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I need therapy but I have no health insurance.

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ArticVixen
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Joined: 14 Apr 2024
Gender: Female
Posts: 9
Location: Washington State

20 Nov 2024, 9:38 pm

Hello. I've been battling depression and suicidal thoughts for many years now.

I am currently working at a job I despise and has greatly affected my mental health for these past 5 years. I can't quit because my family is struggling financially and I can't drive yet. America is car-country and there's hardly any other options for transportation to get to work in my area.

During Monday and Tuesday I had 2 mental breakdowns. I don't know how many mental breakdowns I had these past years but it seems like a lot. Around 40 I assume. Anyways, I decided to use my PTO and stayed home to take care of myself. Despite staying home, I am still depressed and have no hope for my future.

I wish I can drive that way I can see a therapist. I don't want my dad taking me because he gets angry if me and my siblings talk bad about him to a therapist or counselor. Recently, he got pissed at my brother for bringing him up to the school counselor and now CPS are paying a visit I don't know when.

I thought about online therapy but there's so many options and I don't know how the process works. Apparently, you need health insurance to apply to these programs. But I no longer have health insurance and I missed the deadline for that benefit at work circa late October or November.

Also I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money. I am trying to be frugal and catch up with saving as much money as possible. My bank balance is now at a decent number so I hope no incoming layoffs make me play catch up again.

My other hurdle is I rather do text or at least write a letter to my therapist than show my face first. As an anxious INFJ I rather get comfortable first.

If anyone knows any good online therapy recommendations, please feel free to list them. Don't list BetterHelp or that 988 hotline. I heard BetterHelp is a scam and the latter didn't helped me much.

I pardon if I come off as a dumb person. I never had professional help before and I don't know where to start. I used to talk to school counselors as a kid but they weren't very professional in my honest opinion.

Thank you if anyone made it this far. I hope work tomorrow isn't chaotic but I have my doubts.



Gentleman Argentum
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21 Nov 2024, 4:15 am

ArticVixen wrote:
Hello. I've been battling depression and suicidal thoughts for many years now.

I am currently working at a job I despise and has greatly affected my mental health for these past 5 years. I can't quit because my family is struggling financially and I can't drive yet. America is car-country and there's hardly any other options for transportation to get to work in my area.

During Monday and Tuesday I had 2 mental breakdowns. I don't know how many mental breakdowns I had these past years but it seems like a lot. Around 40 I assume. Anyways, I decided to use my PTO and stayed home to take care of myself. Despite staying home, I am still depressed and have no hope for my future.

I wish I can drive that way I can see a therapist. I don't want my dad taking me because he gets angry if me and my siblings talk bad about him to a therapist or counselor. Recently, he got pissed at my brother for bringing him up to the school counselor and now CPS are paying a visit I don't know when.

I thought about online therapy but there's so many options and I don't know how the process works. Apparently, you need health insurance to apply to these programs. But I no longer have health insurance and I missed the deadline for that benefit at work circa late October or November.

Also I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money. I am trying to be frugal and catch up with saving as much money as possible. My bank balance is now at a decent number so I hope no incoming layoffs make me play catch up again.

My other hurdle is I rather do text or at least write a letter to my therapist than show my face first. As an anxious INFJ I rather get comfortable first.

If anyone knows any good online therapy recommendations, please feel free to list them. Don't list BetterHelp or that 988 hotline. I heard BetterHelp is a scam and the latter didn't helped me much.

I pardon if I come off as a dumb person. I never had professional help before and I don't know where to start. I used to talk to school counselors as a kid but they weren't very professional in my honest opinion.

Thank you if anyone made it this far. I hope work tomorrow isn't chaotic but I have my doubts.


There are tons of people out there that use Reddit for free therapy. On a smaller scale, we observe people using Wrong Planet for free therapy. And plenty of other sites.

The way it works is there are a lot of people like me that like to give advice and enjoy writing. Our credentials may not be anything to write home about. :lol: However, we get "graded" on Reddit with upvotes or downvotes, so there is some collective judgement of our advice. The advantage is you get a lot of different perspectives, some good, some bad, but all make you think, and may serve to give you ideas and distract you from negative thoughts.

I have health insurance, but have never taken advantage of therapy, I guess because I don't really trust therapists, and am rather opinionated and think that I am smarter than the garden variety therapist and at any rate value my judgement over theirs.

Sometimes I do feel sad, especially when work seems chaotic and highly stressful and beyond my ability to control events. This is a universal problem everyone deals with. My solution is to be frugal and save money. Also look for opportunities to do better somehow. Maybe one day you can move to a Lower Cost of Living area, and not pay so much for rent/housing. I seem to recall that Washington State has a high cost of living, is that so?

The world we live in is a tough one, but there are good times too, you just kind of batten down the hatches through the storms until you get to the quiet and peaceful seas.


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Fenn
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21 Nov 2024, 8:39 am

Some therapists charge a sliding scale. Self-help books and work books can be helpful and are less expensive than hiring a therapist. Some are free at the library.

One such book about CBT (the author is a doctor who claims he had done statistical studies showing the book to be helpful):

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
Book by David D. Burns

I, personally found this book, and others, helpful.

Peer support groups are often available free or for a free-will-donation to cover rent of a room. Churches often provide support through groups or individual counseling. You can also call local hospitals about support groups they may know of.


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