Will Aetna Insurance Cover a Stay at Timberline Knolls Treatment Center? I’m 16…?
Question by Jazlynn: Will aetna insurance cover a stay at Timberline Knolls treatment center? I’m 16…?
I was depressed when I was in middle school and my parents never knew because it wasn’t extreme. I fight with my parents more than what seems normal for a teen. I have ADHD. I don’t self harm or have an eating disorder. I am just depressed and have a lot of issues deeper than I can figure out. Recently something happened over facebook that caused my parents to have to talk to my school counsilers and they make me go to them and talk each week at school now. they suggested that i get outside help but I want to try to get completely away for a while and try to get better. I have severe mood swings. I get angry very fast over the stupidest things. I barely even talk to my parents. I am defiant against pretty much 99% of the things they say. I don’t give a crap about school. I just need help. How do I get them to let me go out of state too? I live in another state that Illinois. I have a lot of inside issues that i can’t understand and deal with alone and I don’t think just talking is going to make it better. I need to get away to feel better.
I also only have one coping mechanism and it’s music. I have to be listening to music to deal with things in the moment. Like when things are bad at home I just put my ipod on loud and headphones in and ignore everything around me. I believe that if I go away that my life could change for the better. It’s not easy as a teen. In fact, it has been proven teens have it harder today than back in the day.
Best answer:
Answer by Danni
Why not call your insurance company and just ask? Or go online and see if they have a website that tells you that information.
Answer by gardensallday
I doubt it. Insurance will pay only if you are suicidal or a risk to others, or a few other extreme issues, such as a serious medical problem that needs to be supervised while medications are changed. Treatment is to be had outpatient nowadays. That’s actually better, because some inpatient staff are burned out and actually hate the patients, and therefore abusive, and you are stuck there. I’ve been inpatient several times and seen this happen to others, and it happened to me a couple times, too (about 1/3 of the time, or less – most times, all the staff were nice. And even in the bad places, it would be just a couple of staff members, who were careful to be abusive out of sight of supervisors). I’ll give you my standard depression tips, and there’s a lot there.
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Try therapy & self-help strategies. Antidepressants function no better than placebo in most patients (google Kirsch antidepressants and Ioannidis antidepressants – they are both mainstream researchers). 60 Minutes recently did a story on Irving Kirsch and the antidepressants controversy . Antidepressants usually cause sexual dysfunction, so most won’t stay on them long term, but then some people get severe withdrawal symptoms.
Generic Practical Depression tips (PRINT THEM OUT):
The library has self-help books on depression.
Many meds cause or worsen depression, including birth control, blood pressure, pain, acne, antipsychotic, anxiety (benzos) or sleeping medications, alcohol, illicit drugs and MANY others.
Hypothyroidism mimics depression . Too little sleep, or sleep disorders like sleep apnea, or interrupted sleep (crying baby, barking dog) can cause depression.
If your depression is worse in winter, use a light box (10,000 Lux (light intensity) at about 20” – about $ 300 online, you don’t need full spectrum, Sunray is a good brand). I have extra windows, painted the walls peach & yellow & have a skylight. There’s a link to a cheaper lightbox & more info at psycheducation.org. Also you can try 1000 to 2000 IU of Vitamin D in winter. It may work, or may be placebo treatment.
Try meditation like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. See The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund Bourne. Free 15 minute guided imagery at healthjourneys.com and many free meditations at youtube.
Go out with friends, & if you don’t have any, join a club e.g. hobby club, bowling league & MAKE yourself go. “Isolating” makes depression worse!
Exercise 1/2 hour a day, & anytime you feel depressed or anxious. LOTS OF RESEARCH SUPPORTS THIS as the most effective depression treatment of all.
Insomnia?: Go to bed & get up the same time each day, even weekends. Don’t use your bedroom to watch TV, read or use the computer. Don’t do stuff that revs you up before bed, like exercising & using the computer. Light from computer screens & TV wakes you up. Blue light is the worst offender – dim the lights and use an old-fashioned incandescent bulb the last hour. Make the bedroom very dark, even cover up the clock. Mask disturbing sounds with a fan or try soundsleeping.com or youtube, etc. Avoid caffeine after noon.
Put colorful, happy things around the house. Do nice things for yourself. Make a list of things that make you happy, like: bread fresh from the oven, the crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, touching frost on the windowpane, etc. Read that list when you are down. Use comforting scents. I like vanilla & cloves.
Work on time management if you are overwhelmed. Cut back on other responsibilities so you can spend more time with friends & family. Ask for help with chores.
Spend more time with your pet, if you have one.
DON’T listen to sad music! Listen to upbeat stuff- same with movies & novels.
DISTRACT yourself. Read a novel, watch a comedy, go out with friends, play cards or a video game, whatever keeps your mind busy.
Volunteer. Helping others makes you feel better about yourself & you make a difference, too. If you are religious, your religion may help keep you involved in the community.
Put a half-smile on your face. Changing your expression is proven to help change mood.
Try free computerized cognitive behavioral therapy at moodgym.anu.edu.au. Also, if you have an abuse history, it is likely to be a major cause of your depression.
If suicidal (not just “suicidal ideation,” but you are impulsive or have a plan), find a community hospital with inpatient behavioral health (yellow pages). Don’t call 911 unless you have hurt yourself, because the police come.
Fill out a psychiatric advance directive to protect your rights & inform professionals about your care during a crisis. If in the US, links to your state’s free PAD at bazelon.org.
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