Depression...addiction..

[Lunar Raven]

Lately I've been having a lot of personal problems. Bad habits, which I can't stop (or stand)...bad thoughts, depression. I've been dealing with it on my own for too long, and I have no one to talk to about it...

Sometimes I just feel lost.

I don't want to tell my friends, because some of it's rather embarrassing, and I'm generally a shy person. I have trouble bringing up these issues to people I know..it's even hard to tell people I don't know!

Someone once suggested counseling, but I shrugged it off because I just can't afford it. I got thinking today though, are there any free counseling services? How would I find out if there are some in my area?

Help appreciated. Thanks!

[Rowan Darkmoon]

I work for a mental health center, and we offer free counseling sessions for those people in our area who can't afford it.

In addition, depending on your thoughts, you could call a crisis hotline and talk to someone for free. They might be able to help you find low cost/no cost counseling in your area, and they can lend an open ear.

I think that it would be good to talk with one good friend, and really open up to them. I know that's hard when you're shy, but things seem so much bigger when we keep them inside and don't talk about them. Hang in there. :hugz:

[StephanieAine]

Lately I've been having a lot of personal problems. Bad habits, which I can't stop (or stand)...bad thoughts, depression. I've been dealing with it on my own for too long, and I have no one to talk to about it...

Sometimes I just feel lost.

I don't want to tell my friends, because some of it's rather embarrassing, and I'm generally a shy person. I have trouble bringing up these issues to people I know..it's even hard to tell people I don't know!

Someone once suggested counseling, but I shrugged it off because I just can't afford it. I got thinking today though, are there any free counseling services? How would I find out if there are some in my area?

Help appreciated. Thanks!




A couple of different ways. You can get out your yellow pages and start phoning different counseling offices (look under psychologists *and* under counseling - maybe under family counseling, too, because family counselors also treat individuals). Ask if they offer counseling for low-income people on a 'sliding scale' - because that way, the office will base the fee on what you can actually afford, if anything. You'll probably find out very quickly who offers what... and you can also ask the receptionists you talk to, if they say they don't offer sliding-scale rates, if they happen to know who *does.*

Another way is to phone your local health department and ask them what number you'd call to find out about county mental health services. When you get that info, call them up and ask them who you call about getting counseling services on an outpatient basis for low-income people... again, on a sliding scale. They should be able to help you.

Last but not least, phone your local psychiatric hospital and ask *them* who does outpatient counseling on a sliding scale for low-income people - they'll know, because they would have experience with referring their patients to outpatient counseling when they get released from inpatient care. So they should have a list of counselors that offer free and low-fee counseling.

Those are my best ideas. Yep, lots of phone calls - but you'll get the job done!

[Cat]

Often psychiatric hospitals also have outpatient clinics on a sliding scale fee. Try calling some local ones. They might also have a referral for you if they do not offer such a clinic. Also look for community ,ental health centers. I suggest avoiding individual sliding scale practitioners, since their scales often stop sliding way above what folks can afford. Since they work alone they have to eat the costs of their overhead alone, whereas a clinic has an organization behind it so it can go much lower. Obviously I'm speaking in general terms, and there are exceptions to every rule. But I've never found one for this.

[Lunar Raven]

Thanks everyone :hugz:.

I've always had a hard time admitting my problems to others and myself, and because of this, I've always put them aside and pretended that I was just going through a 'phase' or something..but I've never come out of it. I'm not exactly sure why I get depressed...but some days I do, and very badly. Then days turn into weeks...and it's hard to get out and do anything. Along with that, I have an 'addiction' that I'm quite ashamed of. I've been working on that..but figuring yourself out and fixing your own problems seem almost impossible...atleast to me. I've always been one to think that anyone can do anything on their own with will power..but it just doesn't seem that way anymore. A lot of people in my family are alcoholics, and I've always thought to myself "why don't you just quit..you can do it if you really want to"...but that no longer seems like a reality. Now I feel like a total hypocrite.

Anyway, I think I just rambled..but I definitely want to get 'help'. I go through the same motions day in and day out..and nothing seems to change, even though I want them to. I don't want to burden my mom with my problems..because frankly she has a lot to deal with on her own, but I'm hoping that I can atleast find someone to talk to about my problems. I think I'll start making some calls very soon.

Thanks again for all the responses. They are all very helpful.

-Lunar Raven

[Brightshores]

:hugz: :hugz: :hugz:

The first and most difficult step towards any kind of recovery, whether from addiction or depression or anything else, is self-realization. You've realized that (a) you have a problem, (b) you want to change, and (c) you can change. You have just fought half the battle - and you are victorious.

Definitely find some help if you can - the above suggestions are excellent. You also may wish to attend AA and/or Al-Anon meetings in your area; they can be immensely helpful and they have the additional advantages of being completely confidential and essentially free (they pass a donation bucket around, most people put in about $1, but you aren't required or expected to put anything in if you can't.)
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/

Best wishes and lots of :hugz:.. Feel free to PM me if you need to talk, I know at least some of what you're going through.

Stay strong - you can do it.

[TheWomanMonster]

I agree with BrightShores,
you're already on your way.
I really hope you find someone to talk to.
And if you ever just need people to listen MW is a good place to find them.

May you have peace and freedom from your depression.
Sending you energy and well wishes.