Crushed, Disconnected, and Despondent

I recently moved back the US after spending three years in Australia, where there is a free healthcare system and limitless resources to help the mentally ill.

I'll try to keep this short and to the point. I'm trying to find free support groups for people with BPD in Washington state, namely the Olympia area. On my online searching I found a DBT group but they charge friggin $60 - $80 PER SESSION... before I get discouraged... I want to ask people here who have gone through DBT classes/groups... how many sessions before you start to feel better equipped to deal with BPD?

Because right now, I'm feeling lost. I can't afford to go to the hospital, even though I should since I'm suicidal and depressed as all hell, and I can't afford one on one therapy. My current job barely pays for gas/insurance and food. Luckily I don't have to worry about rent or bills because I'm crashing at a relative's at the moment.

But I just feel like I can't get the help I so desperately need. I've gone 4 months without smoking weed, but at this point I'm thinking it'll be cheaper to just go back to old habits, or keep up my current drinking regimen. Pretty much if I don't have work the next day, I drink. One.. two.. sometimes six beers a night. And I most always pop valium while drinking too. I'm not coping well with adjusting to life in the States after being pampered (at least with my mental help) in Australia.

I miss my therapist, I miss my home there, I miss my cat (he's still in Australia until I have enough money to transport him), I miss my friends, I miss my ex-fiance, I miss my job (I was making around 37,000 a year and I had the best co-workers and boss EVER).

I don't know how to cope with all this. Sorry. Long post is long.

TL;DR - How long does DBT take to work? Does anyone know of any free support groups for BPD in Washington area (either seattle, Tacoma, or Olympia areas)?

Thanks!

Panko bread crumbs are more flake than crumb, and in this case, the flake is your friend. Why? Standard crumbs are small and fine and simply don’t have the surface area to do much more than, well, soak up oil.

I'm sorry.. I don't quite understand how tempura and bread crumbs is related to DBT...?

Yeah, spam is great.

I couldn't respond to your post earlier. Actually couldn't even read the whole thing. I had bad anxiety today. I will try again tomorrow. You've been heard - I'm incompetent. I hope someone can chime in before me.

(((hugs)))

I can't answer your question, I can only empathize.

The U.S. has a huge problem with dealing with their people with mental health issues appropriately.

I recently found out that in order to even get a hospital stay (which I think I need at this point) I would have to attempt suicide or commit a violent crime. I'm not willing to go that far.

All I can tell you is to at least find the one-on-one with a person who understands BPD, you may not get the group therapy you need right away, but you can at least find a person to help you filter some of this stuff.

I thought Washington had a government insurance plan. Are you eligible? That's the only way I am getting treatment right now, the good ol' U S of A is paying the bill. If they realized that they were helping me, they'd probably pull the plug.

I really hope that you can find something, in the meantime, maybe just try some self-help books or something ... just to start changing your perceptions and things like that.

Thanks FloMac. I'll definitely keep up my self-help regimen to get me through this. I'm just scared that when it gets closer to the date I've chosen if I'll be able to seek help to stop it or if I'll go through with it. I've never picked a date before, and ever since I have, life has been significantly different. If I was in Australia I could just hospitalize myself, but I'm no longer there and I don't know if I could cope with the hospital bills.

Hey, NO...

Just wanted to say I am thinking of you, hoping you'll keep pushing on. Maybe if you spoke with someone from that DBT group you could explain your situation and pay a reduced fee? So frustrating when people who need help can't get it.

I understand what you're up against. I'm also lost in a dark place, feeling like I don't belong anywhere.

If you are a US citizen, go to your county's Health & Human Services department. Most have programs for health insurance and free mental health care. Churches often have support groups for mental health care, as well as private organizations.

There is help out there. It may not be published. It might be hard to find. But it is there.

Studies have shown that for depression, self-help books are equally effective as medication. There are self-help DBT workbooks. I ordered on today because there is no DBT care available within 60 miles of me. DBT is slow - and expensive. A workbook is a small step in a healthier direction.

You are never helpless. It is your mind, your BPD, tricking you. You have lots of options if you can find the strength to keep looking.

I am Australian and live in Australia, not sure where the free healthcare system with limitless resources comes in? It's costing me a fortune to see shrinks and system is failing a ridiculous amount of people with mental health. Thank goodness I had lots of money saved so I can afford to see a professional.

Am curious, what state were you living in and where did you seek help? I am looking to get CBT or DBT but can't find much on it in Sydney. But my shrink may be able to tell me more tomorrow.

I can't tell you much about Washington, but I can tell you how I get my help in the East.

I lived with my family in a low-income household, so I personally was able to get a medical card.

If I hadn't, I was still able to find fairly cheap care, as my local mental health center goes on a sliding scale.

Medical card also pays for hospital stays - I've had three in the last two years.


You should check into having the good old government foot the bill.