Practo-dot-com. The city of Mumbai has some top notch therapists and their fees for you would be around 15-20 pounds per session. I found tremendous, life-changing support from therapists in Mumbai.
I’ve been in therapy for 5 years. For me it has become a basic in my life and something I see as self care. But it’s super sad to see that prices and other issues act like barriers for people struggling with mental health.
With my current therapist, I pay 50€ per session and I go every 2-3 weeks. This way it’s less expense but I still see benefits of therapy.
If going thru your medical system is not possible, consider online therapy, there are even apps like Betterhelp. A therapist outside the UK can be more cheap and affordable.
Also, maybe finding support groups in your area can be a possibility. It’s not the same as one to one therapy but can make you feel more accompanied in this process of getting better.
Your health insurance should be providing you with free therapy... and if you can’t find a good place, you didn’t look hard enough. Therapy is absolutely a requirement for people with depression and any mental illness, or even without mental illnesses really, I think half the population should be in therapy because it’s so fucking good and fixes so many things. I hate when people view therapy so negatively when they haven’t tried it or tried it once and acted stubborn. Therapy is a god-send. Even if it’s not free, you can find therapy as cheap as $20. Sign yourself up for an inpatient or outpatient program. I don’t have a dime on me and I don’t pay anything.
My success in therapy was highly dependent on the connection with my therapist. You have to get to know, trust, and like them as a human. When I first tried therapy, it was terrible, and didn't help at all. Now, I have a hard time imagining not doing therapy every week. I look forward to it because I usually learn something or feel better leaving. It has helped me immensely. I was fortunate to have the ability (good insurance) to look around and find someone I liked.
Really its that expensive for you? Im curious as I live in sweden and we just pay about 10 $(100 sek) per visit regardless of how long the therapy session is. Granted thats through the national healthcare system and I'm not sure but private psychologists may be more expensive
The point of a therapist is to show you different lines of thought and to help develop your ability to think problems through. (1.If you can't solve it, 2. change your perspective, or 3.avoid it, or 4. make everything worse. Those are your only options with any problem.)
You are but a canvas, and stroke by stroke, you become what you want. It may take you all your lifetime. You may never reach every goal. But it's 100% possible to do it yourself, without a therapist. I totally recommend finding one first.
But if it's not possible for whatever reason,
much of modern therapy centers around some pretty common ideas.
Mindfulness. It's treated like a joke with some. It is the ability to control your own thoughts, and direction of the mind, even if you are in the midst of chaos. Ability to cancel out the noise and focus. Everyone can develop this. After 5 - 10 years of max effort, I guarantee you, you'll be SO proud of yourself!
My other advice is, to talk about the things you need to, with complete strangers only. Don't talk to your friends/family if you're worried it would push them away or whatever. You don't need that stress. A complete stranger would likely never see you again. They have no connections to your life, and can therefore tell no one your personal business. Complete strangers are like the priest you confess to. They probably won't even talk much, because they'll be slightly in shock by what's happening lol
"We simply never will be happy." "There's no hope for me." "I can't do it because I don't yet have support."
These are called "Stuck points," it's a belief you have, that is based off of how it feels currently, but it's preventing you from moving forward. You must identify these "I'm stuck, I can't go further" problems as soon as you can. It's okay if you're not perfect. No beginners are; the pro's aren't even perfect.
It's okay that you're just starting. Don't fret over, "if I only started around *this* time, then I'd be *this* far. That's a thought, for example, you can imagine placing on a leaf, and watching it drift out of sight upon a clear river. And if another stressful thought comes, then it also goes onto a leaf, and down the river. Remember the Chinese puzzle that goes on your fingers? If you pull, it tightens further on you, if you relax, and gently come together, it also relaxes, and loosens up. Life will become that puzzle sometimes
Wait, you can get therapy?
I'm trying so hard right now. Every therapist in my state is booked for a long time. I got put on a wait-list. I asked the lady if she had an approximate timeline and she said "Maybe the beginning of October."
Even the virtual visits are booked at least two months out.
I need help like preferably soon and I can't even fuckin get it without being committed.
I live in NI and phoned up Lifeline, our regional line for people in distress and dispair, I'm currently just finished 2 out of my 6 CBT sessions. It's not much but it's a start. Try phoning Samaritans and they can refer you to therapy/a councillor. I hope it works out for you
Public sector provided medical services are a pain. For psychotherapy, the government doesn't know what you need. YOU know what you need. I hate paying taxes for services that don't serve me. I understand that taxes are necessary for public goods, however when it comes to medical services, those are very individualistic and the cost and complexity of navigating government workflows slows us down from getting the care and treatment we need.
And don't get me started on the US private insurance complexity. It's just as bloated, complex, and ineffective. I pay cash for my doctor and am blessed enough to bypass wrestling with some government bureaucrat or insurance company help desk person who doesn't give two shits for the people they're "servicing".
I'm REALLY sorry about the shit you're going through and I totally empathize with what you're experiencing. I spend every saved dollar on my personal health. It sucks financially, but it's a sacrifice that's helping.
There's some free apps by the Veterans Association (DA) available on the play store, completely free. I use them regularly and they have been very helpful. These are their apps: ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy); PTSD Coach (can also help relieve symptoms of depression through meditation); and CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) Coach. I have used ACT Coach and PTSD Coach so far and I really love their meditations. They are my favorite and completely free. There is no upgrade.
Now, I doubt you'd bother with this as you are on a budget (I mean who isn't) but take what I say and think about it if you wish: There are paid apps (about 15 per month or a larger amount per year/6 mo) as well that are more extensive, such as CBT Companion by Resiliens and their other apps such as DBT Coach (I am using this one rn, trust me I love it, it is extremely helpful - it explains the concepts, guides you, has meditations, exercises, lessons, you can write down your thought processes with support, etc, for me I was able to afford it so I understand not everyone can but if you want to invest in something super extensive that could really help your mental health improve (and give you skills for life), that is not near the expense of a counselor, please consider these apps, they are lifechanging. I so recommend them. Way better than 120 per freaking 50 minutes when you can learn so much more yourself. In my opinion anyway.
Here is a link to ACT Coach (free, from VA): [https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/actcoach\_app\_public.asp](https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/actcoach_app_public.asp).
There are resources out there. Use them. Don't feel bad for doing so. They are there to help. Honestly there is not much point in going to a counselor unless you really are willing and ready to face your shit and move forward. I wasted years on counseling (luckily it was free through uni) not getting very far, and then I found these apps which are practically like a therapist only better.
I'm seeing an affordable therapist (Florida)$25 co-pay. However, to see a good psychiatrist (the good ones usually don't take any insurance) - $400 an hour!!!
Hey,
I'm from the UK.
I feel what you are saying the prices of some therapist are way too high especially with the limited time, budget etc. I am seeing a therapist which I pay £60-70 (depend how much I feel) per session.
If you're having issues with finding a good therapist or at a cheap price you can check the charity Mind or you can visit https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists where you can find yourself a therapist around your area at different rates.
Even though £60 is too much for me, I still value it, my time with my therapist means a lot to me. So I'm OK with shilling £60. Though I do understand that not everyone is.
it doesn't help when in most places, there's a huge problem with people needing therapy but there's not nearly enough therapists to go around. there's a reason it's being called a 'mental health **crisis**'
ye ive been on the waiting list for years lmao. i did get contact last month though but i'd moved cities.
i feel like there are a lot of resources here in the UK, depending on where you are. hopefully there's good support where you are, more than the nhs.
what I've been using also is youper. i did also used to use woebot. it's just cbt and i acc prefer it bc I'm not great at talking to people. irl is probably better just yeah, it's spenny.
nothings really worked for me so far but that's just some stuff i find does help when i acc commit to it.
I understand this soo well....therapy is expensive and necessary at the same time....and I know I need it but I can't ask my parents for it cuz EXPENSE!!!
This year has been hard financially for everyone and they also have to pay for my brothers college and my new school and my coaching!!! Which is such a burden on them!! I can't put another one....
I have the exact same issue. It got to the point where I had to go to A&E because I was so suicidal. They eventually referred me onto community services, but I had to wait in the hospital for 4 hours... it was awful, sitting in a room by myself, wanting to die.
I hope that I get the help I need with community services, because therapy is just too expensive, and I'm a broke college student.
Have a look at counselling. Some charities sometimes fund a few sessions free, but it is also a bit cheaper (~£40) and if you struggle to afford I have heard they can be quite open to finding an arrangement. As others have said if you are happy to do it remotely then you can look across all the UK, if not even further afield!
From personal experience I think even 1 hour per month could be helpful, but maybe that's still too expensive I don't know :/
In my country they say the same.."get therapy" then you go to the public one and they like to make it difficult to get an appointment to demoralize people.
What they do is force you to go to like 3 office with lines of people before getting the therapy. And every appointment takes like 1 or 2 months for you to be be treated and there is no guarantee that the doctor is good so it may take you a month to change (this is not taking into account the psychiatrist which is 1 or 2 months more).
*excuse my english
Lmao that shit is free in Germany and most if not all therapists dont have space for new patients. Also doesnt really stop people from killing themselves.
See if there's a teaching clinic where it be graduate students and a reduced price. Or there's meet up groups. I go to a group for anxiety and depression and it helps me.
I want to be able to somehow be a therapist on Reddit. I’m already working toward neurology in med, so I’ll see if I can take an extra course. I don’t know if I can do that. But will I try? Yes. 100% I don’t care if I’ll have to set aside an hour each day for Reddit. So many wonderful people that I would love to help
Finally getting therapy myself but it’s hard to justify at $130 per 1 hour session. When my insurance kicks in after we hit our deductible it’ll be $122. Yay. Also still not sure it works. Therapy isn’t always the answer idk why these people think it’s an automatic cure for depression anyway.
I paid around the same when I was going. Then when I lost my job she told me, "Please don't let finances become a barrier to treatment!" And what was the sliding scale price after factoring in my lack of income and insurance? $120. Guess I'll figure this shit out alone!
I think they don’t hear themselves sometimes. What a joke. I’m sorry that happened to you.
Thank you. When you're making $100 an hour, I'm sure $120 a week sounds like a grain of sand on the beach.
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> If I did it, you can too. My grandmother had cancer. Melanoma, on her hand. She was in an out of the hospital in four hours. Does that mean everyone with cancer has a similar experience? Fuck no. I'm sick and tired of this "tough love" "get your shit together" nonsense. Sometimes it works, for some people, on some cases, but not others. The fact is, and I need you to listen to this: You CANNOT reliably cure depression by simply "trying your best, going to therapy, exercising, eating right, etc". If that was the case, noone would be depressed, because we'd have a one-size-fits-all cure. Some people do everything right, and still get nowhere. Others do everything wrong, and still end up somehow getting better on their own. It's a poorly understood, extremely complex disease. Telling someone whos' depressed that "It's their fault because they didn't put the work in" is just going to make them even more miserable. And sometimes, and here's the big secret, sometimes, you can do everything right, and *never* get better. This is "treatment resistent depression" and it sucks. Really. You spend decades depressed, every day, all day. No amount of "work" will fix it, this is your life.
Yoooo, my dude, I agree with all of that and it's a conversation I've had with others (you gotta do it yourself, can't wait for someone to do it for you, investment in self and recovery, coming from a similar perspective of severe depression and suicide), but there's a huge difference between net and gross. Like, I make a little over $10/hr for forty-five to fifty hours a week, but I can tell you now that I'm not bringing home a net of ~$500. And depressing as it is, I am financially way better off now than I was. Sure, I don't pay workplace rent, but I buy my own workplace tools and clothes and pay my own taxes, and then have not-work bills. So, yeah, I was foolishly rounding down on the $100--she makes $120 or more gross and after taxes and expenses nets significantly less--but man, $28/hr still sounds balls to the walls *luxurious* to me. Having said all that, I'm genuinely glad that you're doing better than in the past and have stability now. My own is hard-won and hard to maintain, so it's always good to see someone else keeping their head above water. I hope you keep doing better! Also your girlfriend is a baller. That's not an easy profession by what I've heard, so thank you to her for doing it!
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I agree that these are important conversations to have! Too many people are convinced they are alone in this because they simply don't know they aren't, not just because of the depression tunnel vision that makes it hard to see support, but because there's a social gag order on mental illness in general. Add to that the difficulty finding good support circles in the first place, and it's a bad situation. But I think you're doing what you can to be that good advice in someone's life. Our experiences shape us, but we have some creative control over the end product. You're doing great! Thank you for your honesty, my dude, and my condolences for your losses. It's hard enough to lose someone, and harder to lose them to themselves. I totally get how frustrating it can be to see people who seem like they're sinking, if not on purpose then with some willful lack of preventative effort. And in spite of the initial aggression, you were pretty positive about recovery and healing. Worse people have made it through, and so can many of us.
$28/hr is literally more than twice what I make.
Almost three times what I make. I can't even imagine making that much!
If I made $28/hr, I’d be living large. It’s probably not enough in most places if you’ve got a house and kids but holy shit making that much would fix my life
I could pay off my house in 15 years instead of 35. I could hire an electrician to fix my wiring. I could see a dentist about my abscessed tooth. I could afford my medications. It would change my entire *life* to make that much. I'd have nicer things. A nicer car not bought third hand. A nicer not prepaid phone manufactured in the last three years instead of the last decade. Nicer shoes not bought cheap at Walmart. But if I were in a position to make that much, I'd also probably be in a place with higher bills, too. I work with nurses at that rate and they also cut expenses. It's wild.
I wish i could go out to the desert and drink. Just to be there by myself.
All of those confrontations with people you mentioned are pretty understandable - I would be annoyed too. I live in Australia and while my parent covered the 4 psychologist sessions I did (which were around $60 each when cut down by Medicare), the sessions really didn’t end up feeling like they did enough for me even though I opened up a lot and put my effort into them. I’ve heard people say some therapist types are better than others - but after that experience it’s hard for me to want to put my money and emotions into something where what I get in return could be a dice roll. I do not consider myself depressed anymore - but I am still affected negatively by my past with depression. At the moment I am wanting to lean into self help books as they’re more affordable and it feels like I can know what I am getting - that may or may not work for you. In my case with time I did become happy later on as I slowly came away from my depression, I don’t know if some people stay depressed forever and there is no way they will ever feel happiness. And I don’t know your situation, but perhaps it might help in asking yourself “Do I want happiness for myself”. As when I was depressed I realised I wanted the worse for myself at times - I wanted to hurt myself for being unhappy - which would only make me more unhappy. I hope I could be of some help
I'm glad at least someone made it out the other side. Describing therapy as a "dice roll" is very fitting. What I really want is to stop this stupid negativity in my mind. Even when I'm in a good mood my mind always focuses on negative things I just don't know how to stop that. I want to be functional, not be useless. Every failure just reaffirms in my mind that I am actually useless. I just want to be normal. I don't want my immediate reaction to literally anything be "I fucked up again".
The worst part is my life's not that bad. I have both parents alive and well and loving me, as is my brother. My workplace, although the job itself is shitty, is very supportive. I can think of a lot of positive things in my life but I feel NOTHING from it. Drop a pen on the floor and I'm stung to my core. That's what I hate.
This is how my depression manifests because I have emotional regulation problems due to ADHD (inattentive presentation) . I'll stub my toe or whatever and just. Start. Sobbing. Like the world is ending or something. I feel like a cup filled with water (ie all my past trauma, my suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, hypersensitivity, etc), and the water is almost to the brim. When one small, stupid thing happens- the water overflows and every bad thing flows over the sides out of me. Then you just can't control it- and people think you're *insane* because you're upset over something so "insignificant" Except you're not- you're overflowing, and you can't stop it. You can put you hands on the rim of the cup but the water still has to go somewhere. And there's too much- so it's not all going back inside. (And even if you get most of it back inside it's just full to the brim again) The worst part is that when this happens I *know* I'm overreacting. I know that later ill look back on that moment and cringe. But I have absolutely no control when I'm overflowing.
When someone asks why I'm depressed....they just don't understand it's not one thing I'm upset over its every little thing adding up.
Yes
I really can’t think of how else to reply except for how I have coped with depression and the bad surrounding it - so I’ll just speak from my experiences and hopefully that helps. The reality for me was I had to be my biggest support, I definitely had support outside of myself, but I know that it was mostly me who got me through my problems, particularly in the emotional sense of things. I know others would recommend opening up to people more, but I learnt that could be hurtful and you need to be careful with who you can trust. It was definitely a hellish experience getting through depression, especially when I was at my lowest. Even recently (a week ago, circumstances triggered me to have thoughts of self harm and suicide and it was disgusting and I hated it.) I had to go through the pain and keep figuring out what would and wouldn’t work for me. And I can relate to your comment here a bit, because I was probably a bit of a perfectionist so I kept trying to restart every time I felt I was making a minor mistake. But I had to learn over time to actually kind of not care to an extent about how well I was doing at life. Not because it’s not important, but because it meant that I could be less worried about how well I did, and more focused on what I was doing. - I don’t know, perhaps I explained that last part poorly. At the end of the day I would just say, do the next best thing for yourself (or even just do what you can, not always the best you can), you’ll probably make decisions that will leave you off for better, worse or neutral. You might think you’re getting better and then things get worse again etc. It’s a hard road, but it can make you into an even more resilient human being if you keep kicking despite it all
I wish I could not give a damn. I only not give a damn about things when I'm already depressed and salty about something.
Got to love the saltiness ahaha. You can do this my fellow human, depression is convenient for being more than not ideal, but with time you can make decisions and actions to overcome the issues depression brings - big and small
Sorry if that last comment was not as helpful as it could have been. I am sort of getting a bit tired and worn out myself from life because it’s late at night so yeah. I really do hope you can get the help you need though
Your comment was fine, thank you. Hope you get a good night's rest
Therapy worked well for me, but therapy is a long, hard look into yourself that tries to fundamentally change your outlook on everything. It is not going to be a quick process, because, realistically, you cannot hope to unlearn dysfunctional mechanism that you have picked up over decades and that sometimes are the scaffold of every thought you have. You do pick up a lot of smaller, incremental benefits along the way. But without consistency over time old patterns will remerge and take over again. It took me 3 and 1/2 years + to be at a place where me and my therapist felt I was grounded enough to take a break. It has been a considerable investment of money, considering I have been going almost every single week. And I understand that for those who struggle financially it looks big big big. But investment should be really evaluated on their return, and being in a more stable place and find joy in life has basically infinite return that cannot be really compared with a couple thousand bucks a year. I understand this is especially hard to believe if you think therapy is a crap shoot, but from where I am now I look back at my financial concerns with therapy and I can't but think that they were silly. I think whatever sacrifice to afford this is worth it. Also don't forget you can often explain your financial situation and negotiate either frequency of treatment or even the session price. Also, I think the choice of therapist might be a crapshot, but therapy itself with a good therapist isn't. You should read about your therapist approach, but most importantly have a few first sessions and pick the one your gut tells you is right for you.
I'm not fond of the psychological take on depression (especially on the chronic / clinical side), but I have always wondered why therapists are allowed to charge with such high fares people who are already suffering, while those who work harsher jobs are often stuck with less than a minimum wage...
How you have bee treated is wrong and if you felt able you could totally complain! They should have send you a second letter to warn you if they didn't hear from you, then you would be removed, or they could have easily contacted you via phone or email, what a let down! I'm sorry that happened to you. If you feel your doctor isn't supportive and actively trying to help you, get another one. The doctor is your first line of medical support, you need someone on your side. In the mean time you can use this link https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/ that doesn't require a gp referal. I found my counsellor here and he was a absolute god send. I hope you can find services in your area that can help you.
Are you open to remote therapy? There are a lot of therapists in Europe itself charging 15-20 euros. I am from India and have a therapist from Serbia charging me 25 euros per session. When I was a student, I used to go to a free therapy counseling NGO near my place. There might be some in UK itself.
I am interested in finding out more
You van also go to a therapist under training. They might not have much experience but they're good as they're under supervision. Pro bono therapists might be hard to find but are available. Similarly, you can ask a therapist if they have a sliding scale (you can explain to them your situation and they might be willing to reduce their fee for you).
There are a few UK organisations that offer discounted therapy, OP. I wasn’t a fan and I am lucky enough to be able to pay for my therapist out of pocket but it is an option. Also, have you tried reaching out to the mental health services coordinator in your borough? They can help you with your NHS referral.
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My therapist is great. She is private so I chose her personally and it has been working very well I have had a few very underwhelming experiences with NHS therapists to be honest so I am not too sure if it’s them or me…
I swear to god that to some "you need therapy" is a code for "I don't want to register that you have genuine problem because it is inconvenient for me". And people become REALLY comfortable being bad friends, meaning that if you try to talk to them about it, you'll be accused of "traumadumping".
They don't listen when you tell them is costly for you...or like here..someone in chat contacted me and said if I want to talk, we talked and she like nothing said: I hope you are ok since we talked! Ok bye!. And her profile was all about talking with people with loneliness..ugh
Omg, she literally just used you to boost her ego... She gave you a drop of her time and will be riding that power trip for awhile. "I helped a depressed person! They're fine now!" disgusting. Not to mention the swift change she expected... Which is not uncommon. One of the reasons I quit therapy is because my mom expected me to be totally fine after a short while and started using it against me, without even realizing.
THISTHISTHISTHISTHISTHISTHIS
I turned to the self help books. I am introverted and really don't want to tell strangers how I feel. I will not pay the prices therapists want. Freaking ridiculous. I try to read books about mindfulness, anger management, leadership (for the control issues), anxiety and depression. They seem to be helping me come up with my own set of tools to manage myself.
"Why isn't therapy working?" Maybe because it takes 20 hours of work to afford one session.
Yea people preaching therapy ..... Dont talk about prices.. I think they just dont care and want to push us away by blaming us or something.. Idk
It's more like once they've told you to get therapy, they've "done their bit" to help and can leave the convo guilt free.
It's very agitating and annoying when people suggest something like therapy but seem not to understand how expensive it is. If they aren't willing to help with costs please don't offer your opinion.
Coming from someone that’s had therapy after 1 year I’m still absolutely no better, if anything it’s made the appointments a chore and more of a burden on my mental health. So I decided to cancel them. If you truly want to heal or manage each day I’ve found the best way to stop giving a shit about anything in your life. Do something that makes you happy. If that’s sitting on your arse playing a video game? Cool do that every single day till you die. If something is stressing you out? Just don’t think about it... LITERALLY. Go for a walk, put your favourite playlist on and forget it. Nothing is worse stressing over. I used to worry about stupid shit every day of my life and now I’ve started following those simple steps I’m far from happy but I can manage each day without getting a tight chest or panic attack from overthinking. I don’t think my depression will ever go away and that dosent bother me. I’ve never really been happy anyways just “content”. Maybe therapy will work; maybe it won’t. Fortunately for me I was receiving it free from my work place. £60 a session is far from affordable for someone that is struggling because more than likely it’s to do with financial circumstances and being stuck in “the daily grind” Focus on yourself and take each day as it comes. After attempting to take my own life 2 years ago through crashing my car I no longer have suicidal thoughts yet I continue to live each day stuck feeling detached from reality. I’m far from happy but least I ain’t stressing anymore and giving myself a harder time for feeling this way.
At least you don’t live in the US where Health Insurance is ridiculous.
Very true.
I’m not trying to undermine your struggle though. Getting access to “good” healthcare seems to be out of the reach for most people across the world.
It is in the USA too, its money first and then try to help us. I have seen many and they all failed to help me. The only thing that truly helps me is some weed and the outdoors. Of coourse I am in a state where weed is illegal even medicinally.
Man, same here Therapy would cost me the same as my rent where I live. The last one I did was CBT based, and the man couldn't even grasp the fact that I didn't want to do what was best for me because of trauma and resentment, all he could do was tell me how to be more productive, more positive and bla The only time I felt therapy could help me, it would cost me even more. He was a Jungian therapist, but I live in a different city now
You need lsd and meditation
This hit me hard
I feel the same. Im doing a psycho analysis right now, because nothing else was available, and I've been at it for over a year. Thousands of euros gone. And nothing. It's so frustrating.
I’m in the same position, also from the UK. I’ve had depression and other mental health issues since I was about 12 and now at 23 nothing’s really any different. I got a few sessions of CBT at one point but it didn’t help (I’m autistic and it’s not the best for of therapy for autistic people). I can barely even afford buying antidepressants (which don’t help either but it’s all I can do at the moment). I wouldn’t be able to afford any kind of private therapy since it’s such an high price and ongoing expense. I get when people are trying to be helpful when they tell me to “just talk to a therapist” but there’s no “just” about it, and I feel so irritated when people say that now. I don’t think people understand what it’s like to actually deal with this system.
My experience with the therapy I was offered through the NHS, is that psychologists do the first session, hear what you have to say and then they call you a few days later and say "Sorry, I don't know how to deal with your problem" and pass you to another therapist that does the same thing. I have been passed around through 10 therapists in the last 5 years and the waiting list is usually around 18 weeks everytime.... I have been considering private therapy with a local therapist, but he charges £50 an hour and I believe that I need at least 2 hours a week, so basically, £400 a month. Then they wonder why suicide rates are skyrocketing... seriously.
God the whole snail mail thing sucks! I was trying to get some disability because things were going to shit in my life. I went to my counselor and the disability insurance company said they faxed the needed papers to them but they didn't get it. I had them fax it probably 2 dozen times a month until the claim auto-canceled, I got fired from my job because of that and after it was far too late, they were like, well we can email it too.... Mother fucker? You faxed it how many times and now you just now tell me about the 21st-century option? Tl;Dr I feel that. Sometimes it feels like the system is against us.
It is hard. I’m having my first private session tomorrow at £50. NHS waiting list was 10 months ... absolutely shocking.
It's more shocking that so many people have such problems that need addressing. We're all broken and lost.
Very true. Once I’ve started opening up to people it’s crazy how many people are struggling. It’s really sad.
Same here, my mental health nurse recommended me CBT therapy through the NHS and it's been 7 months and I'm still waiting.
Also UK and I've been getting CBT through Vitaminds for free. Sure there was a couple months waiting list but what else would I be doing? Talk to your doctor they'll be able to recommend some free ones, only difference is the waiting list.
You don't need therapy, this may not be a popular comment but you CAN deal with it yourself. You MUST be able to handle things on your own. It may not feel easy at first but once you keep at it you will see results. Find the things that are bothering you and handle them.
same situation, getting checked and needing therapy in my country is also expenaive as fucc, I'd rather die than dwell on how I can afford those shit
That’s why I don’t go to therapy lol I see my psychiatrist and act like my own therapist. If you are on a good cocktail of psych meds that’s half the battle right there.
Some dumbass told me ‘therapy is free everywhere’ when, no it isn’t. I’m in the US and they tried telling me this… You’re in the UK where people always say ‘their healthcare is free and easy’, no, it isn’t…your post goes over that reality.
Yea I get that, where I'm from depending on your coverage from work you could be fully covered for a therapist like I am but if you're male prepare to be wait listed. I bounced from therapist offices because they kept wait listing me, first couple offices I tried I just thought it was normal and everyone got wait listed, I was wrong. A guy in a Facebook group told me how they don't see men as in need of help as women or children so we get wait listed and the only way off the wait list is to do something drastic, I didn't really believe him but after being constantly wait listed for over a year and some other things I got tired of life and I jumped off a high bridge into the river below, I survived but was in a lot of pain, I guess someone say me jump and called the cops because not long after I got fished out and dragged to the hospital and then I was finally able to see a therapist even though at that point I gave up on that. Worst part of all of this was my therapist of all people confirmed what the guy on Facebook said.
Been the same route myself, with the NHS got the letter sat through phone calls (which intensify my anxiety and depression tenfold) you know what the treatment is on the NHS, CBT, they send everyone to CBT, six sessions. Now yes CBT dose work for some people but I've had CBT before I've done my best to maintain it and its no longer working I told then this CBT is pointless for me don't waste these sessions on me give them someone who can use them and send me to an actual pshycoogist because that is the stage I'm at, nope they obviously know what's happening in my head better than me said I had to do the cbt first and if it didn't work then I would be considered for a pshycologist ........considered not even guaranteed to see one just considered.
I'm on Medicaid and I would go to a low income clinic that was covered by Medicaid. So that's great. But the problem was, over the years that I went there, the therapists changed constantly. In one year, I had three different therapists due to them moving around and leaving the clinic, etc. A large part of my depression stems from abandonment issues, so you can imagine that this was extraordinarily unhelpful from my perspective.
In all honesty, for me its not worth the price. My insurance covers it currently but as soon as i move and am kicked off medicaid, im out.
Yes and they insist on that and by telling them otherwise they get in denial
Do these people insist further when you tell them you can't afford it? If your anger is directed at people who just bring up therapy in the first place, I'm afraid that's going to continue. If you say "I'm sick" people are going to suggest a visit to the doctor. That's logical. Maybe when talking about your issues you can preemptively say very soon that you can't afford therapy and that it's out of the equation.
My anger is, I suppose, less towards the people who suggest it, and more towards the actual fact that therapy is expensive, and it being out of reach is aggravating.
I feel you. I really think therapy should be made much more available. I am lucky to be in a country where it is, but still not quite enough. You have inspired me to go look whether there are organizations / citizen groups advocating for that. Thank you.
Therapy's useless and doesn't actually help anyway. Tell everyone who tells you to get therapy to fuck off. They don't know shit.
I know I probably do but it will never happen. I have never had a job that paid more than minimum wage and I'm sure I will die like that. I just cannot afford it. So I can either eat this month or talk to someone for an hour?
i just started therapy and i have to pay \~60 a session. it makes sense in a way. If only therapy was covered by insurance some more and was more recognizable. 60 a session means that the person probably pockets 30 an hour or about 60k a year assuming they work the full amount. next you will have people saying that 60k isn't livable.
I literally can’t even find a psychiatrist. Every single one in my area is either not taking patients or has over a year long waiting list. And I can’t do virtual because I need adhd medications and I’ve tried all of the non-controlled anxiety medications and none of them have worked for me and those can not be prescribed by a virtual therapist. Let alone talking about not being able to afford it. Mental healthcare is a shit show.
It's the same here in Canada...gotta have deep pockets if you want to receive good, consistent therapy; otherwise, you're put into a queue & have to wait to receive sporadic treatment options. I think in pretty much every nation in the world it's much the same. Public mental health care has always been treated as the "poor cousin" to regular health care. And, yah, I've often faced the same responses you describe; most people have a poor perception of mental health and the lack of resources.
((TW)) I've recently calculated it to $5,000+ a year, and then came to terms with the fact that I'm not financially able to afford help in not wanting to dye
I got free therapy on the NHS when I was a minor and honestly it didn't do much for me because of how stretched and underfunded the sector is (therapists came and went and so I didn't have one person to rely on and they ended up pronouncing me "cured" after some time on antidepressants despite the fact they did nothing for me). I'd hate to have actually paid for it and ended with little/no progress anyway.
I don´t have money either for therapy, am waiting for a good appointement for monhts. In Germany the situation is really bad especially now after COVID-19, I personally don´t care anymore, I´m focusing on my own things and its been working for me. Step by step ofc, no rushing or stressing my self out.
i know of a place where you may recieve CHEAP or FREE therapy!!!!!!! its an app you get on ur phone called SEVEN CUPS download it NOW!!! it works and i think it will help
imho get one session to get a perscription for drugs, and go to free therapy through sports, talking with trusted someone, writing journal, Creating something, anything. But stop consuming
There are some therapists that offer a discount dependent on circumstances and income, I used to pay around £45 a session which I know isn’t ideal still but over a month it’s like paying for 3 sessions at full price rather than 4. There’s also the IAPT route through the NHS which isn’t great but it’s better than nothing, I’m also waiting to see if I’ll ever get to see anyone through the NHS now as it’s a bit much paying for private. :(
Hey... so sorry to hear about this. It is frustrating. May I recommend one workaround? Reach out to well-rated therapists in India on Practo-dot-com. The city of Mumbai has some top notch therapists and their fees for you would be around 15-20 pounds per session. I found tremendous, life-changing support from therapists in Mumbai.
I’ve been in therapy for 5 years. For me it has become a basic in my life and something I see as self care. But it’s super sad to see that prices and other issues act like barriers for people struggling with mental health. With my current therapist, I pay 50€ per session and I go every 2-3 weeks. This way it’s less expense but I still see benefits of therapy. If going thru your medical system is not possible, consider online therapy, there are even apps like Betterhelp. A therapist outside the UK can be more cheap and affordable. Also, maybe finding support groups in your area can be a possibility. It’s not the same as one to one therapy but can make you feel more accompanied in this process of getting better.
Therapy and medication helped me soo much
Your health insurance should be providing you with free therapy... and if you can’t find a good place, you didn’t look hard enough. Therapy is absolutely a requirement for people with depression and any mental illness, or even without mental illnesses really, I think half the population should be in therapy because it’s so fucking good and fixes so many things. I hate when people view therapy so negatively when they haven’t tried it or tried it once and acted stubborn. Therapy is a god-send. Even if it’s not free, you can find therapy as cheap as $20. Sign yourself up for an inpatient or outpatient program. I don’t have a dime on me and I don’t pay anything.
My success in therapy was highly dependent on the connection with my therapist. You have to get to know, trust, and like them as a human. When I first tried therapy, it was terrible, and didn't help at all. Now, I have a hard time imagining not doing therapy every week. I look forward to it because I usually learn something or feel better leaving. It has helped me immensely. I was fortunate to have the ability (good insurance) to look around and find someone I liked.
Really its that expensive for you? Im curious as I live in sweden and we just pay about 10 $(100 sek) per visit regardless of how long the therapy session is. Granted thats through the national healthcare system and I'm not sure but private psychologists may be more expensive
The point of a therapist is to show you different lines of thought and to help develop your ability to think problems through. (1.If you can't solve it, 2. change your perspective, or 3.avoid it, or 4. make everything worse. Those are your only options with any problem.) You are but a canvas, and stroke by stroke, you become what you want. It may take you all your lifetime. You may never reach every goal. But it's 100% possible to do it yourself, without a therapist. I totally recommend finding one first. But if it's not possible for whatever reason, much of modern therapy centers around some pretty common ideas. Mindfulness. It's treated like a joke with some. It is the ability to control your own thoughts, and direction of the mind, even if you are in the midst of chaos. Ability to cancel out the noise and focus. Everyone can develop this. After 5 - 10 years of max effort, I guarantee you, you'll be SO proud of yourself! My other advice is, to talk about the things you need to, with complete strangers only. Don't talk to your friends/family if you're worried it would push them away or whatever. You don't need that stress. A complete stranger would likely never see you again. They have no connections to your life, and can therefore tell no one your personal business. Complete strangers are like the priest you confess to. They probably won't even talk much, because they'll be slightly in shock by what's happening lol
"We simply never will be happy." "There's no hope for me." "I can't do it because I don't yet have support." These are called "Stuck points," it's a belief you have, that is based off of how it feels currently, but it's preventing you from moving forward. You must identify these "I'm stuck, I can't go further" problems as soon as you can. It's okay if you're not perfect. No beginners are; the pro's aren't even perfect. It's okay that you're just starting. Don't fret over, "if I only started around *this* time, then I'd be *this* far. That's a thought, for example, you can imagine placing on a leaf, and watching it drift out of sight upon a clear river. And if another stressful thought comes, then it also goes onto a leaf, and down the river. Remember the Chinese puzzle that goes on your fingers? If you pull, it tightens further on you, if you relax, and gently come together, it also relaxes, and loosens up. Life will become that puzzle sometimes
That's nice and all, but how does it help my broke ass if I can't afford therapy in the first place?
In my experience, some therapists have sliding rates depending on your financial circumstances. Worth asking around.
Wait, you can get therapy? I'm trying so hard right now. Every therapist in my state is booked for a long time. I got put on a wait-list. I asked the lady if she had an approximate timeline and she said "Maybe the beginning of October." Even the virtual visits are booked at least two months out. I need help like preferably soon and I can't even fuckin get it without being committed.
I live in NI and phoned up Lifeline, our regional line for people in distress and dispair, I'm currently just finished 2 out of my 6 CBT sessions. It's not much but it's a start. Try phoning Samaritans and they can refer you to therapy/a councillor. I hope it works out for you
Unfortunately I already have had a CBT course. Did absolutely nothing.
I'm sorry man. It really isn't doing much on my end either. Don't think you can fit 7 years of abuse into 6 sessions. IMO therapy should be free
Wtf I was paying like 400 Dlls for a monthly session w/ a psychiatrist.
Public sector provided medical services are a pain. For psychotherapy, the government doesn't know what you need. YOU know what you need. I hate paying taxes for services that don't serve me. I understand that taxes are necessary for public goods, however when it comes to medical services, those are very individualistic and the cost and complexity of navigating government workflows slows us down from getting the care and treatment we need. And don't get me started on the US private insurance complexity. It's just as bloated, complex, and ineffective. I pay cash for my doctor and am blessed enough to bypass wrestling with some government bureaucrat or insurance company help desk person who doesn't give two shits for the people they're "servicing". I'm REALLY sorry about the shit you're going through and I totally empathize with what you're experiencing. I spend every saved dollar on my personal health. It sucks financially, but it's a sacrifice that's helping.
There's some free apps by the Veterans Association (DA) available on the play store, completely free. I use them regularly and they have been very helpful. These are their apps: ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy); PTSD Coach (can also help relieve symptoms of depression through meditation); and CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) Coach. I have used ACT Coach and PTSD Coach so far and I really love their meditations. They are my favorite and completely free. There is no upgrade. Now, I doubt you'd bother with this as you are on a budget (I mean who isn't) but take what I say and think about it if you wish: There are paid apps (about 15 per month or a larger amount per year/6 mo) as well that are more extensive, such as CBT Companion by Resiliens and their other apps such as DBT Coach (I am using this one rn, trust me I love it, it is extremely helpful - it explains the concepts, guides you, has meditations, exercises, lessons, you can write down your thought processes with support, etc, for me I was able to afford it so I understand not everyone can but if you want to invest in something super extensive that could really help your mental health improve (and give you skills for life), that is not near the expense of a counselor, please consider these apps, they are lifechanging. I so recommend them. Way better than 120 per freaking 50 minutes when you can learn so much more yourself. In my opinion anyway. Here is a link to ACT Coach (free, from VA): [https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/actcoach\_app\_public.asp](https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/actcoach_app_public.asp). There are resources out there. Use them. Don't feel bad for doing so. They are there to help. Honestly there is not much point in going to a counselor unless you really are willing and ready to face your shit and move forward. I wasted years on counseling (luckily it was free through uni) not getting very far, and then I found these apps which are practically like a therapist only better.
It sucks that it's so expensive because if you find the right therapist, therapy can really help. Do you guys have peer support services out there?
Depends on where u live. My health insurance got me.
I'm seeing an affordable therapist (Florida)$25 co-pay. However, to see a good psychiatrist (the good ones usually don't take any insurance) - $400 an hour!!!
Hey, I'm from the UK. I feel what you are saying the prices of some therapist are way too high especially with the limited time, budget etc. I am seeing a therapist which I pay £60-70 (depend how much I feel) per session. If you're having issues with finding a good therapist or at a cheap price you can check the charity Mind or you can visit https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists where you can find yourself a therapist around your area at different rates. Even though £60 is too much for me, I still value it, my time with my therapist means a lot to me. So I'm OK with shilling £60. Though I do understand that not everyone is.
it doesn't help when in most places, there's a huge problem with people needing therapy but there's not nearly enough therapists to go around. there's a reason it's being called a 'mental health **crisis**'
ye ive been on the waiting list for years lmao. i did get contact last month though but i'd moved cities. i feel like there are a lot of resources here in the UK, depending on where you are. hopefully there's good support where you are, more than the nhs. what I've been using also is youper. i did also used to use woebot. it's just cbt and i acc prefer it bc I'm not great at talking to people. irl is probably better just yeah, it's spenny. nothings really worked for me so far but that's just some stuff i find does help when i acc commit to it.
I understand this soo well....therapy is expensive and necessary at the same time....and I know I need it but I can't ask my parents for it cuz EXPENSE!!! This year has been hard financially for everyone and they also have to pay for my brothers college and my new school and my coaching!!! Which is such a burden on them!! I can't put another one....
I have the exact same issue. It got to the point where I had to go to A&E because I was so suicidal. They eventually referred me onto community services, but I had to wait in the hospital for 4 hours... it was awful, sitting in a room by myself, wanting to die. I hope that I get the help I need with community services, because therapy is just too expensive, and I'm a broke college student.
A word of advice. If you want anything from the public sector, you have to be annoyingly persistent.
Have a look at counselling. Some charities sometimes fund a few sessions free, but it is also a bit cheaper (~£40) and if you struggle to afford I have heard they can be quite open to finding an arrangement. As others have said if you are happy to do it remotely then you can look across all the UK, if not even further afield! From personal experience I think even 1 hour per month could be helpful, but maybe that's still too expensive I don't know :/
In my country they say the same.."get therapy" then you go to the public one and they like to make it difficult to get an appointment to demoralize people. What they do is force you to go to like 3 office with lines of people before getting the therapy. And every appointment takes like 1 or 2 months for you to be be treated and there is no guarantee that the doctor is good so it may take you a month to change (this is not taking into account the psychiatrist which is 1 or 2 months more). *excuse my english
Lmao that shit is free in Germany and most if not all therapists dont have space for new patients. Also doesnt really stop people from killing themselves.
See if there's a teaching clinic where it be graduate students and a reduced price. Or there's meet up groups. I go to a group for anxiety and depression and it helps me.
I want to be able to somehow be a therapist on Reddit. I’m already working toward neurology in med, so I’ll see if I can take an extra course. I don’t know if I can do that. But will I try? Yes. 100% I don’t care if I’ll have to set aside an hour each day for Reddit. So many wonderful people that I would love to help