Starrfish

I’ve typed this once and lost it! I’ll try again. I really need some advice or opinions.

I’m am so frustrated and discouraged right now. I’ve been coping with extreme anxiety and panic attacks for so long and I finally decided I just couldn’t do it anymore. It took me forever to get up the nerve, energy, whatever…to call for a referral to a mental health professional. FINALLY last week, I did. My mental health coverage is through our Employee Assistance Program and is Value Options. Well, let me tell you….from my perspective, it should be called Value NO Options.

They sent me a list of approved mental health providers and there were exactly THREE doctors on the list who are close enough to my office to make ongoing appointments feasible. And not one of them are scheduling new patients for between two and three months. I called some of the others who were further away and again….no new patients for at least two – three months. One doctor even said (well, his secretary said) she would send me “intake” paperwork and I was to fill it out and send it back IF I met their “criteria” they would then decide if they could accept me as a patient. What the? Is this typical? The hell with that.

I finally decided there was nothing to do except call and make an appointment with someone, even though the appointment might be a couple of months away. I tried to do that but NO. They wouldn’t make appointments that far in advance. “Call back in a month,” they said. And I suppose if I call back in a month, it might be yet another month or more before I can even MAKE an appointment. I’m just worn out with this.

I don’t know what else to do except call my Family Doctor and ask him if he can help with some kind of medication. I just don’t think if will know what might help, although I’m sure he will try. He knows I’ve tried several different anti-depressants and that they haven’t helped. He will not want to prescribe any benzo type drug (other than for flying or other really traumatic stuff) and I just honestly don’t know how much longer I can go on like this. I am almost constantly living with an enormous amount of stress and anxiety. I’m worried sick about my youngest son and about my mother. Not to mention, other important, though less important than son and mother, things. I have panic attacks several times a week and they’re coming more often and are harder and harder to cope with. I am so upset at my insurance company. Or at the doctors.

Any ideas, suggestions or advice? I’m at my wit’s end. Thanks in advance.