My doctor has referred me to a phychaitrist, I have an app. on 02-20-13 but, I don't know how to pay the co-pay. We did our tax's on fri. and we would get enough back to catch up. except for we claimed the EIC for our child who lives with us, well his father did also wich sent ours back saying we can't file with the EIC because he did. One of the rules for the earned income credit is the child must live with you more than half the year. Of course the child was with us the whole time, so we had to supply proof that our son was with us and mail in our return, wich delays our refund weeks even months. And at the time we need that money now. My wife and her ex split the dependant deduction for the child one gets it one year the other the next, but he can't claim the EIC because the child does'nt live with him, and he know's this, this is the second time he has done this, and he could not claim our child at all for three years, well guess what the three years are up this year. Because he did it again he will lose this deduction for 10 years, and pay all the money back. Its not enough for me because of what a terrible situation we are in and the unbelievable stress. please don't give me any tax advice, I have worked in the field a long time and know what I am talking about.

Hi Bretd

My doctor (pain specialist) referred me to a psychiatrist also and it was under good pretenses. He wasn't trying to tell me I was 'crazy' or anything. Realizing that chronic pain and depression/anxiety and other mental issues goes hand in hand, it was a good call and I'm glad to be seeing the psychiatrist. It has helped me to put into better perspective as to why my depression comes on so strong at times.
Also, now I have tools I can use to get a grip on the depression and I feel more in control now. Psychiatrists tend to center around the medications that can possibly help, moreso than listening to our 'problems'. Psychologists are the ones who 'listen' and get us to come to terms with how we are feeling about things. Lucklily, my psychiatrist listens to a degree about my stressors and offers suggestions that might help.
There are other tools that can be used besides strictly medications. Things such as Guided Imagery and BioFeedback are techniques that can be of help.

In my case, the medications I've been prescribed help alot and they coincide with the meds that my pain Dr supplies. I'm getting better sleep now, my moods seem evened out, I don't tend to get irritable and I can handle stress much better than I used to. All this helps to keep the pain spikes at a minimum.

I hope your visit with the psychiatrist proves to be helpful to you. Go into it with an open mind. They really are there to help.
Let us know how your visit goes, k.

Rae