About a month ago I met with a therapist that got recommended to me.
Although I probably wouldn’t choose him as he gave me a bit of a creepy vibe, it was ultimately the price that surprised me.
You see, when I went to therapy for the first time I had 12 sessions for free. But this time, I had to find someone who was specialized in helping people like me but was also easy on the wallet.
Well, it turns out I can’t afford therapy at the moment.
That is why I will have to take things into my own hands and seek treatment in other ways. If you are in the same boat and you too cannot afford a therapist, let me share my plan.
First, I will continue with my meditation practice.
I use a meditation app called Waking Up because I trust its creator, Sam Harris, who inspired me to start meditating again after I left the New Age cult. I wrote about it here at length if you are interested.
Mindfulness is something that has drastically improved my life and I suffer less when I am aware of my breath and the moment I am in. I also love to read Mindfulness by Joseph Goldstein as it is a beautiful introduction to Buddhism but without the supernatural.
Second, I will continue using my workbooks that teach skills like DBT and CBT.
Every day I promise to take time for myself and write about my thoughts and feelings. I find that using a workbook holds me more accountable compared to if I just use a notebook and free journal.
Using prompts, meditations and challenges I find in them is kind of like having a therapist give me homework after a session. Plus, they are scientifically based and very encouraging so you never feel judged or misunderstood.
Third, I will continue taking antipsychotics at least once a week.
I wrote about taking them in this post here, but in short, they help me manage anxiety and anger.
As after taking them for 7 months straight I started experiencing horrible side effects, I now only take them every few days, or just once a month. My psychiatrist agrees and encourages me to do what I feel is right for me.
It would be ideal to include an actual person in all of this but not everyone can pay 400€ a month to sit in a chair, talking to a stranger.
I hope you made your own plan as well, so you can still make progress on your own. I know for a fact that you are very aware of what helped you in the past but you might not be doing that now.
Well, it’s time you start again.
I will be here doing the same thing. I promise you will not be alone on this journey.
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Tanja
