Hi from Central Missouri

[ike]

Hello to everyone. I...

<insert social anxiety>

<insert general depression fog>

...

I'm sure you'll get to know me as I contribute to other threads.

[oak]

Welcome!

I lived, briefly, in the 660. It was bad, real bad. At least for me. I was deemed weird/queer/Not Enough/outsider as quickly and permanently as stereotypically the "cool kids" exclude "losers" in junior high. That is not an exaggeration.

Exception: There were some lovely people in the 660. Some. I met some nice people in Sedalia.

It was such a deeply traumatic experience that I spontaneously got sober five months later, when I realized that whoever I was to be so hated in the 660 was someone I couldn't afford to be anymore.

[ovoce]

Haha! Boy, do I relate to that Welcome!

[fifthsonata]

I used to live near Sedalia, oak. I quite enjoyed Sedalia - but it wasn't my hometown, so of course I had no bias.

And to the OP: I grew up in Central MO, got pretty familiar with the mental health resources available, so feel free to message me and maybe my own experiences might be of benefit to you.

[oak]

@fifth: Yes! At the time I was in a 12 step fellowship, and there is some strong, lovely recovery happening in Sedalia. I also did like to hike at that state forest in Knob Noster.

(My main problem with the 660 is that UCM/Warrensburg didn't bother to get to know my professional skills, inasmuch as they condescended me. Since then I've learned to code, so it'd be interesting to see they would treat me all nice now!)

Like you say, there are mental health and support groups in central Mo.

There were alot of people struggling there. I mean that in the kindest way! People struggling, striving to not drink today, to earn a little more money tomorrow, to have better relationships. I saw those people, and they were beautiful.

I also saw lots of nepotism/cronyism and tons of good-old-boys networks. I was troubled by the conflation of religion/politics/military.

I hope the OP can find, day to day, the first bunch I mentioned: the strivers, and avoid, mostly, the good old boys network.

There are good, kind, caring, generous people in the 660. Go find them, OP. Good luck and keep us posted. Hang in there.

[ike]

Thanks, you guys. I actually live in Knob Noster, and grew up here, with a brief fling to Kansas City to try my hand at the corporate work environment.

Are there any free mental health services around here?

[fifthsonata]

I'm not sure, Ike - since Knob Noster has an extension from campus in town, there may be some counselors associated with the university who can work on a sliding scale. Otherwise, CMSU has a good mental health department. Sliding scale counselors base their fee on your income, and I've had counselors go as low as $10 per session for me. If they can't help you, they will be more than happy to give you lots of referrals, likely at no cost.

[ike]

Awesome. Thank you. Every little bit helps, ya know?

[oak]

Ike, fifthsonata offers you excellent advice.

I'm not sure I can add much. You might want to try calling 211.

I hope things work out for you. Hang in there.

[ike]

Thank you.


Positive vibes to all ya'll