There wille be no more postings to this blog, because I am writing a novel.

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All the best,
Ellen

Obamacare and Bipolar People

Photo from: http://obama-care.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=obamacare&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=home-obama&gclid=CPjDsfrU-bsCFcNgfgodYzsApQ

Medical insurance has often been inadequate to the needs of bipolar patients who are not old enough to receive Medicare but who need help paying for their appointments with doctors and for their prescription medicines. Obamacare offers relief by requiring insurers to cover mental health care and prescriptions.

The differences between the vision of the plan and the actual changes in the lives of bipolar patients that it tries to provide are yet to be revealed. For instance, are there enough mental health professionals to serve all the bipolar patients who may now be able to afford them? Does the financial planning behind the plan envision a realistic scenario for how many patients, doctors, and therapists will be involved? Will the law be effectively enforced?

What the law does not provide is significant, too, and includes support services of various kinds. Mentally ill people who are never well enough to hold down jobs or to pay rent or a mortgage will not be provided with the housing they need. The results will, I expect, be significant numbers of mentally ill people still living on the streets, under bridges, and in railroad yards.

Obamacare, while helping cover costs for mental health care, still leaves significant costs for patients to cover or to have to give up, regardless of how essential they are. On a more positive note, preventive mental health care is free to the patient when the provider is in the network, and the provider must cover the cost for it. Another excellent improvement in health coverage is that patients with a pre-existing condition, like cancer or bipolar disorder, cannot be denied coverage or charged at an inflated rate.

In states that choose not to provide Obamacare, however, residents may have few if any of the benefits available under the new health care program.

The size of the Obamacare program and the number of people involved in making it work are so large that some problems are inevitable. Luckily, CVS and Walgreens will fill prescriptions even for people who are still trying to get their health coverage in place.

While persuading enough younger people to enroll in Obamacare is essential, because as a group, they will need less health care, and this will keep the plan affordable for older citizens who need extra care. An incentive for younger citizens to enroll in Obamacare is that it may cost the significantly less than their current health insurance.

Obamacare offers new hope for bipolar people seeking medical care. 2014 will reveal if these hopes are fulfilled.

Sources: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/11/26/6-Ways-Obamacare-Changing-Mental-Health-Coverage, http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/under-obamacare-more-mental-health-coverage-for-workers/2013/09/17/8d50d6ae-1f0c-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/31/obamacare-2014_n_4520670.html

Why I Resolve to Make No New Year Resolutions

I will not make any New Year resolutions for 2014 because resolutions can be set-ups for bipolar lows and highs:

• If I make resolutions and break even one, I will become depressed.
• If I break more than one, I will become more depressed.
• If I keep even one resolution for at least six months, I may become hypomanic with pride.
• If I keep all my resolutions, or even most of them, all year, I may become manic with self-congratulations.

·       By not making resolutions, I can feel good about myself without the pressure of how I decided in 2013 to behave in 2014.

But whether or not you make New Year resolutions, have a fine 2014.

Bipolar Holidays

If you have been diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder long enough to have a routine worked out for minimizing stress and maximizing calm pleasure during the holidays, then you have a head start on surviving this season without trauma.

But if you are bipolar and uneasy or uncertain about dealing with the holidays, here are a few tips for you to consider.

Alcohol. You bipolar meds may require you to stay away from alcohol, but in any case, one drink makes a second drink seem more harmless than it may be for you. You can take alcohol-free wine or beer with you to parties, and if you don't, you can stick to water or club soda.

Parties. Eat with restraint and watch out for sugar overload. If crowds make you nervous, arrange to go to parties with a friend or your spouse or a date.

Sleep. Even if you are the first one to leave a party or if you are not going to get everything done you think you should, be consistent about getting enough sleep. You may miss some of the fun, but you're likely to miss a lot more if exhaustion triggers bipolar symptoms that sleep can keep dormant.

Long-Distance Travel. Changing time zones is too risky for those bipolar people who find the adjustment unsettling. And even if that doesn't bother you, the stress and unreliability of plane delays and weather disruptions are a challenge to just about everyone. Consider conservatively any travel plans.

Stress. If crowds give you the creeps, do your holiday shopping earlier in the year or online. A New York friend and I once discovered that both of us avoided Bloomingdale's in December, because trying to shop there during the holidays triggered panic attacks bad enough to drive us right back out the door.

Money. Many of us lose our grip on money when in a manic or hypomanic state. All of us who share this risk need to keep a reasonable, sensible control on holiday spending. I find it helps to write down my spending limits on gifts and then to consulting this guide if I'm tempted to go overboard.

Medications. During the holidays, be hyper-aware of keeping to your prescribed meds schedule and of not forgetting a dose. Keep your meds with you if you don't want to leave a social event to take them at home.

Family. Dealing with family may require extra resolve, but if large gatherings unhinge you, say so. If not attending a family holiday party is your best option, try to explain without passive aggression, i.e., don't try to make them feel guilty about a long guest list. Ideally, of course, your family will adjust their celebrations to include you.

Therapy. Stick to your usual schedule if you are seeing a therapist. And if your therapist is going away for the holidays, ask for a recommendation of another therapist you can call if necessary.

Self-care. A gift to give yourself for the holidays is to set limits to the social events you might attend or host and the gifts you make or buy. Being kind to yourself enhances your ability to be kind to others.