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Likely going to have to stop or reduce my therapy

I am not doing well. My anxiety has been ramped up, my panic attacks have been pretty bad lately.

The cost of living is becoming really burdensome. I have already felt like I am a burden because I cannot work and only have an income less than $1,000 a month from SSI. I’m 39 years old and want nothing more than to manage my conditions and return to work in some capacity.

I have been trying to do a few different approaches for trauma therapy and my trauma therapist is amazing. Unfortunately she doesn’t work within the insurance system. We were able to afford the private therapy for awhile but now we cannot. I have luckily been able to get a grant to cover the last several months, but that will run out soon.

I am going to have to stop or significantly reduce my trauma therapy. I don’t know how I am going to be able to work through my trauma, but I’m just going to have to.

My bf asked to borrow some money from his mom and she lectured him about how I need to work or move in with my mom (and if you saw my more recent post about my mom- we all know that is not an option). He has never borrowed money from her before, and we have told her in great detail my health problems. I had a feeling she wasn’t listening because she never really acknowledged what I said, and would just make a comment about something else.

I cannot tell you how infuriating it is to be seen as an object that can just be moved so me and my disability are someone else’s problem. Obviously and thankfully, my bf is not going to stand for that. But the hurt is still there because people don’t see my worth and haven’t seen I became disabled. The stigma is really bad for people with disabilities and it’s honestly getting so much worse.

The idea that I should just move somewhere else is a common refrain I have heard since being disabled. My friends and their families kept deciding what was an option for me and often would just tell me to move somewhere else, which would not fix my problem at all. It’s hurtful, so hurtful, that this is coming up again. I am so tired of not feeling like a person because I have chronic conditions. I’m tired of the way people have treated me. I’m so upset that this is coming up again.

Before I became disabled, I was respected by my friends and family. I have no idea how my value seemingly did a 180 because of my disability status. And honestly- if health insurance wasn’t as big of a deal here as it is, I would have significantly less things to worry about. I would be more likely to return to work sooner because I wouldn’t be worried about how much it costs to keep me alive and if the job I take will provide adequate and affordable health care for someone who will still need treatments, medicine, and support on a consistent basis.

Not only that, as a previously unhoused person, I am very triggered about the comments and policies that are happening around the United States about the unhoused population. I am so scared I’m going to end up homeless again. So scared. And this time, I wouldn’t just go hungry and without adequate living conditions. Social safety nets and programs to help people like me already were lacking (especially with housing) before these cuts. Now there is talk of sending the National Guard to other cities, including in my state.

I went downtown with my boyfriend this weekend and we saw people who are unhoused sleeping where they could; and i couldn’t help but feel so scared for them, and for people like me. I am so scared.

Please note this is not a political post. I am not engaging in a discourse about how my triggers are related to politics and what my reality is. I am also venting and will talk to my therapist about this, as she has a bigger picture of my circumstance and options.

While i appreciate advice, today I need support.

#MentalHealth #ADHD #Anxiety #Agoraphobia #PanicDisorder #ChronicVestibularMigraine #Migraine #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #AutonomicDysfunction #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #Disability #ChronicIllness #Trauma #CheckInWithMe

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I feel like life is getting worse in the US… and maybe in general (vent) | TW money, president, swearing, suicidal ideation

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And not just because of that horrendous president. Everything costs so high these days, and more and more online programs are forcing us to pay for subscriptions and locking actual useful shit behind a paywall. What happened to stopping poverty?! We’re not made of money!! They’re only just making things worse…… even private and secure mail services like Mailfence.

And now I’m wondering about ending my life again. I’m just… so fucking sick of this shit. I’ve lost all faith in the US, and I hate being American. I’m sick of all of this talk about money and inflation, I’m sick of this president (why the fuck was he elected twice?!), I’m sick of feeling so ignored in this damn cruel world, I’m sick of this damn pain… I don’t want to be in a world that treats everyone and especially minorities so harshly…

#MyAutismIsNotADisorder #MyAutismIsNotADisability #Anxiety #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #OSTD #OtherSpecifiedTraumaDisorder #SuicidalIdeation #SuicidalThoughts #SuicideAttemptSurvivors #FeelingKindOfHopeless

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Good, helpful topic on today's "Ask an Expert" virtual session, at 11 AM Central time

"Managing and Treating Gait and Balance"

If you miss it live, no problem: They are all recorded and available here, along with links to today's and future programs. Watch your step!

www.nationalmssociety.org/resources/get-support/education-pr...

#MultipleSclerosis #we Are #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

(edited)

Empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society exists because there are people with MS. Our vision is a world free of MS.
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How Do You Deal With Turbulence?

Many people struggle with turbulence when it comes to fear of flying. Some spend much of a flight anticipating turbulence, almost bracing for it throughout the flight while hoping it doesn't show up. Even though people know rationally in their minds that turbulence is a part of flying and doesn't present any reasonable danger (outside of not wearing a seatbelt during turbulence), the emotional experience of turbulence can feel like you are in danger— that catastrophe either is happening, or about to happen.

Fear of Turbulence

There's a lot that goes into fear of turbulence, psychologically and emotionally on deeper levels, and these underlying causes for the fear generally vary from person to person. The body can emotionally have a way of responding immediately to turbulence, whether it's tension, a pit in the stomach, heart rate increasing, sweaty palms, panic, rapid breathing, and more. Thoughts and worries can start to surface, imagining all of the bad things that could happen or may be happening, even if they're not actually happening. These "what if's" can take over when feeling out of control and scared. These are important to address while working to overcome fear of flying.

The vulnerability that comes along with being in a shaking plane can feel incredibly overwhelming. Many people with flying anxiety experience the moment turbulence starts as an indication everything is going wrong. It goes from smooth and stable to out of control and seemingly catastrophic very quickly.

Fear of Flying Programs and Even Many Therapies Miss on Treating Turbulence (and Flying Anxiety as a Whole)

Turbulence has stumped people over time who try to help with fear of flying. While I work with the whole range of fear of flying (from people who fly with anxiety to those who don't fly at at all), I do hear from a significant number of people who haven't been able to overcome the fear of turbulence in spite of all of the therapies and programs by airlines and pilots they have tried. They may learn a lot about turbulence, but still can't stop the emotional response when in it, or in the anticipation of it.

One of the reasons people often feel little improvement for fear of flying and turbulence is that the vast majority of what's out there uses typical emotional regulation techniques that have never really worked well in flying scenarios (imagery or breathing exercises). While these types of exercises can be useful for parts of the overall flying anxiety process, they don't tend to be so helpful with with calming anxiety and panic once it has taken over. These exercises often misdirect people into trying to control their feelings in ways that emotionally sets up an internal battle in these fearful moments. If you feel like your safety is truly being threatened, you can't just start meditating or deep breathing with any sort of effectiveness. It becomes a tug-of-war that often leaves people feeling more out of control and helpless.

So, How Can People Approach Turbulence in a Way that Can Be Helpful?

I've written a lot about my approach to helping people overcome fear of flying in other articles if you wish to read more. A significant piece of overcoming fear of flying is shifting how we experience flying and how we interact with it. The same goes for turbulence. When we get caught up in trying to make big feelings smaller, or trying to figuratively run away from the turbulence (which many common emotional regulation techniques aim to do), we are already fighting a losing battle. As much as we may urge to, we can't run away from the turbulence when we're in the plane with it.

Therefore, it becomes necessary to shift how we interact with the turbulence, as opposed to battling it for emotional control. Rather than trying to get away from it, it's important to start finding the middle ground between smooth and catastrophic, and start shifting the "what if's" into "what is". A lot of people who struggle with flying anxiety can find it difficult to locate that middle ground, which can lead to catastrophic feelings if any turbulence shows up (or a certain threshold of shaking or bumping in the plane is crossed).

A Turbulence Exercise

I have created a number of turbulence exercises that focuses on shifting how you engage with turbulence—effectively changing the interaction with it, locating the what is and the middle ground—which actually gives you the space to feel more empowered and in control in these moments. When you can coexist with the turbulence, you allow the room to start to experience that it's not as scary.

One starter exercise is to "rate the bumps" in turbulence.

What does this involve?

It's how it sounds. When the plane bumps or shakes, rate the intensity of the bump on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the strongest bump). Keep a list on your phone or write it down somewhere as you experience each bump. Keep writing down rating of each bump through turbulent moments—3/10, 6/10, 4/10, 3/10 again, etc. Try to be reasonable with it. If every bump is a 10/10 then try to challenge yourself to find a different number for as many as possible. As turbulence happens, continue to add to the list while looking back over the list to remind yourself of the middle ground between catastrophe and calm.

Building On This Technique and Overcoming Fear of Flying

This one exercise shouldn't be expected to cure your fear of turbulence on its own, so don't over expect from it. But it can hopefully start to lower the catastrophic feelings just a bit into a middle ground, as you allow yourself to experience a different interaction with turbulence. You're not running from it now, you're engaging with it. This allows the space to be in the room (or plane) with turbulence and, mixed in with other turbulence exercises and working through your own fear, this new interaction can go a long way towards overcoming fear of turbulence and flying anxiety as a whole.

#Phobia #fearofflying #Claustrophobia #PanicAttacks #Anxiety #Agoraphobia #flyinganxiety

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I'm new here!

Synchrony is a mission-driven organization dedicated to helping neurodivergent adults build meaningful relationships, experience social belonging, and develop social independence. Through inclusive programs and community support, Synchrony creates safe, welcoming spaces where individuals feel connected, confident, and empowered to thrive socially.

#MightyTogether

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Disability Pride Month 2025 — It's never been more important to tell your story

Right now times are rough. It's vital we connect, get involved and share our personal stories here on the Mighty and elsewhere.

By helping others understand us, we'll strengthen our rights, programs and dignity. We are Mighty!

#DisabilityPrideMonth #MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #ChronicIllness

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Why Counseling Centers Are the First Step Toward Holistic Mental Health in 2025

🌱 The Importance of Counseling Centers in Mental Health

As we approach 2025, mental health has become a significant priority across both personal and professional spheres. Counseling centers are emerging as the cornerstone of holistic mental health care, offering individuals the support they need to manage stress, navigate life’s challenges, and build emotional resilience.

In the context of an increasingly fast-paced world, counseling centers provide essential services that address not only mental health but also emotional well-being, making them the first step toward holistic mental health. These centers focus on comprehensive care that tackles the root causes of mental health issues rather than just the symptoms.

⚡ AEO Quick Answer

Q: Why are counseling centers crucial for holistic mental health in 2025?

A: Counseling centers offer foundational support for mental and emotional well-being, helping individuals address the root causes of their challenges. This comprehensive approach sets the stage for achieving holistic mental health in a rapidly changing world.

📍 GEO Insight: Rising Awareness of Mental Health in the U.S.

In the U.S., mental health awareness has skyrocketed in recent years, with counseling centers becoming a critical part of the mental wellness landscape. As workplace stress, societal pressures, and personal challenges continue to rise, Americans are increasingly turning to counseling centers for help. These centers are integral in managing stress and fostering emotional well-being, especially as mental health challenges become more recognized and prioritized.

Counseling centers are not only essential for individual well-being but also for strengthening community mental health. With mental health being an integral part of overall health in the U.S., counseling centers are playing a vital role in the broader movement toward mental wellness.

🎯 How Counseling Centers Lead to Holistic Mental Health

1. Addressing the Root Causes of Mental Health Issues

One of the core principles of counseling centers is to look beyond surface-level symptoms and explore the root causes of emotional and psychological challenges. Whether it’s childhood trauma, relationship difficulties, or workplace stress, counseling centers provide the tools to understand and address these underlying factors. This comprehensive approach is essential for long-term mental wellness.

Benefits:

Long-Term Solutions: By tackling the root causes of mental health issues, counseling leads to lasting improvements in mental health and emotional well-being.

Better Coping Strategies: Counseling equips individuals with effective coping mechanisms that they can use in challenging situations, reducing the risk of relapse into poor mental health.

Empowerment: Through therapy and counseling, individuals gain the skills and knowledge to take charge of their mental health, empowering them to live healthier lives.

2. Providing a Safe Space for Emotional Expression

Counseling centers offer a confidential and supportive environment where individuals can express their emotions freely. This space is crucial for those who may feel stigmatized or isolated in discussing their struggles. By fostering open dialogue, counseling centers help individuals better understand their emotions, leading to healthier emotional regulation and improved mental health.

Benefits:

Reduced Anxiety and Stress: Speaking openly about emotions in a safe, non-judgmental space alleviates anxiety and stress, which are common precursors to mental health issues.

Improved Self-Understanding: Counseling helps individuals better understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, leading to increased emotional intelligence.

Stronger Support Systems: Counseling centers help build trust between individuals and their therapists, strengthening emotional support systems.

3. Enhancing Mental Resilience and Coping Skills

Mental resilience is the ability to withstand and recover from life’s challenges, and counseling centers play a key role in helping individuals build this resilience. Whether it’s through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, or stress management techniques, counseling centers offer the tools needed to improve mental resilience.

Benefits:

Better Adaptation to Change: Counseling helps individuals become more adaptable to life changes, reducing stress and improving mental wellness.

Increased Confidence: Developing mental resilience boosts self-confidence, allowing individuals to navigate challenging situations with greater ease.

Healthier Relationships: Counseling enhances interpersonal skills and communication, leading to stronger, healthier relationships with others.

4. Creating Holistic Support Systems

Holistic mental health is achieved when an individual’s emotional, physical, and psychological needs are met. Counseling centers integrate these components to create a well-rounded support system that addresses all aspects of an individual’s mental health. This holistic approach is vital in 2025, where a balanced, comprehensive view of mental health is more critical than ever.

Benefits:

Well-Rounded Well-Being: Holistic counseling centers help individuals find balance in their lives, integrating emotional, physical, and mental health strategies.

Strengthened Support Systems: Counseling centers often work in tandem with other wellness practices (e.g., nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness) to provide comprehensive care.

Better Quality of Life: Individuals who receive holistic care report improved well-being, greater life satisfaction, and enhanced emotional balance.

🚀 How to Leverage Counseling Centers for Better Mental Health

Seek Comprehensive Counseling Services

Choose counseling centers that offer a range of services, including individual therapy, group therapy, stress management programs, and mindfulness practices. This ensures a well-rounded approach to mental health.

Commit to Long-Term Wellness

Achieving holistic mental health requires consistency. Regular counseling sessions and proactive engagement in mental health practices help individuals maintain lasting emotional and psychological well-being.

Create a Holistic Mental Health Plan

Work with your counselor to develop a holistic mental health plan that integrates different aspects of wellness, such as diet, exercise, and stress management, alongside therapeutic services.

Incorporate Family and Social Support

Encourage the involvement of family and friends in your mental health journey. Counseling centers often offer family therapy sessions to strengthen support systems and improve interpersonal dynamics.

🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Holistic Mental Health

Ignoring the Root Causes: Mental health is often treated as a symptom rather than addressing the underlying causes. Holistic counseling focuses on identifying and addressing these root causes.

Underestimating the Power of Support: Support systems, including counselors and loved ones, play a significant role in mental health recovery. Do not attempt to manage mental health in isolation.

Neglecting Self-Care: Holistic mental health requires the integration of self-care practices like exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness alongside therapy.

Focusing Only on Short-Term Relief: Mental wellness is a long-term commitment. Focusing only on short-term solutions may result in temporary relief without lasting improvement.

❓ FAQs: Counseling Centers and Holistic Mental Health

Q: How can counseling centers help achieve holistic mental health?

A: Counseling centers provide therapeutic services that address both the emotional and psychological aspects of mental health, helping individuals develop coping strategies, resilience, and emotional intelligence for long-term wellness.

Q: What services do counseling centers offer?

A: Counseling centers typically offer individual an

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Today's weekly Ask an MS Expert program is about Late-Onset MS, 11 - 11:30 AM Central Time

Streaming on Facebook, YouTube and Twitch.

The website also has recorded episodes on a long list of topics like how to tell loved ones; off-label treatments; job incentives and long-term financial planning; sleep health; Spanish-language programs and a lot more.

www.nationalmssociety.org/resources/get-support/education-pr...

#MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

Empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society exists because there are people with MS. Our vision is a world free of MS.
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I'm new here!

Hi, my name is BlumHorizons34. I'm here because I'd like to advocate for reducing the barriers, shame, and misconceptions that many have about entering therapy. Yes, I am a therapist, but part of my work is also recognizing I need professional help from other experts (be they a therapist to counsel me on everyday or specific life issues, a supervisor, or a peer counselor). I was fortunate to complete some advanced academic mental health and treatment programs, and would love to open the conversation regarding stigma, misunderstandings, and struggles in accessing help or resources to cope with anxiety, depression, BPD, PTSD, chronic pain, disability, OCD, and autism, to name a few issues. I would love to get to know the community better and perhaps see if I share struggles or goals in common with anyone.

#MightyTogether

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The Truth About The National Debt And Medicaid

In discussions about the politics surrounding the care of disabled people, I see repeated references to the national debt and to the large numbers of undocumented people who are supposedly receiving Medicaid benefits through fraud. I hope to dispel some common misunderstandings surrounding these topics.

Chris Bucholz wrote an article for Cracked entitled “5 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Government Spending.” The first misconception that he corrects is the notion that governments are required to pay off their debts. Bucholz points out that when a private citizen retires, they are living off of their savings, investments, and whatever else they did to prepare. It is much harder to do that if the citizen owes money, so it behooves a person to retire debt free. Since governments in stable nations don’t retire, they can continue to accumulate debt indefinitely as long as the interest is paid. Bucholz says that most of the debt the American government accumulated in World War II is still there. If that debt was as serious a problem as politicians are fond of claiming, they would have fixed it in the eighty years that have passed since then. The reason they haven’t is that the misunderstanding creates a useful boogeyman when conservative politicians need to justify cutting programs they do not like. If you want more detailed information on this topic, Bucholz does an excellent job of laying it out in his article. For our purposes, the takeaway is that no one needs to be kicked off of any government program because the national debt is a problem. It isn’t.

Regarding Medicaid, I examined the eligibility requirements and the paperwork necessary to apply for benefits in my state. Those safeguards alone make it incredibly unlikely that we have massive numbers of undocumented people receiving unjustified benefits. By definition, undocumented people don’t have the documents needed to apply. Additionally, benefit systems in the United States are adversarial, in that the assumption is that the applicant is NOT eligible for benefits. The burden of proving otherwise lies with the applicant. While the specific requirements vary by state, my state requires the applicant to submit documentation proving that they are eligible for any one of the following reasons: low income; over 65 years of age; blind; otherwise disabled; have a dependent or family member in a care facility; pregnant. On top of all this, the applicant must supply a social security number. Undocumented folk don’t have those. In my state, it is virtually impossible for an undocumented person to obtain Medicaid benefits.

Medicaid is a complicated issue, because it is both state and federally funded, and some states offer benefits to eligible people regardless of immigration status. Snopes points out that undocumented people in states that allow them to access healthcare benefits are not committing fraud. This tends to deflate the federal government’s argument that they are defeating “waste and abuse” by cutting funding to states that offer healthcare to undocumented people. Even if they were, it isn’t federal money that is being misappropriated. According to factcheck.org, states that cover undocumented people do so using state money only, as federal law prohibits disbursement of Medicaid funds to undocumented folk. The undocumented won’t be affected by these cuts; the President can’t withhold federal money from people who weren’t receiving it to begin with. Contrary to the Trump Administration’s claims that they are protecting Medicaid for deserving citizens, it is those citizens who will lose coverage when the cuts take effect.

When Donald Trump was banned from Twitter during the pandemic, COVID misinformation declined thirty six percent. Coupled with the more than fifty thousand lies he told during his first administration and the false assertions he has made regarding his cuts to Medicaid, it would be wise for those of us in the disabled community to take what the President says with a grain of salt regarding the “help” he is giving us. #Disability #Suicide #Trauma #PTSD #Depression #MentalHealth

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