Lets go backwards to go forwards. I have anxiety. On my medical chart it says that I have GAD. I have suffered through some really hard times with my anxiety, and I have made it out on the other side. This journey for others may be very different from mine and that’s totally fine. Because not everyone is me, thank goodness. But, what I must say, regardless of your mental health journey, help should always be available. Unfortunately it is not.
Recently I spoke so someone that was telling me about their mental health journey. She was telling me that she recently got a new doctor and she spoke with the new doctor about her mental health struggles with anxiety. He told her that he doesn’t like to prescribe meds to patients and prefers them to seek therapy. I understand that there is a fine line many doctors are walking with prescribing meds to people in fear of them being labeled “over prescribes” meds to people, but some people need them. Some people may need something to ward off massive panic attacks. So for a doctor to just disregard meds as a possible treatment is not ok. Secondly, when this person went to contact this therapist, the therapist said that she couldn’t get to her until April. April? April? Four months from now. Ummmmm… How is this adequate mental health care? Now, certain insurances only allow certain therapists to be used, but to think that this is one of the only people and they can get to you until April? That’s ridiculous.
There is supposed to be this huge mental health movement. Taking care of your mental health and seeking care for your mental health is you feel that there is something gone wrong. And I think that is great that we are recognizing this and not seeing it as some stigma that we cant discuss. What is the problem is that you can’t actually get the help. We need to make it so that regardless of insurance, people can get access the therapy within 30 days. It should also be that family doctors have more learning and training in med school about mental health and treatments and how they can be advocates for their patients. No one should have to be told “sorry I won’t give you meds and a therapist isn’t available until April”. That isn’t helping anyone.
The bottom line is don’t give up. Keep fighting for the right to adequate care even in this severely capitalist country where the value of a person is not more than the value of a buck. Keep seeking the care you deserve. Because, you are worth it.
Soap Opera 