Anxiety, OCD, and Being Really, Really Poor

[C_M_D]

I have sever anxiety - I can barely leave the house without having problems. Panic attacks, etc. I have a rather bad case of OCD as well. I suspect I very well may have one or more as of yet unidentified mental and perhaps physical problems as well. I live with my mother and sister and to be frank money is so tight that as things are going now we could well be homeless in 5-6 months (and thats if I save what's left of my annuity payments to help pay the house bill for a few months...) We're barely making it as it is and next month sees the end of my sisters social security payments (she turns 18).

We managed to scrounge up enough money to get me in to see a doctor anyways and I am currently taking Zoloft. The Zoloft has actually helped in some ways, but I am no where near "better." My problems remain and they are still very serious. Heck, In some ways, despite the positive response from Zoloft, I feel like I am actually getting worse.

I need help, badly. The problem is, I have enough money in savings from my annuity that I seriously doubt I will be able to get on Medicaid for financial help. And yet, if I spend that money on my personal medical needs rather than using it to make a few house payments, the likelihood that my family and I will all be homeless within the couple of months will be pretty much assured barring some sort of miracle. I, of course, don't have insurance either, as I can't afford it.

Applying for disability payments seems out of the question as well, as www.ssa.gov states that "you should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take a long time to process an application for disability benefits (three to five months)." Three to five months. Like I have that kind of time. I also haven't been "officially" diagnosed with OCD by a psychiatrist yet so that may very well hinder
my ability to qualify anyways, and I don't have the money to see a psychiatrist to rectify that problem.

I am, of course, going to look into Medicaid/Disability Benefits, but like I said, both seem unlikely at this time for the reasons above plus some that I haven't mentioned.

So now the all important question: What the heck am I supposed to do? Does anyone have any suggestions or am I simply screwed absent some miracle?

[barfer]

GETTING FREE MEDICATIONS

Medication / Pharmacy Programs

Free medications are sometimes available from pharmaceutical manufacturers for patients who do not have the means to pay for them and meet eligibility criteria for these services. Some of the manufacturers are as follows:

Allergan Prescription 800-347-4500
Alza Pharmaceuticals 415-962-4243
Amgen, Inc. 800-272-9376
Astra USA, Inc. 800-488-3247
Berlix 800-423-7539
Boehringer Ingleheim
203-798-4131

Bristol Myers Squibb
800-736-0003

Burroughs-Wellcome
800-722-9294

Ciba Pharmaceuticals
800-257-3273

Eli-Lilly
317-276-2950

Genetech, Inc.
800-879-4747

Glaxo, Inc.
800-452-7677

Hoechst-Roussel
800-776-5463

Hoffman-Larouche
800-526-6367

Ici-Stuart
302-886-2231

Immunex Corp.
800-321-4669

Janssen
800-253-3682

Johnson & Johnson
800-447-3437

J & J (Janssen)
908-524-9409

Knoll
800-526-0710

Lederle
800-526-7870

Marion Merrel Dow
800-362-7466

McNeil Pharmaceuticals
800-682-6532

Merck Human Health
800-672-6372

Miles
800-998-9180

Ortho Pharmaceuticals
800-682-6532

Parke-Davis
202-540-2000

Pfizer, Inc.
800-646-4455

Pharmacia, Inc.
800-795-9759

Proctor & Gamble
800-448-4878

Rhone-Poulenc Rorer
610-454-8298

Roche Labs
800-285-4484

Roxane Labs
800-274-8651

Sandoz
800-937-6673

Sanofi Winthrop
800-446-6267

Schering Labs
800-521-7157

Searle
800-542-2526

Serono
617-982-9000

Smithkline Beecham
800-546-0420

Survanta Lifeline
800-922-3255

Syntex Labs
800-822-8255

3M Pharmaceuticals
800-328-0255

Upjohn Co.
800-242-7014

Wyeth-Ayerst
703-706-5933

Zeneca Pharmaceuticals
800-424-3720




General Information

Ask your doctor's office to call the number listed for the manufacturer of the medications that you need. You can print this page to take with you if you are unsure of the manufacturer.

The manufacturer will probably require your doctor to send in a statement that explains your need for the medication and limited means you have to pay or the lack of insurance. Your doctor will also have to provide your prescription.

If approved, the manufacturer would send your doctor a supply of medications for you to pick up from him. This process can take a few months to get started.

It is possible that some manufacturers will refill your prescription as long as medically and financially necessary. In order for the prescription to be refilled, your doctor must contact the manufacturer and go through the procedure again.

This information was true and correct as of the time of this editing. There is no guarantee that all of the companies listed still participate in these programs. Our best advice would be to contact the PHRMA directly and get their updated booklet describing the procedures and policies in detail. Their booklet is an excellent resource reference for support groups.

PHRMA
Phaarmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
1100 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005

[JSGeare]

What you do is apply for benefits anyway, that's what you do. That includes both the social security AND the medical care. If you are near a SS office, get in there right away and get some help from a real live person. And of course get in front of the county social services unit and lay out the whole deal. You MIGHT be able to cash in the annuity for a lump-sum amount but be careful about killing the goose that laid the golden egg -you may be better off with a trickle of income as opposed to a big bang -and then nothing. I wiould also look toward legal aid to find someone to help steeer you through these rough waters. Your anxiety meds might be available for low or no cost -check my journal entry about low/no cost meds for details.

For right now, your mission is "fact finding," and get everyone (mom, sister) involved. On the assumption that you 3 plan to stay together as a unit for now, is there any chance your sister can actually pull down a job so there are a few extra bucks floating around? And crazy as it may sound, your house may be more valuable as cash instead of a money-eating house. This is a big, strategic deal so approach it as such. If you can do SOME kind of work -pet-sitting, bake cakes -whatever- consider it. Also look at volunteer work such as Habitat for Humanity, which exposes you to contractors and others who may want to hire you and/or Sis. Point is, get in front of people to the extent that you are able.

Aside from "taking care of business," your approach to this financial challenge will also provide a focus for your energy and THAT will help with the anxiety.

So, for now: apply for the benefits, talk to social services and do some math on the annuity/house thing. Then let us know what you find.