My team

So let's go into it, shall we? How do you find your team.

First off, get some insurance. If you have a job, use that. If you don't, Medi-cal (or Medicaid in some states) is the way to go. If you have less than $1000 a month, you may be eligible. Do your research on that. Find something that will work for you. Mental health is expensive.

I personal have medical and go through my county services. I recommend this route for anyone as broke as me. There are other options, such as paying on a sliding scale (always ask therapists about this!), paying out of pocket, or trying an online alternative, such as talkspace. (though I haven't worked with them so I can't say how good they are).

So first, you're going to want a therapist. I personally like the https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists option. I've found many therapists that way and it sorts for insurance. Another way is if you're receiving county services, you will be assigned a case worker. The case worker can often refer you to a therapist. That is how I got my current one.

What to look for in a therapist: fundamentally, you want someone who is kind, present, a good listener, and has ideas about what you're facing. But honestly, you can't intellectualize it that much. You have to go in and see if it feels like a good fit. A good therapist should feel like a best friend, but without the baggage. They should like you, want to help, but also be the adult you never knew you needed in your life. They should be calm and present. They should ask a lot of questions and not jump to conclusions. Therapy is very effective, but it takes time. That said, if you can tell a therapist isn't a good fit for you, don't feel shy about finding someone else. The guy who used to run my support group had a three time rule. Go three times and see if it makes sense. They may just be having an off day. But after three times, it's probably not a good fit.

With a case worker, while you may be assigned one, you may have the option of changing case workers as well. You're looking for much of the same thing -- someone who is compassionate, who knows their stuff and is responsive. Case workers are also special because they often tie into a larger system, and as a result, may have more resources to tap into, including housing resources.

Now, meds. Meds are a tricky subject because all meds are a case of trial and error. Each person reacts differently to different meds even if they have the same condition. You psychiatrist will help you navigate, and you should pick someone who, again, is knowledgeable, likes you, and listens. Meds are tricky and you don't want someone who is in a completely different world than you are. You can also ask if you can take the Genesight test, which will show you genetically which meds are least likely to have adverse effects, though it is not a perfect system.

As to the question of meds or not meds, I say if you're suicidal, you should be on meds. They help a lot, though they take time. For me, meds have been life saving and frankly, I don't see the point in suffering if you have an option not to. However, meds do come with very real side effects.

Lithium, which I take, has very much evened out my moods, but left me with awful acne. I don't mind that, I think it's worth it, but common side effects can be anything from weight changes to an increase in suicidal thoughts. Keep that in mind.

But something else to keep in mind is that most meds are not addictive. There is a special class of meds that are, and if you're on them, your doctor will tell you, but most meds don't have that effect. However, never EVER go off your meds without telling your doctor. You need to titrate down and even then, you can have some nasty side effects, not to mention your symptoms can come back.

There are many different categories of meds, including mood stabilizers, that include Latuda, Lithium, and Lamictal, Anti-Depressants, with many nuances there as well, and anti psychotics.

Your doctor can tell you much more about these. But the takeaway should be that these meds should make you feel more like yourself, not less. They should help you be the best version of yourself.