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Money and Depression

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Chimiqui

Chimiqui

Sun, March 16, 2008

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When my depression is in full swing, sometimes I wonder, "If I had a fairy godmother who could magically give me what I would need to get better, what would it be?"  It always includes some way that counseling and medication --and maybe even time off from work or a reduced work schedule-- could be paid for without my having to go into debt.  Medical debt is a huge stressor--how can that help a depressed person recover?  The other constant in my recovery fantasies is some kind of social-worker type person who would check up on me every week or so to see if I am taking my medicine, going to my appointments, washing my dishes, brushing my teeth, all those things that people who are not depressed do without being checked up on, but maybe most importantly, to ask if I am paying my bills!  WHen I get depressed, it is so hard to do anything, and paying bills gets put aside until they are overdue, and then the collection agencies start calling, and then it goes to the law firms and a bill for $5 is suddenly over a thousand dollars, and the more insurmountable the debts seem, the more insurmountable the depression seems.  There should be some way for depressed people to get onto some kind of automatic bill paying system so the debts don't get in the way of getting better.  Just a crazy thought.

3/18/08 5:36pm
Not crazy thought!.  I wish we all had one and the funny thing is that governments have the power to make this happen...they don't because the people who really need them to help are not well enough to lobby for these changes.  I don't think you're asking too much of your fairy godmother! R
4/17/08 9:41am
HI, I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAS NO MEDICAL INSURANCE, AND, I HAVE SO MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND NOWHERE TO TURN. MY HUSBAND IS 75 AND HE GETS SOCIAL SECURITY, A PENSION FROM THE UNION, AND HE WORKS A PART TIME JOB...HIS INCOME IS WHAT MY INCOME IS BASED ON...I CANT GET S.S. UNTIL NEXT YEAR WHEN I AM 65....SO, ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THAT I WAS TOLD LAST YEAR THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE CATARACTS REMOVED RIGHT THEN....NOT THIS YEAR OR NEXT BUT RIGHT THEN....THE DR. DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY WHEN I TOLD HIM I HAD NO INSURANCE, SO, I GOT NEW GLASSES...400.00...I HAVE HAD THEM ABOUT 7 MONTHS, NOW THEY DONT HELP ME VERY MUCH. MY WORST FEAR OUT OF ALL MY HEALTH PROBLEMS IS GOING BLIND...I DONT QUALIFY FOR ANY KIND OF AID BECAUSE OF MY HUSBANDS INCOME...HE MAKES A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH TOO MUCH......SO, HERE I SIT, TRYING TO SEE THE SCREEN AND WONDERING HOW MUCH LONGER I WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS WEBTV. IT IS HOOKED UP TO A 36 IN. T.V. AMERICA DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THE ELDERLY, THE POOR, OR THE IN BETWEEN...I LOVE MY COUNTRY, BUT, THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM STINKS.......BEST WISHES TO YOU....JENNIFER

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