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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on May 16, 2004, at 13:55:21
I was just thinking about this, because I'm feeling totally overwhelmed right now by life issues as well as the emotional rollercoaster. Right now, I have no place to turn for help with most of what's going on. Sure, I can get support online, but I don't even know where to start with the other issues that are really overwhelming me. Social is social, and this isn't medication, alternative, psychology, or any of the other options. I could post some of my issues on social, but that would probably lead to a lot of support -- and no sort of answer that would help me make the decisions I need to make, find the resources I need in order to make the decisions, find the contact information I need in order to get the practical support I need, etc.
How about a place where people can trade information about things like who and how to contact about SSI, where to find out state laws regarding preexisting condition exclusions on insurance policies, low cost advocates to help get through the obstacle course for disability or the insurance company runarounds, etc. I know that those resources exist, and I know that at my peak performance levels I could track them down no matter how difficult it was, but right now it's too overwhelming to me and I can't even think about where to start looking for those things. Still, someone here has been through it, and most everyone here is so generous with helping others, there's someone here who could post the answers to questions like these. In fact, there's someone here who could post at least one answer to every question I can come up with of practical value to any life issue I can think of. How about yet another board, dedicated exclusively to those issues?
It's an idea, and it's got it's drawbacks, but I'll bet I'm not the only one who could benefit from it, and I'll bet it would offer successful practical assistance to a lot of people. (Do consult a good lawyer, of course, to draft a legal disclaimer, but I doubt that would be a difficult thing.)
Thanks for listening.
Posted by gardenergirl on May 17, 2004, at 8:12:58
In reply to How about a Practical Resources board?, posted by Racer on May 16, 2004, at 13:55:21
I think that's a great idea. Or at the very least, a place to permanently post links or addresses, etc. as people discover them, like a tip sheet or FAQ.
gg
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 18, 2004, at 2:00:47
In reply to How about a Practical Resources board?, posted by Racer on May 16, 2004, at 13:55:21
> How about a place where people can trade information about things like who and how to contact about SSI...
Interesting idea...
> it's got it's drawbacks
Such as?
Bob
Posted by Racer on May 18, 2004, at 16:50:36
In reply to Re: How about a Practical Resources board?, posted by Dr. Bob on May 18, 2004, at 2:00:47
> > How about a place where people can trade information about things like who and how to contact about SSI...
>
> Interesting idea...
>
I'm glad you think so. I do think that it could be helpful to a lot of people here, because I know I've seen a lot of the same sorts of issues I've got posted over the years.
> > it's got it's drawbacks
>
> Such as?
>
Ah, now you're asking me to think, which is damned hard right now. The first drawback I can come up with is the time involved in getting it set up. I don't think that the standard babble-script would be the best solution -- this is something that I think would be best served by resource listings, maybe based on an initial question from a poster, with verified information listed in response. That sort of thing would take a lot of time, although maybe one of the posters here would be willing to put some of that time in. (I can't offer right now -- I don't have enough inner resources right now to do much more than lie on the sofa with a quilt over my head, otherwise I would offer. At least that's an improvement for me: I'm more likely to offer to do a lot of things, then find that I'm stretched too thin and fall apart totally -- even though I usually get them done. So, at least I know now that I can't do this one. Maybe another time.)The biggest drawback I can think of, though, involves liability. That's why a legal disclaimer would be a really good idea. Even though every board has the disclaimer that this is all anecdotal, that our mileage will vary, etc, I think that when you start getting into areas like this, it's worth talking to a lawyer. Better safe than sorry. (And one of my favorite horse boards shut down after a threatened lawsuit over something much less life-affecting than this sort of thing, so it really is worth checking with a good attorney.)
I don't know what it would look like, but I think something for practical resources would be really, really helpful.
Some of the sorts of things that I think would be good would be, for example, the contact information for the drug companies' compassionate need programs, sorted by drug name; state by state contact information for disability applications; any local low-fee therapy clinics anyone knows of in their area; what to do when you just can't find any support locally; successful strategies when you're having trouble navigating the local mental health system; etc. The compassionate need programs are there, but it's so hard to find them.
Thank you for expressing interest. If there's enough interest, but it hasn't happened by the time I get a little bit better, maybe I will put in that offer.
> Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 18, 2004, at 21:47:11
In reply to Re: How about a Practical Resources board?, posted by Racer on May 18, 2004, at 16:50:36
> I don't have enough inner resources right now to do much more than lie on the sofa with a quilt over my head, otherwise I would offer. At least that's an improvement for me: I'm more likely to offer to do a lot of things, then find that I'm stretched too thin and fall apart totally... So, at least I know now that I can't do this one.
Congratulations on your improvement! :-)
> The biggest drawback I can think of, though, involves liability.
> Some of the sorts of things that I think would be good would be, for example, the contact information for the drug companies' compassionate need programs, sorted by drug name; state by state contact information for disability applications; any local low-fee therapy clinics anyone knows of in their area; what to do when you just can't find any support locally; successful strategies when you're having trouble navigating the local mental health system; etc.
That would be risky, posting those?
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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