No, Sweetie. Whining is perfectly appropriate right now.

Check the local hospital or public health clinic and see if they have
support groups for arthritis people or those in stroke recovery. Those are
usually free. Then you can take your time about finding someone for private
consult. Read recently that many, many people develop depression after a
brain 'injury' either through trauma or stroke. Common enough that it has
been well documented.

And no wonder you are having trouble working things out and feeling
stressed. You are recovering from brain injury and your brain is trying to
forge new pathways. Its busy doing that. So doing everything else needs to
take a back seat - and that includes coping skills.'

Be patient and kind with yourself. You are working hard!

Adelle

Hi Donna,

Looks to me like you found your answer to why you want to talk to someone!
I've had an assortment through the years and everyone was different. One guy
I saw once
and never went back. Didn't care for him at all! Another I liked alot, but
he was unreliable.
Sometimes he'd show up and sometimes he wouldn't. Not good. Some have
different "methods"
of treatments depending on what they studied. Find one to your liking and
hang on to him/her.
By the way, I tend to prefer males. That is just a personal choice, but I
believe they can relate
to me better in some areas.
GaryZ

It makes A LOT of sense, Donna!  And frankly, the first sentence I left in
the quote from you sums it all up pretty well to me.  I think you did better
telling her than you think you did.  I suspect you did better than most folks
who make that call on their own.  They just needed an idea of which direction
to send you and whether you needed immediate intervention.  

I admire you for taking steps to protect your health ALL AROUND!

Donna, Cindy didn't say he was a psychologist, which is probably the
problem. There are some very capable counselors working with churches
or in other settings, but if they are not "licensed" clinical social
workers or "licensed" psychologists, insurance/medicare will rarely
cover them. licensing means they've gone through rigorous training and
passed exams in the state in which they practice.

to address ari's statement that there's a difference between
counseling and psychotherapy: he's right. i'd define counseling as
more of a discussion of a problem and an offering of advice. a
psychotherapist, while he or she may appear to be doing the same
thing, is always  looking at what's going on on a deeper level--the
core personality, the psychological and social history, etc, and
intervening in those areas as necessary. where i disagree with ari is
that a psychologist is the best choice. most mental health services in
the US are provided by licensed clinical social workers and as a
group, they're equally competent.

what it boils down to, donna, is not just the skill level or degree of
the person, but the personality fit between you and him/her. sometimes
the first one is not the best fit. if you're lucky, it is.

keep us posted on how you're doing.

diane

Donna, I only know that my when I had Cigna, they would pay...but Medicare
wouldn't...I don't know his exact...Initials on the end of his name. I was
looking around here trying to find something with it on there...But
apparently he doesn't qualify...I went to Medicare's site and put in for
mental Health Outpatient in OK and this is the result I got....
Information provided is for the state of Oklahoma
The Medicare coverage information matching your selection criteria is shown
below.

     Mental Health Care (Outpatient)
     Coverage under Medicare
     Medicare covers mental health care given by a doctor or a qualified
mental health professional. Before you get treatment, ask your doctor,
psychologist, social worker, or other health professional if they accept
Medicare payment.

     Outpatient Mental Health Care: Medicare covers mental health services
on an outpatient basis by either a doctor, clinical psychologist, clinical
social worker, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant in an
office setting, clinic, or hospital outpatient department.

     Medicare covers substance abuse treatment in an outpatient treatment
center if they have agreed to participate in the Medicare program.
     The amount you need to pay
     You usually pay 50% of the Medicare-approved amount.

     You pay a separate copayment amount for the facility service.

     For more information, you may call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
     The part of Medicare that pays for this service or supply
     Part B Benefit
     Medicare Contact for additional information
     State of Oklahoma Carrier: 1-800-633-4227
       1-800-MEDICARE
     Important notes

       1.. You must pay an annual $131 (in 2007) deductible for Part B
services and supplies before Medicare begins to pay its share.
       2.. Actual amounts you must pay may be higher if a doctor, health
care provider, or supplier does not accept assignment.

Donna, I left private practice before the big HMO boom. At that time,
people paid me directly and filed for their own reimbursement.
coverage was more spotty than it is now, since there has been a big
push for better mental health coverage from insurers. Since I worked
primarily with teens and their families, medicare was not an issue.
Sorry not to be more of a help!

diane

Donna, since my clients were mostly teenagers, I didn't have any
dealings with Medicare.
My patients paid me, then filed their own insurance. That has changed,
for the most part, since insurance carriers must cover mental health
care to a greater degree now than they did then. Let us know how you
do finding the right person.

diane

OK, say some prayers!

PCP's office just called and I am going in to his office tomorrow
morning.   Apparently they have a social worker that works between 2-3
different offices and sees patients.   She will have a session with me
to help my pcp determine whether she would be helpful to me, whether she
thinks I need to see someone higher up (ie: psychologist or
psychiatrist) whether see thinks she can handle the case and/or whether
she thinks I need meds along with counseling.   Then will go talk with
my pcp and hopefully make a plan of action.   It's at least a start, and
my pcp's nurse said she thinks that I will really like this social
worker.  We shall see!   Acck.....I'm a little nervous about it all, but
I know it is a start and what I need to do.   Also have an appointment
with my pastor, so will be talked out by the end of the week...lol!

Thanks everyone for all of your support, it truly does mean the world to
me.

Hugs,  

Donna G.
.
.
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ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call
them FRIENDS......