"Sometimes, you don't need to think about your brain. It just... runs. You wake up, remember your passwords (mostly), answer emails without crying (ideally), sleep at night instead of staring at the ceiling replaying a weird thing you said in 2016 (actually), and generally move through the day without feeling panicked, sluggish, or sad."
"For some people, functioning at that baseline happens for free. But for others, there's a steep price. Therapy, meds, and other treatments often aren't covered by insurance. A 2023 study from Self Financial found that Americans are spending an average of $374.95 per month on direct mental health costs. Since treatment is usually not a "one and done" deal, it tends to be an ongoing expense."
"An estimated 1 in 5 Americans lives with a mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and this kind of care isn't just for people with diagnoses. It's also helpful for those navigating grief, heartbreak, burnout, and the kind of general life chaos that makes your brain feel like it has 47 tabs open and one of them is blasting music you cannot locate."
Many people manage daily life without mental health disruptions, while others pay substantial costs to maintain baseline functioning. Therapy, medications, and nontraditional treatments often have limited insurance coverage, producing ongoing out-of-pocket expenses. A 2023 Self Financial study found Americans average $374.95 per month on direct mental health costs. Approximately one in five Americans lives with a mental illness, and care also supports grief, burnout, and life stressors. Treatment types range from talk therapy to exposure therapy, EMDR, ketamine infusions, and red light treatments. Case examples show yearly spending can reach thousands; one respondent's combined expenses totaled $19,964 annually.
Read at Bustle
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