Mental Health Services Explained

Mental Health Care Services

What are some quality mental health services for women that your insurance may cover?
First, lets begin with the various forms of health-care plans as you may need to register for health insurance in order to qualify for free or low-cost mental health services.
You can inquire about health care service options with Public Health Solutions which is based in various locations within New York City & collaborates with many organizations to help you get screened for health insurance coverage. You can choose which health insurance plan fits you best & either qualify for low-cost enrollment fees or free health insurance.

Once you have enrolled in a health care plan, you can decide which mental health services work best for you, & these are some forms of therapy:

• Dialectic Behavioral Therapy or DBT

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Psychotherapy

• Psychoanalytical Therapy

• Family Therapy

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

& many more, you can find out what the remaining list of therapies are at: Good Therapy .org

I don't have to take medication but my Psychiatrist told my Therapist that I definitely need to take medication.
Sometimes medication may be able to help you cope with your daily stressors. When challenges in life become overwhelming & sometimes circumstances make us feel as though we are less in control then it may be time to take medication. It is important of course, as well as your right to seek a second or a third opinion on whether or not you actually do need medication. However, if you need medication for a mental illness that is severe then it may be helpful for you to take medication. 
If your mental illness is severe but manageable then your psychiatrist may say something along the lines of:
"You can take a small dosage of this medication now that my records indicate that your moods are becoming much more stable."
Your psychiatrist may also advise you about the possibility of upping your dosage in which the response may be something along the lines of:
"Although you seem to be recovering well, some of your symptoms are recurring and therefore I'd like to suggest a slightly higher dosage if necessary."
It is important for you to communicate with your psychiatrist as well as with your pharmacist on the outcome of the side-effects if any while taking medication. 

For example, if you are taking medication in a higher dosage and are experiencing worsening symptoms or have side-effects that make you feel sick or completely out of it, then stop taking your medication, consult with your insurance company's nurse. Most insurance cards have a nurse hotline that work directly within the insurance company. Once you describe the symptoms you are experiencing you can then go to your pharmacist to contact your Psychiatrist on the side effects. After that, immediately see your Psychiatrist the next day & ask them to evaluate your medication followed by a clear explanation of the symptoms you have or are experiencing.

At this point your psychiatrist may prescribe a new medication in which s/he may follow-up with you about whether or not you are experiencing worsening side-effects or feel better. Many medications require that you do not consume certain foods and/or beverages at which point you will have to ask your pharmacist about.


How can I document my experiences with medication & therapy?
Journaling is a great way to document your daily experiences or you're feeling that day. One recommendation is having a journal where you can write about the following topics in this exact order, it is what I do:



(right now my photos are not loadable but i will definitely share a photo of two pages of my journal as soon as the repairs are completed)

Friday, July 21, 2017

AM

This morning I woke up at 5:57am & had a light snack with oatmilk while looking through the outfit I have chosen the night before.

My goal for today is to complete three things off of my to-do list.

Right now it is 6:10am & I still don't feel hungry but I will have some crackers with salmon & take my anxiety medication. My dosage is too big for me so I will break it in half & take the remaining half later in the afternoon if my symptoms worsen I am mindful (aware) that I may have to take a whole tablet.

It is now 10:15am & I am reading e-mails for work while creating a chart for topics to include in each social media platform. My symptoms are better but the environment I am currently in is sending triggers. My colleagues are having a birthday celebration & it is very loud. I am an introvert so I really don't feel social right now. I think I'll have to step away from my desk & practice some diaphragmatic breathing. I am too embarassed to hymn my OMs but I will definitely look into it.

friday, 7.21.17

PM

Right now it is lunch-time & I am feeling very well; at this point I will have a vegan veggie wrap while listening to a podcast Black Girl in OM.  My symptoms are neutral, the medication halve I took this morning is working well with my mindfulness skills. If anything goes wrong or if I feel like I need help my emergency plan is handy in the back as per my safety plan.

I am sitting on the train right now on my way home---the train service is in deep delays! I've waited for the train to arrive for over an hour! My son's school just called to let me know that he is one of the last five children in the playroom waiting to be picked up. My anxiety attack is out of control. Right now I have lemonade inside of my canteen--I'm going to have to take the other half of my anxiety medication.

My son is with his grandmother & I am now on my way to therapy.

I've just wrapped up the appointment with my therapist, he believes that my progress is sufficient but my overall anxiety disorder is not directly linked to my on/off symptoms of depression. As I'm sitting on my ride home I'll be coloring some mandala coloring.

Right now it is about 7:30pm, my son & I have just finished eating dinner and now he is going about his daily routine, playtime along with educational sing-alongs on his ipad via youtube. It is almost time for bed, he will have a bath & later when he's asleep I will have myself a lovely candle-lit aromatic fizzy bubble bath with Japanese sencha green-tea. Overall, it was a successful day. I was able to manage my anxiety & something I've noticed about today is that my therapy session didn't really go as I had planned. I've stated the facts: he said that my anxiety may not be linked to my depression. But his opinion that I would need much more improvement in maintaining medication management is not very helpful to me. I feel very offended since the way that I have been managing my medication, as I do right now, is how I've been managing my medication for the last 9 years with my previous psychiatrist & therapist. Despite feeling deeply offended I will have to get a second opinion.

 

What if I can't find the right therapist?

Since there are various forms of therapy, there are many options for you to choose from. Discuss your list of choices with your insurance by giving them a call with the 1800 number provided in the back of the insurance card. Once you've made the call ask them:

• Which forms of therapy are covered?

• Could you please help me find a _____ therapist? 

ex: Could you please refer me to a DBT therapist? 

Sometimes the insurance company can either e-mail you a list or mail you a list of all of the therapists whose services are covered by your insurance provider.

What do I do if I need to communicate with a mental health professional/peer support counselor right now?

Here are some hotline services that you can contact within a 24/7 basis: 

• NYC Well --- 1.888.692.9355

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline --- 1.800.273.8355

• LGBTQIA Crisis Hotline --- 1.866.488.7386

• Long Island Crisis Center --- 516.679.1111

If you still need help with mental health service questions, you can also reach out to NYC Well & ask them about services that are available to you within the five boroughs. If you live in Long Island, you can also reach out to the Long Island Crisis Center to get information on referrals to mental health specialists and such...

with love,

Amela Sandra

warning: the information provided in this blog post is not meant to substitute the advice of your mental health care professional, insurance company or the organizations mentioned. this post is simply for sharing information which no intended purpose to substitute the advice given to you by your licensed health professional or insurance. please contact your insurance company or mental health professional for much more accurate information pertaining to your specific case, situation or condition. This blog post is for general information and is not meant to substitute anything from your own recovery plan or prescription method as was advised to you by your mental health professional or physician.