bipolar money
Is there any inpatient psychatric help for someone who is bipolar and unemployed?
I am 42 years old. My bipolar is so bad that I can;t leave my house. I lost my job and have no vehicle anymore I have tried to start meds but can’t seem to follow through because of getting around, money, and fear of leaving my house.I can’t stop crying.
You need to call up your local county social services dept. tomorrow and ask for help. In most states, people with bipolar are entitled to a special social worker who only helps with mental health problems. They will know all the options available to you. For tonight, you can call up a crisis line for emotional support plus they may know a lot of these financial issues. Crisis lines are listed in the yellow pages. If you have no assets besides your house, then you have nothing to lose if you do need treatment & somehow there is no program for you (but there probably is!) – they can’t take your house, it is exempt. There is also a mobile crisis team in many areas – one or two people can come sit with you for a couple or few hours and provide emotional support & that often prevents hospitalization.
Did you lose your job due to the bipolar? If you had a good job, you may have had short term & maybe even long term disability benefits thru the job that you can apply for. Also, in at least a couple states (California and Massachusetts) you pay into a short term disability fund, so you may be eligible for that.
You need to do better about taking meds. Bipolar will not get better without meds. You HAVE to figure out a way to take the meds without fail! Best way is to take them first thing in the morning or last thing at night, or with a particular meal. You could try setting an alarm.
Can you call up a family member or friend and have them come stay with you for a couple of weeks and help you out? Or have them stop by once a day or call you a couple times a day?
I’m going to give you my depression tips, too – most of this info will help you. PRINT THIS LIST OUT for future reference
Depression Tips:
If your depression is worse in winter, try to get more sun. You may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or your depression could be partly seasonal. Use a light box (10,000 Lux (light intensity) at about 20” – about $300 online, don’t get it at a local store, they will charge more, don’t need full spectrum, check it has a UV filter). I have extra windows, spend time in bright rooms, painted the walls peach & yellow. I have a skylight ( it helps!!!!!)
Try meditation like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. It reduces stress, & depression. See The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund Bourne for examples. Free 15 minute guided imagery download at healthjourneys.com.
***** #1 MOST HELPFUL Go out with friends, & if you don’t have any, join a club & MAKE yourself go until you look forward to it. “Isolating” makes depression worse.
Exercise 1/2 hour a day, & anytime you feel depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer & reduces anxiety.
Insomnia?: Go to bed & get up the same time each day, even weekends. Don’t use your bedroom to watch TV, read or use the computer-just use the room as a bedroom. Don’t do stuff that revs you up right before bed, like exercising & using the computer. Computer screens & TV wake you up. Use that last hour to wind down-Take a bath? Make the bedroom very dark, even cover up the alarm clock. Use a noise machine (makes wave sounds etc.) to cover up disturbing sounds. Avoid caffeine in afternoon & evening. Try soundsleeping.com for free relaxing sounds downloads.
Put a lot of colorful, happy things around the house & let the sun in. Do nice things for yourself. Make a list of things that make you happy. On my list: bread fresh from the oven, Fireworks popping on a warm summer evening, the scent of Jergen’s cherry almond lotion, the crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, standing in the boat flicking topwater lures onto the water, etc. Use all your senses & read that list when you are breaking down
Work on time management if being overwhelmed is getting to you. Cut back on other responsibilities so you can spend more restorative time with friends & family. Ask for help if depression makes it hard to keep up with chores.
You got a significant other? Extra physical touch is helpful. Many people are touch deprived, so hold hands more, hug more, give shoulder rubs, etc. A pet is great if your home situation allows you to get one. (Don’t if you can’t commit to it for 15 years)
Make sure you are NOT listening to sad music! It is so easy to do, but it makes things worse! Listen to upbeat stuff. Do the same with movies & novels.
DISTRACT yourself when the hurting is worst. Read a novel, watch a comedy, go out with friends, play cards, play a video game, whatever is mentally all-consuming. This is a VERY helpful tip!!
Volunteer. Research shows that helping others makes you feel better about yourself. It also keeps you more involved in the community. Many people find comfort being involved in religion.
For chronic & severe depression, go to mentalhealthrecovery.com & order a $10 WRAP (Wellness & Recovery Action Plan) booklet – this info helps you write up your own daily plan to maintain mental health & a checklist on handling a crisis. Consider filling out a psychiatric advance directive to protect your rights & inform professionals about your care if you have a crisis. Links to your state’s free PAD can be found at bazelon.org.
If suicidal, find a community hospital with an inpatient behavioral health unit (see the yellow pages) & go there or have someone take you. Don’t call 911 unless you have already hurt yourself, because if it is just psych symptoms, it isn’t an ambulance that comes, it is the police, & they will take you to the closest place & that could be a horrible state hospital.
I have severe psychiatric symptoms from bipolar disorder & PTSD & these things do help me quite a bit (I haven’t been able to find meds to help me). *Also, research shows that both pills & counseling are more effective than either alone.* Make sure you take your pills every day without forgetting. If your symptoms don’t improve within 3 weeks or so, call the doctor for a med adjustment. Cognitive Behavioral therapy is the most effective kind of counseling.
All The President’s Moods ( well, some )
