I have a disability which makes it nearly impossible for me to get out to support groups and therapy sessions. My PTSD lately has been really bad even though it's been years since I was assaulted.
I have to resort to calling my counselor on the phone for our sessions because she is 45 mintues away from me and she doesn't make house calls. I have to pay out of pocket because she doesn't accept my insurance.
I've been also working with a counselor from a temporary crisis counseling type of a place but since it was only temporary, I'm looking for another resource to help me with my flashbacks.
I feel like there are a lack of resources for disabled people like myself. Places are wheelchair accessible, but if someone is too weak to leave the house they can't get there. If I am able to make it somewhere, I'd have to lay down - like on a couch or something. Also, a lot of these programs insist that you "make a commitment" of a certain amount of days per week. I understand why this is important, and I would love to make a commitment, but my health is so unpredictable that I would be lucky to even get somewhere just sporadically. Even the counselor at the women's center, who knows my condition tells me that I may not be eligible for their group sessions if I can't make a commitment. This is so disheartening and depressing. I want to work on this more than anything and just be free of this and be able to feel safe again in my life. I don't even feel safe in my own house anymore, even though I know that I am safe I just don't feel it.
There is an outpatient place for women who've experienced trauma in my state, but they don't let you stay for residency, and I can't do the traveling back and forth for each session. Other places outside my state have resdiency but clients have to pay out of pocket, and I can't afford that.
I wish there were more resources for people who have a very painful time traveling. I've tried calling the national clearinghouse of self-help groups, and it's just too far to get anywhere.
I'm not sure what would be the best plan of action for me. Even trying to find an additinoal counselor is impossible on my insurance, because I'd have to travel too far. There's a woman in my town who counsels people with PTSD but I'd have to pay out of pocket and I'm on a fixed income.
Because I've had so many traumas in my life, it's going to take a long time for me to recover from all of them, so the short crisis-intervention counseling was great (even though it was years after the fact), but I feel I could go through the counseling a few more times to deal with the other attacks.
I wish I could increse the sessions with the regular counselor (not the crisis one) but since she doesn't take my insurance, I just can't afford it.
I'm just not sure where to turn.
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I wonder if anyone does this kind of support group counseling virtually, via webcams maybe? If not, maybe you can try to start this kind of group, or petition for one.
I've been in group counseling situations and I know they can be helpful in a much different way from one-on-one sessions. I also know that consistency in attendance is part of what makes them a safe space, but rules about this are often designed to give a nudge to people who might miss group for emotional reasons, not physical ones.
I hope you find the kind of support you need. I do know that I did a research project on chatrooms way back in 1999, and that the kindest, most willing to help people came from chatrooms devoted to discussing physical disabilities. Most of those people were housebound, and took great joy from the degree of socialization the internet afforded them.
I hope people like that are still there to be found, and again, that you find the help that you need.
I'm not sure where you are located, but the National Alliance on Mental Illness has a lot of information and regional support throughout the US. They can be found online at www.nami.org
Have you thought about looking for free or low-cost counseling via a local university? Most that have grad schools in counseling psychology have clinics. You might find someone you can afford to see more often there.
I would also look and see if there are any peer-run support groups in your area. I don't think they require you to commit to multiple sessions. They are often helpful.
Good luck,
Joan
There is an online group for women victims of trauma called "Gift From Within." You can reach them at http://www.giftfromwithin.org