To be a nun with previous mental health issues

[JoyfulLife]

DaughterOfMary5,

Do you have any advice as far as at what stage in the process of getting to know an order one should tell them about my mental/emotional condition and medication? How to tell them, how much to share, how to best get accepted?

I am visibly a good looking candidate for religious life, so I’ve been told, as I’m pious, quiet, serious, yet also funny, loving, etc. Learning new abilities and gifts along the way, which has been new for me, coming out of a dysfunctional, awful family. I have a feeling that it would be good for them to see my potential for being a Sister, and get to know me and like me, before sharing about my condition, because it is soooo easy to look at that and reject who you don’t know, but not so much when you see a good thing going and want them for your order/community. I am TOTALLY normal. You really wouldn’t know at all that I’ve had this mental issue happen at two different times, starting within 3 years ago.

I am on medication for life, and totally symptom-free while on it. (I think copayment is about $80 a month, unless on state insurance, which I’m on.) The prognosis is very good for people with my condition; a reoccurence is well treated by adjusting the dosage or type of medicine, but generally people don’t have a reoccurence if they are faithful to taking the medicine, which I am. I did try living off the medicine, with doctor approval, and that combined with heavy stressors and need of councelling sent me into a reoccurence and back on medicine. Since being on medicine and councelling again, I’m doing better than ever.

I’m looking at the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word in Alabama and I’m hoping they will accept me if it is the order I’m called to, as I looooooove the order. They did accept someone with Fibromyalgia on medicine, and someone with depression (not sure if they are on meds.)

Do you think it would up my chances if I get a letter of recommendation from my psychiatrist, psychologist, councellor, nurse, and PCP? My condition is not widely known or understood, so I don’t want them jumping out of their seats which shock. It is controlled with medicine and I’m great. Reoccurences are given early symptoms before it is full fledge, so there is time to adjust medicine, but I’ve been fine at the same dose, so I don’t expect a relapse.

I was thinking of having them include in the letter a little description about how it is a brain chemical issue, controlled by the medicine; the good prognosis; that I’m high-functioning and a good candidate for Religious Life; how I passed the neuropsychological without any issue except ADHD and shyness; that as my nurse said, I don’t have a “mental condition” since it is episodic, not continuous; how well I’ve progressed in councelling and growing; psychologist thinks I would be a good candidate for RL and education; how well I’ve been doing with my nurse; etc. (Any other ideas?)

God bless you.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

JoyfulLife,

I believe I know you on Phatmass as well as I am registered as MaterMisericordiae. I would be delighted to assist you in any way that I can as I know all too well the varying degrees of acceptance shown by religious orders to people in our condition. I, too, have a mental illness that is completely controlled by medication. I can do well while on it, but if I get off of it, I have another occurrence of the illness in about a year’s time. My doctor says I need to be on it for life since it appears to be a chemical imbalance as well. I don’t have enough serotonin or nor-epinephrine receptors in my brain makeup.

As far as the stage you should tell religious orders–I cannot really give a definite answer as I have found that it depends on the order. Most cloistered orders said no, but I found a few that said yes. Same goes with the active/contemplative orders. In my discernment, I always felt that it was better if I told them right off instead of waiting as I have a pretty demanding conscience and I felt like I was withholding information from them. Eventually, they were going to ask anyway. I even found out that within the same order, different provinces have different requirements for entrance–where one says that candidates cannot enter on medication and must wait a year, the other says that one may enter on medication as long as the illness is controlled. Some will tell you that it is a good idea to get to know the order and see if you feel called there before telling them that you have a problem. While I agree with this somewhat, I think it’s better if they know where you are coming from, especially if you discover that you are not called there and end up spending more time with them than with another religious order that is more accepting.

I think it would definitely be a good idea to tell your primary care doctors about the issue at hand and ask if they would be willing to support you. The more positive references you have, the better, as it would clear up any unnecessary doubt from religious orders and show them that you are truly serious about discernment. It’s good that you already have orders waiting in the wings to write reference letters should it be necessary. I’m also glad to hear that at least one of the doctors stands behind your decision to become a religious.

I also think it would be an excellent idea if you got a spiritual director (if you don’t already have one) who can vouch for the fact that you are symptom-free on medication. If he/she can communicate with the order you are interested in, it would be all the better for it because the Sisters would have the opinion of a member of the clergy or another religious.

I am aware of the SsEW but I am not familiar with their requirements for entrance. I’ve heard that they can be accepting of some illness, but I don’t know what kind as I have not had any contact with them apart from registering for their newsletters. They are a beautiful community!

Please let me know if I can be of anymore help. I have my PMs turned on at Phatmass since I am more active there than here, so don’t be afraid to shoot me a PM. God bless!

 

[cara1]

Joyful Life,

I think that you are a member of Phatmass. If so, you can enter "“SSEW” or the entire name as a search word(s) and will see the threads and posts which include the community. Some are posted by a young woman who entered, but had to leave becauseof a serious physical health problem. I am not at liberty to reveal her ‘name’. However, you will find her and can contact her regarding more info on the SSEW.

 

[JoyfulLife]

JoyfulLife,

I believe I know you on Phatmass as well as I am registered as MaterMisericordiae. I would be delighted to assist you in any way that I can as I know all too well the varying degrees of acceptance shown by religious orders to people in our condition. I, too, have a mental illness that is completely controlled by medication. I can do well while on it, but if I get off of it, I have another occurrence of the illness in about a year’s time. My doctor says I need to be on it for life since it appears to be a chemical imbalance as well. I don’t have enough serotonin or nor-epinephrine receptors in my brain makeup.

As far as the stage you should tell religious orders–I cannot really give a definite answer as I have found that it depends on the order. Most cloistered orders said no, but I found a few that said yes. Same goes with the active/contemplative orders. In my discernment, I always felt that it was better if I told them right off instead of waiting as I have a pretty demanding conscience and I felt like I was withholding information from them. Eventually, they were going to ask anyway. I even found out that within the same order, different provinces have different requirements for entrance–where one says that candidates cannot enter on medication and must wait a year, the other says that one may enter on medication as long as the illness is controlled. Some will tell you that it is a good idea to get to know the order and see if you feel called there before telling them that you have a problem. While I agree with this somewhat, I think it’s better if they know where you are coming from, especially if you discover that you are not called there and end up spending more time with them than with another religious order that is more accepting.

I think it would definitely be a good idea to tell your primary care doctors about the issue at hand and ask if they would be willing to support you. The more positive references you have, the better, as it would clear up any unnecessary doubt from religious orders and show them that you are truly serious about discernment. It’s good that you already have orders waiting in the wings to write reference letters should it be necessary. I’m also glad to hear that at least one of the doctors stands behind your decision to become a religious.

I also think it would be an excellent idea if you got a spiritual director (if you don’t already have one) who can vouch for the fact that you are symptom-free on medication. If he/she can communicate with the order you are interested in, it would be all the better for it because the Sisters would have the opinion of a member of the clergy or another religious.

I am aware of the SsEW but I am not familiar with their requirements for entrance. I’ve heard that they can be accepting of some illness, but I don’t know what kind as I have not had any contact with them apart from registering for their newsletters. They are a beautiful community!

Please let me know if I can be of anymore help. I have my PMs turned on at Phatmass since I am more active there than here, so don’t be afraid to shoot me a PM. God bless!

Hello!

I meant to reply to this thread before, but it slipped my mind.

Funny meeting you here, Mater!

Thank you for the very helpful post and for offering help. I really appreciate it. It is comforting to know there are others out there in the same boat.

What you were saying about letting an order get to know you first seems more logical, because I’d think that getting to know the person and seeing they aren’t like you’d expect someone with a mental/emotional condition to be (lots of false ideas out there) would change their mind. I’m feeling like it would be best to have an initial visit, and if that goes well, ask for a try-out, and if that goes well and interested in entering, ask to speak face to face with the Superior and then tell them about the condition. Sort of a “we want you, you want us, but will you consider this issue…” There is no other order quite like the SS, so I really want everything to work out; I really hope it’s the order for me.

Thank you for sharing the order in Georgia. That is sooooo beautiful by the river! With DOLPHINS! My goodness, what a contemplative life that would be! I didn’t feel called to a full cloister back in 2009, but I might be willing to give it another try as I might have grown and things might be different in my discernment. SS first though.

God bless you.

 

[JoyfulLife]

I meant to add something to my above post.

Not only did my psychologist (he did my neuropsychological) think that religious life and advancing my education was a good thing and possible for me, my nurse also thinks I’m a great candidate for religious life. I was seeing her once every two weeks, but now once a month, and we have in depth talks about my condition, medicine, supplements, etc. (more than I’ve had with my doctors).

I was talking with someone, and it seems to work out better if I tell them about my condition on a visit, face to face, before ever doing a try out, so as to avoid making them feel betrayed. I’m going to work now on getting a letter from my nurse, councellor, psychiatrist, psychologist, PCP, Sister, and a Priest, so I have that handy whenever I might visit them. Whew!

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

Hello!

I meant to reply to this thread before, but it slipped my mind.

Funny meeting you here, Mater!

Thank you for the very helpful post and for offering help. I really appreciate it. It is comforting to know there are others out there in the same boat.

What you were saying about letting an order get to know you first seems more logical, because I’d think that getting to know the person and seeing they aren’t like you’d expect someone with a mental/emotional condition to be (lots of false ideas out there) would change their mind. I’m feeling like it would be best to have an initial visit, and if that goes well, ask for a try-out, and if that goes well and interested in entering, ask to speak face to face with the Superior and then tell them about the condition. Sort of a “we want you, you want us, but will you consider this issue…” There is no other order quite like the SS, so I really want everything to work out; I really hope it’s the order for me.

Thank you for sharing the order in Georgia. That is sooooo beautiful by the river! With DOLPHINS! My goodness, what a contemplative life that would be! I didn’t feel called to a full cloister back in 2009, but I might be willing to give it another try as I might have grown and things might be different in my discernment. SS first though.

God bless you.

I meant to add something to my above post.

Not only did my psychologist (he did my neuropsychological) think that religious life and advancing my education was a good thing and possible for me, my nurse also thinks I’m a great candidate for religious life. I was seeing her once every two weeks, but now once a month, and we have in depth talks about my condition, medicine, supplements, etc. (more than I’ve had with my doctors).

I was talking with someone, and it seems to work out better if I tell them about my condition on a visit, face to face, before ever doing a try out, so as to avoid making them feel betrayed. I’m going to work now on getting a letter from my nurse, councellor, psychiatrist, psychologist, PCP, Sister, and a Priest, so I have that handy whenever I might visit them. Whew!

Funny you should say that! My primary care doctor is Catholic and went to Catholic schools taught by nuns. My mom told her a few years ago that I was discerning religious life and my primary care doctor has always been of the opinion that I should pursue it because she thinks I’d make an excellent nun. My mental health nurse practitioner is also Catholic (her middle name is Therese!) and stands behind me 100% if I want to become a nun. She also offered to write recommendation letters at one point if I needed it. Both of them think I am not discerning now because of problems in the past and the period that I stopped discerning. I am not so excited to tell them I am discerning again because I don’t know how this is going to pan out and I don’t want to get my hopes up. It was hard enough telling my mom and I don’t plan to tell my extended family again unless I find the RIGHT order and have an entrance date (God-willing).

I’ve thought about the Servant Sisters off and on and I might get in touch with them. As you probably know from my posts at Phatmass, I am discerning with the Religious Sisters of Mercy. I haven’t gotten back in contact with them yet because I am praying about it. I’m leaning towards calling them next week if my head cold is gone by then. I love that the SsEW combine both Dominican and Franciscan spirituality. I love both charisms so I wouldn’t mind joining an order that had both. I also love that they are semi-contemplative and participate in hosting retreats. Their habit is gorgeous, too, because it reminds me so much of the Nashville Dominicans (which makes sense considering where they came from!). I do love reading their newsletters.

As for the Savannah monastery, I seriously contemplated making a retreat there with the Sisters early in my discernment. Sr. Joann offered to let me stay in the annex/retreat house and do a sort of live-in. I would have loved to visit, but I wasn’t able to due to financial problems which I am still experiencing, unfortunately.

 

[JoyfulLife]

Funny you should say that! My primary care doctor is Catholic and went to Catholic schools taught by nuns. My mom told her a few years ago that I was discerning religious life and my primary care doctor has always been of the opinion that I should pursue it because she thinks I’d make an excellent nun. My mental health nurse practitioner is also Catholic (her middle name is Therese!) and stands behind me 100% if I want to become a nun. She also offered to write recommendation letters at one point if I needed it. Both of them think I am not discerning now because of problems in the past and the period that I stopped discerning. I am not so excited to tell them I am discerning again because I don’t know how this is going to pan out and I don’t want to get my hopes up. It was hard enough telling my mom and I don’t plan to tell my extended family again unless I find the RIGHT order and have an entrance date (God-willing).

I’ve thought about the Servant Sisters off and on and I might get in touch with them. As you probably know from my posts at Phatmass, I am discerning with the Religious Sisters of Mercy. I haven’t gotten back in contact with them yet because I am praying about it. I’m leaning towards calling them next week if my head cold is gone by then. I love that the SsEW combine both Dominican and Franciscan spirituality. I love both charisms so I wouldn’t mind joining an order that had both. I also love that they are semi-contemplative and participate in hosting retreats. Their habit is gorgeous, too, because it reminds me so much of the Nashville Dominicans (which makes sense considering where they came from!). I do love reading their newsletters.

As for the Savannah monastery, I seriously contemplated making a retreat there with the Sisters early in my discernment. Sr. Joann offered to let me stay in the annex/retreat house and do a sort of live-in. I would have loved to visit, but I wasn’t able to due to financial problems which I am still experiencing, unfortunately.

That is so awesome that you are discerning again! :woot: I was totally going around trying to figure out how to do it without medicine, but now I’m accepting that I need my medicine and I’m hoping that the right order will be okay with this. Peoples stories have given me a lot of hope. It is such a persisting desire for me; I just hope it’s my calling and I get acceptance into the right order.

That would be so awesome and funny if we both ended up entering the SsEW! It’s crazy Awesome just thinking about it! It is such a beautiful order. Cherie has been answering my many questions and I’m growing more in love with the order. They have such a beautiful contemplative side, wonderful Priest retreats, joyful Sisters, Traditional, the list goes on! I’m going to have a very hard time if they turn me down. I just haven’t really loved any orders like them.

That’s also awesome about the live-in offer you had with the Georgia order. I was confused about their rule; do they abstain from meat, forever? I get anemic, so I know that’d be bad in my case.

Those sisters in Alma, what sort of apostolates do they have besides doctors?

That’s awesome about your doctor and nurse being Catholic. My old nurse was a Catholic at one time, my psychiatrist had been a Catholic, my councellor had been a Catholic, and as far as I know, my current PCP is a practicing Catholic. And I think my current nurse is Christian. It sure helps.

Do you happen to know what sort of recommendation letters your nurse and doctor were going to write? I’ve come up with an outline to hand them, hoping they will cover some basics, but I’m not positive what they should answer. (Intro and about my condition; cause of my condition; outlook on medicine; results of my neuropsychological; quote their statement about thinking I’m a good candidate; about how good I’m doing on medication; the statement my nurse made about doctors and lawyers functioning successfully with my condition, controlled on medicine; etc.) Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

God bless you.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

That is so awesome that you are discerning again! :woot: I was totally going around trying to figure out how to do it without medicine, but now I’m accepting that I need my medicine and I’m hoping that the right order will be okay with this. Peoples stories have given me a lot of hope. It is such a persisting desire for me; I just hope it’s my calling and I get acceptance into the right order.

That would be so awesome and funny if we both ended up entering the SsEW! It’s crazy Awesome just thinking about it! It is such a beautiful order. Cherie has been answering my many questions and I’m growing more in love with the order. They have such a beautiful contemplative side, wonderful Priest retreats, joyful Sisters, Traditional, the list goes on! I’m going to have a very hard time if they turn me down. I just haven’t really loved any orders like them.

That’s also awesome about the live-in offer you had with the Georgia order. I was confused about their rule; do they abstain from meat, forever? I get anemic, so I know that’d be bad in my case.

Those sisters in Alma, what sort of apostolates do they have besides doctors?

That’s awesome about your doctor and nurse being Catholic. My old nurse was a Catholic at one time, my psychiatrist had been a Catholic, my councellor had been a Catholic, and as far as I know, my current PCP is a practicing Catholic. And I think my current nurse is Christian. It sure helps.

Do you happen to know what sort of recommendation letters your nurse and doctor were going to write? I’ve come up with an outline to hand them, hoping they will cover some basics, but I’m not positive what they should answer. (Intro and about my condition; cause of my condition; outlook on medicine; results of my neuropsychological; quote their statement about thinking I’m a good candidate; about how good I’m doing on medication; the statement my nurse made about doctors and lawyers functioning successfully with my condition, controlled on medicine; etc.) Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

God bless you.

Yes, I’m in the same boat. I kept trying to convince myself that I wouldn’t need the medicine forever, but I do. It’s not something I can control on my own. It’s definitely a chemical imbalance, but most seem to think that there is something wrong with me like I’m somehow “damaged goods.” The most strict orders have the worst problem with it. I was in contact very early on with an order who basically said that if I have depression, there is NO possible way I could have a vocation to religious life. Sr. Joann from Savannah Carmel said that she believed that the order was trying to play God or something. Most people, including religious, attach a stigma to the disorder. It’s very sad, but hopefully, because it is so prevalent in today’s society, more understanding will develop in time. St. Dymphna, pray for us!

The SsEW order looks beautiful in all respects. I would love to make a visit there sometime. Actually, I just emailed them a little while ago to ask for more information and I hope they get in touch pretty soon. That would be pretty neat if we joined the order together. There have been several Phatmass members that have entered there so it’s entirely possible, God-willing.

As for Savannah having a perpetual fast from meat, I’m not sure, but I think Sr. Joann said they allowed meat because they had older Sisters who were in need of meat for strength. Again, since the Prioress is different, that may have changed. Only one way to find out and that is to contact Sr. Mary Elizabeth.

The RSMs have several apostolates, mostly in medical. They have doctors (including psychiatrists), nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, teachers, etc. I am hoping that if I do join (God-willing), I will be part of the medical apostolate as I am not meant to be a teacher for sure. I have never felt called to be a teacher. That’s something I’ll have to discuss with the vocation director, though.

I don’t have an idea of what my mental health ARNP was going to write as she just suggested it in case.

 

[JoyfulLife]

Yes, I definately hope more understanding will come. For conditions that are under control by medicine, I would think places would be much more open. Thank God both of us are under control through medicine; some conditions aren’t so easy to handle.

Yeah, I think it took a while to hear back after my first contact with SsEW. They sent me all of their newsletters and a letter. They asked for more information about me. I’m still working on getting back to them, as I’ve been quietly discerning them for a while.

Really? Several Phatmassers joined SsEW? That’s awesome. Would I know any of them? Do you remember any of their screennames?

God bless you.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

Yes, I definately hope more understanding will come. For conditions that are under control by medicine, I would think places would be much more open. Thank God both of us are under control through medicine; some conditions aren’t so easy to handle.

Yeah, I think it took a while to hear back after my first contact with SsEW. They sent me all of their newsletters and a letter. They asked for more information about me. I’m still working on getting back to them, as I’ve been quietly discerning them for a while.

Really? Several Phatmassers joined SsEW? That’s awesome. Would I know any of them? Do you remember any of their screennames?

God bless you.

Well, you already know the few who entered and left (Lilllabettt and CherieMadame). But there was another with the s/n of jgirl. I don’t know her as I wasn’t registered or discerning before she left.

 

[Friar_P]

Hello all, thanks for reading, I pray the right person reads this who can help me…
I have been diagnosed with a mental illness…very long story, they basically diagnosed me back when I was 19 when I told my friends and family I wanted to be a nun and they have told me I have symptoms of religious preoccupation…

I havnt bothered talking to my dr about it as they will immediately think that its wrong as they seem to be against me reading the Bible and think that Im too religious already

Jesus says: << Medic, heal yourself >> ( ref Lk 4, 23 )
How can a cristian trust in the discernment of someone that non even believe in the Bible ?
It is written in fact: << The wise are put to shame, alarmed, caught out because they have rejected Yahweh’s word.
What price their wisdom now ? >> ( Jer 8, 9 )

The true illness is not searching God or Gods Will …

It is written: << God looks down from heaven at the children of Adam,
to see if a single one is wise, a single one seeks God >> ( Ps 53, 2 ).

Wishes of Holyness ( ref 1Ts 4, 3 )

 

[JoyfulLife]

I just wanted to add that I had a thread quite a lot like this one.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=481354

 

[JoyfulLife]

Daughter/Mater,

Have you ever had a neuropsychological?

I had one and it doesn’t show a continuous mental condition, other than the ADHD. I was just reading through my report, and he put in there what we discussed about my episodes being connected with high stress, but he failed to mention about it being a brain chemical imbalance. I don’t know why it’s not a consistant problem. Anywho, I feel he will need to clarify in the letter of recommendation that it is a brain chemical issue, so they don’t think it’s just a stress thing. I have been under stress before and not gone into an episode, so it seems the medicine is what keeps me in check. I hope I’m able to get good letters of recommendation.

Are you planning on offering letters of recommendation on your visit or a later time?

God bless you.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

Daughter/Mater,

Have you ever had a neuropsychological?

I had one and it doesn’t show a continuous mental condition, other than the ADHD. I was just reading through my report, and he put in there what we discussed about my episodes being connected with high stress, but he failed to mention about it being a brain chemical imbalance. I don’t know why it’s not a consistant problem. Anywho, I feel he will need to clarify in the letter of recommendation that it is a brain chemical issue, so they don’t think it’s just a stress thing. I have been under stress before and not gone into an episode, so it seems the medicine is what keeps me in check. I hope I’m able to get good letters of recommendation.

Are you planning on offering letters of recommendation on your visit or a later time?

God bless you.

I’ve never even heard of a neuropsych exam, and I have never had one either. The Sisters, I understand, do psychological exams for their candidates nowadays. I don’t know what it entails, though.

I’m not sure when I’ll tell the Sisters about my depression. I know that I want to do it in person if at all possible. Hopefully, after spending a few days with them, they will see I’m quite normal and symptom-free while taking my medication regimen. If they ask for letters of recommendation, I’ll talk to my doctors again and see what I can do. I am praying that I can get up there soon. I’m still waiting to hear from Sr. Louise Marie about my discernment bio.

 

[JoyfulLife]

Yeah, I agree with your reasoning in my situation, too.

It’s so exciting! That’s awesome that you got your bio sent in. Pray mine will be finished soon!

It’s kind of a tough situation for me, because I do want to know if they would accept me, but I have to add to them that I need more time before entering (if it is THE order). It may be a few more years before I’m ready, but I’ve heard others have waited for a variety of reasons and they were fine with that, so we’ll see…

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

Yeah, I agree with your reasoning in my situation, too.

It’s so exciting! That’s awesome that you got your bio sent in. Pray mine will be finished soon!

It’s kind of a tough situation for me, because I do want to know if they would accept me, but I have to add to them that I need more time before entering (if it is THE order). It may be a few more years before I’m ready, but I’ve heard others have waited for a variety of reasons and they were fine with that, so we’ll see…

I really hope you get it finished soon. Apparently, she loves to read them, which I do, too. I’m always checking out religious order websites to read vocation stories.

I understand that you might need more time. I’m probably going to need some time, too, but for different reasons. I would love to enter the order of God’s will as soon as I could, but I cannot afford the doctor visits and stuff that it would take. I’m having too much trouble finding a way to afford the transportation just to meet them. The only way I would be able to enter right away is if the order helps me pay for medical/dental/psych exams, but that is not likely. I plan to start a novena to St. Joseph tonight to help me find a job, or maybe St. Jude, since he is the patron of hopeless causes.

 

[JoyfulLife]

Boy, I’ll keep you in my prayers.

I’m on insurance under my Dad and I’m also on state insurance, which picks up all copays for eligible visits and all medicines.

Would you be eligible for state insurance? It would cover visits to those that take it. It can take a little while to get signed up, but it’s totally worth it.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

Boy, I’ll keep you in my prayers.

I’m on insurance under my Dad and I’m also on state insurance, which picks up all copays for eligible visits and all medicines.

Would you be eligible for state insurance? It would cover visits to those that take it. It can take a little while to get signed up, but it’s totally worth it.

I don’t know if I’d be eligible for state insurance as I don’t know of any coverage for young adults in my state. The only programs I know of is for children up to 18 and Medicaid (which I am not eligible for). I’ll look further to see if there are any programs other than those. As for my mental health, I am a patient at a county clinic so everything there is low-cost. The county health department also offers free medical, so maybe that is an option as well. I’ve only been there once. I just wish there was free access dental. The only dental options the unemployed have in my area is one volunteer-based clinic and people have to wait in line for several hours. They don’t even see everyone because they give out tickets to a certain amount of people.

 

[JoyfulLife]

Wow, it’s rough out there. The program I’m on with the state is actually Medicaid, but a form for younger people. It switched over from another program name.

I’m so happy to see you discerning. I was secretly hoping you would return to discerning all along. And what a fabulous order to discern, at that!

What are your thoughts about the SsEW catechetical instruction apostolate? I told Cherie on that famous thread about how I didn’t necessarily feel called or able to be a head teacher, but I do feel called to the spiritual/catechetical apostolate in some sort of way. She gave a fabulous answer about how they’ll find something for me to do, even if I can’t be a head teacher.

 

[JoyfulLife]

I’ve been looking at the state insurance for Alabama, in thinking how it would work if I ever entered. medicaid.alabama.gov/

It appears that for 20 something women aren’t provided insurance, only birth control support! Awful. I’m very blessed in my state, very. Anyway, I’m emailing someone in one of the departments to ask if there is anything I might have missed and for any recommendations of what supplemental thing to use for BC/BS for the expensive copays. I’m thinking that I might qualify for SSI as I might be considered disabled mentally, even though it is episodic and controlled by medicine. My councellor suggested that one. I read somewhere that “disabled” could get insurance, and being that I’m on psychiatric medication, I’d think they would help somehow.

These are things I would think Sister would think about when I tell her someday. I’d like to know they wouldn’t have to foot much for my medicines. I don’t even know what the copay would be if I left state and didn’t have my state picking up copays anymore, so I emailed BC/BS to find out. I sure hope these things don’t hold much against me.

I’m also on some supplements you have to pick up from a vitamin store, such as iron, a multi, melatonin for sleep, etc. I’m thinking I should print up a sheet of my supplements/medicines to show Sister…