Affordable Help for Depression??

Ohoopee

I am a 35 year old male and I have suffered from depression for most of my life. It has taken many forms over the years. I was on anti-depressants at one stage but am no longer. I have been suicidal but am no longer. The problem I have found it that it is almost impossible to get help that I can afford when I am not suicidal. Even in the times i Have been suicidal, I have managed to get in with a therapist but they only seemed interested in make me where I wasn't suicidal. The first time, it was a place for people who couldn't afford treatment. I had to get a referral letter from my GP which basically told them that I was sucidial before they agreed to see me. I only got 20 sessions with them and then I had to go on a waiting list...that was over 2 years ago and my place on the waiting list still hasn't come back up.

This past Christmas I had about 7 or 8 bad things hit me all at once....I became suicidal again and went looking for help. None of the private Therapists wanted anything to do with me because I couldn't afford their fee...finally one of them told me that he felt like he had a professional obligation to see me and agreed to see me for 50 Euro per session. That last from February this year until a couple of weeks ago. He said I wasn't suicidal anymore which I wasn't and that he wasn't prepared to offer me furthur treatment for the discount.

But the depression is progressing and changing even though I am not suicidal and is really taking over my life. I have no interest in any of my friends or spending time withany of my friends. I have completely lost interest in anything at all...I have concentration issues which makes work difficult and when I make a mistake and they give out to me about it, it makes me feel worthless and makes the depression worse. AT the moment all I do is work and go home....I dont' go for pints with any one or anything like that. I just go home, lock myself in my room and wait until it is time to go back to work. On my days off, I might go to the shop to buy food for the week but otherwise don't leave my room. This is getting worse and worse and it is clear to me that I need help but because I am not suicidal, no one seem interested in helping unless I am willing to pay 90 Euro per session which I just can't afford. I am worried. I am worried that if this keeps progressing that I am going to be unable to hold down a job. I have never been on the dole in my life and I don't want to get on the dole but I work with people. I work reception at a hotel and being forced to deal with people is becoming more and more difficult. I have tried to overcome this on my own...I tried to force myself to get out on my days off, do something, anything but I just don't the interest and I always end up going back home and locking myself in my room

Does anybody know of any places that offer reduced therapy? The anti-depressants did help when I was on them but they didn't nothing for this type of behavior which is getting worse and worse. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

The Black Oil

Hi OP, I'm moving your thread to Personal Issues.

Maybe Aware or Turn2Me.org can offer you support or information re lower cost options.

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SirChenjin

Agree with options suggested by pp.

Another option which might be worth exploring is http://www.pcicollege.ie/low-cost-counselling If you are around Dublin, that might suit. Or there might be similar options near to you.
I would also encourage you to go back to your GP and discuss your health in general with him/ her.

Please take care of yourself.

Mr. Incognito

1. GP

2. Exercise or sport

3. Write down 5 goals to give you focus . Do them

SuperRabbit

SirChenjin wrote: »

Agree with options suggested by pp.

Another option which might be worth exploring is http://www.pcicollege.ie/low-cost-counselling If you are around Dublin, that might suit. Or there might be similar options near to you.
I would also encourage you to go back to your GP and discuss your health in general with him/ her.

Please take care of yourself.

"Just adding that PCI do this in most cities... i copy paste:
"Dublin
Cork
Galway
Kerry
Kildare
Kilkenny
Limerick
Longford
Mayo
Meath
Waterford
Westmeath Wicklow"





If your county is not listed above, we may have a counsellor in a nearby town or may be able to refer you to someone else in your county. "


10-20 euro an hour. Mostly trainee counsellors.




If you feel suicidal there is Pieta house, they will counsel you for free, usually about 15 sessions to get you back on your feet. Fantastic charity: www.pieta.ie/

Ohoopee

Thank you for the suggestions. All my GP wants to do is put me on antidepressants. The thing is last time, the meds didn't really help with this kind of behavior. I have tried getting out and exercising but I always lose interest. It is getting so the only place I feel comfortable and content is in my room... it is just getting worse. I will try a few of the organizations you have mentioned and will see how i get on.

Thanks,

discobeaker

Ohoopee wrote: »

Thank you for the suggestions. All my GP wants to do is put me on antidepressants. The thing is last time, the meds didn't really help with this kind of behavior. I have tried getting out and exercising but I always lose interest. It is getting so the only place I feel comfortable and content is in my room... it is just getting worse. I will try a few of the organizations you have mentioned and will see how i get on.

Thanks,

I've recently started looking for some help after waiting too long to see someone from the HSE. Check out mymind.org

They are based in Dublin city centre and rathmines and think they have afew other places around the country. They also do sessions online over skype. If you ever do become unemployed or have to go on the dole i think the rate is 20 euros per session. I hope that's of some help to you

maxsmum

You're aware that the only evidence base therapy for depression is structured CBT or IPT delivered properly by a trained psychotherapist ie with a doctorate in psychology. So that may be the reason other things aren't working. There is little point focussing on the cost if you're not getting proper therapy.

listermint

I'm surprised this hasn't been suggested op but you should look into men's shed. You appear to be missing something to do with your time which exasperates your feelings. You need to fill that gap with discussion and activity

http://menssheds.ie/

Find one near you

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Jay Pentatonic

Mood gym might be worth a look, an online CBT website that's totally free (as far as I know).

https://moodgym.com.au

Writing down some goals was mentioned here also. +1 on that from me. Can be very helpful.

SuperRabbit

maxsmum wrote: »

You're aware that the only evidence base therapy for depression is structured CBT or IPT delivered properly by a trained psychotherapist ie with a doctorate in psychology. So that may be the reason other things aren't working. There is little point focussing on the cost if you're not getting proper therapy.

Hi, people with doctorates in "psychology" are absolutely not trained in psychotherapy, that's a separate qualification. Quit talking out of your arse and let people get the help they need.

Every single method of therapy has been proven to usually work for depression. Every single one. It's just that CBT has been most often proven to work the best for the largest number of people.

Ohoopee

Thank you all for the recommendations. I will look into each and every one of them. I came off the anti-depressants originally because me and my GP both believed that I was having sexual side effects from them...this turn out not to be true and it appears to be just the depression progressing as coming off of them has not solved the problem. My last therapist claimed he could and would help me with these problems but I had to cancel one session with him due to money...I couldn't afford to pay him and after that, he didn't want to see me anymore...told me that to solve my sexual problems, it would take hypnotherapy and he wasn't prepared to do that for the price I was paying.

Honestly, the antidepressants did help, they took the edge off but certainly didn't make me feel happy and loving life. But all of this was progressing even with it. It was my GP who recommended I might seek out therapy. He recommended a couple but I just can't afford most of them..most of them want around 80 to 90 Euro per session. And again for them to come off that price, they have to think you are suicidal. At the moment I am not. I find therapy very helpful but I have just never been able to finish with a therapist. Again the first one I went too was a low-cost therapy clinic but they had a limit on the number of sessions I could have before I had to go on a waiting list..in that time, the therapist mainly focused on the fact that I was suicidal and trying to bring me out of that which he did but the rest of the problems were not given the same attention. It has been like putting a plaster on a hernia, gives me some temporary relief but in end really isn't fixing the problem. I think it is really bad that in order to get affordable help, you must be at the point of wanting to end your life...help should be available before you get to that point.

But I'll try some of the other suggestions and let you know how I get on...I don't have a medical card and according to the Government, I make too much money to receive one...but with rent being as high as it is along with car insurance, I just can't afford it...even my GP charges me 45 Euro just to sit down in a room with me and talk about my depression and what he thinks I should do...and that is the problem with anti-depressants as well. I had to pay my GP 45 Euro just to renew my prescription. Then I had to go buy the prescription, then I had to go pay for the therapy. It was all too much and then I started developing what I thought were sexual side effects of the medication...I was ready to come off of them and I found therapy more helpful.

I'll let you know if I have any luck anyways. I appreciate the advice.

SuperRabbit

You've clearly got a really good grasp on your situation and you are willing and able to get the support you need and it's infuriating to me that this country we live in is limiting your options so drastically. I know you'll manage it though, you've already fought your way this far.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted

On the days when you just do need someone to talk to, don't forget that you don't need to be feeling suicidal for a chat with Samaritans.

SirChenjin

One day at a time, OP.

Small steps are important , and remind yourself that you have taken a big step by posting here.

Take care and I wish you all the best.

SlowSprint

a chara,

Aware support groups are very useful, and don't cost anything. I find it better than counselling as instead of having some idiot who knows nothing about your condition blinking at you across a table, you get to chat with people who understand it exactly, because they are going through it.



SlowSprint

SuperRabbit

SlowSprint wrote: »

a chara,

Aware support groups are very useful, and don't cost anything. I find it better than counselling as instead of having some idiot who knows nothing about your condition blinking at you across a table, you get to chat with people who understand it exactly, because they are going through it.

-snip-

SlowSprint

Sprint you'd be hard pressed to find a counsellor who'd never suffered from any kind of mental distress. What do you think motivates people to go into it only beating away their own demons and hoping they can help others to deal with theirs?

But anyway, a good analogy might be teachers. You remember in primary and secondary school, all your teachers basically had the same training, yet some of them were awful and some were great? And maybe the teacher you thought was great, your friend thought was awful, well it's the same with counsellors, psychotherapists etc. Yes, the ones who have higher qualifications are more likely to be able to help you (and far more expensive) but just like with teachers it's a personal thing, and you can get lucky and unlucky. A lot of counsellors will give you a free consultation, so you can try to assess if they are "some idiot who knows nothing" before investing money.

But yeah the support group idea is great.

Neyite

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Sunflower 27

Ohoopee wrote: »

Thank you for the suggestions. All my GP wants to do is put me on antidepressants. The thing is last time, the meds didn't really help with this kind of behavior. I have tried getting out and exercising but I always lose interest. It is getting so the only place I feel comfortable and content is in my room... it is just getting worse. I will try a few of the organizations you have mentioned and will see how i get on.

Thanks,

Have you done much reading on depession? the very nature of it means that you will be apathetic. You must push through this.

There are a lot of self help books around that can give you pointers as well. Your local library should have them if money is s problem, or second hand bookshops..

As suggested, contact PCI college low cost counselling (Google will give you a number).

Make your well-being a priority and focus. You can get through this. Take care.

never_mind

As others have said, some self-help and changes in lifestyle might be of use. The following link has some really useful resources available based on CBT that you might find useful:
https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/

Finding an aim (5k run, getting a promotion in work, joining a club) and sticking to it might be useful as well.