Borderline Personality Disorder?!
Question: Okay. I'm 19, and I have BPD. I was diagnosed with it a few years ago, I was on medications, and started to feel "better" and I was 16 and dumb, so I took myself off of them. I had tried for the past few years to help myself. It's not working so well. I need help, but I don't have health insurance anymore. Does anyone have any suggestions? Are there free counseling websites, or anything like that? No sarcastic remarks either, please.
Answers: Okay. I'm 19, and I have BPD. I was diagnosed with it a few years ago, I was on medications, and started to feel "better" and I was 16 and dumb, so I took myself off of them. I had tried for the past few years to help myself. It's not working so well. I need help, but I don't have health insurance anymore. Does anyone have any suggestions? Are there free counseling websites, or anything like that? No sarcastic remarks either, please.
Some of the others have given good suggestions regarding sliding scale clinics, etc. If you live near any large universities, you may try inquiring at their psychology and social work departments. Often they have clinics staffed with advanced students, who work under the supervision of professors. When I was in training, I saw some patients for a dollar an hour.
Typically, BPD is treated with psychotherapy, not medication. But perhaps you had associated symptoms of some sort, and from what you say, you found medication helpful. So certainly it shouldn't be ruled out.
The ideal would be for you to find a good psychotherapist first, and discuss the medication issue with him or her. He/she might then point you in the direction of a prescribing psychiatrist.
Of course, the ideal is not always possible. So, do you have a family physician? Somebody whom you see when you're ill? Given the fact that you once took a medication and found it helpful, your physician may be willing to prescribe the same med again. There would have to be office visits for follow-up, but they would likely be brief, and if you're doing well, they would not be terribly frequent.
The good news is that now, some of the psychotropic meds are available in generic form, and are not so costly. Also, doctors often have samples they can give out for free. And if necessary, many of the drug companies have "programs" to supply free meds to uninsured patients that need it. (Your doctor would have to do some paperwork to apply for that on your behalf.)
It's very tough to be without health insurance. I hope you do find a way to get insured.
And I hope you feel better soon.
Your county most likely has a mental health center with a sliding fee scale.
Your county health department can help you, or there are health missions that help the uninsured. Call your local hospital to find out about help in your area. Good luck and prayers to you....
There should be mental health facilities in your area or larger towns. It usually goes according to your income. If you don't make much than it is usually free.
If you can, save money for a doctor's visit to get a new prescription. Wal-Mart carries a line of four dollar prescriptions, including antidepressants, and tell your doctor that this is the only way you can get meds.