Posted by schleprock on August 21, 2012, at 18:36:12
In reply to Disability, posted by brynb on August 21, 2012, at 15:34:10
> Hi All,
>
> I'm wondering about going on disability but haven't a clue where to start or if it's even a good option for me. Sorry, this is long-winded, but if you can help, I appreciate feedback.
>
> I'm a Writer and a Teacher, but haven't worked full-time in two years. For the past two years, I've freelanced and taught and collected unemployment in between. I last taught in June and have since been collecting unemployment. (I was at the end of a really bad depressive episode and just couldn't keep working.)
>
> My depression started at 14 and worsened with age. I suffered a lot in college, but was still able to earn my Bachelors and Masters degrees in my 20s. I worked very hard as a Copywriter and Teacher throughout my 20s to my early 30s (I'm 38 now), but because of my depression, haven't been able to hold a steady job.
>
> Over the last seven years, I've been to rehab for substance abuse three times, medical detox for substances six times, and to the psych ER twice. I had two substance-induced seizures and bounced around a lot with doctors struggling to find the right diagnosis and treatment. It was miserable. My existence was miserable. My relationships with family members became horrible, I isolated myself and never left my apartment.
>
> I've been clean for two years (and realized I was basically self-medicating), but as of June, still had stubborn anxiety and depression (seemingly treatment-resistant). As of early July, I began working with a new doc, and I'm hopeful he'll work out. I'm currently on Lithium, Lexapro and Tramadol, and for the first time in years, I feel okay (even good, I think!). I get up and out of bed every morning. My relationships have been repaired. I talk to friends again. I'm even dating.
>
> The thing is, I'm finally aware of the fragility of my brain chemistry and how important maintaining a steady regimen is (w/ meds, sleep, etc.). It's also VERY clear that I simply can't handle the stress I experience from work. I just can't anymore. It triggers episodes for me. I'm feeling good, but I know this can be fleeting, and I'm simply unreliable as an employee. I also think that while I'm currently doing well, I'm experiencing hypomania, and I've had some mania in the past (from meds), so this scares me. The unpredictability that comes with mood disorders is, well, unpredictable.
>
> My pdoc is away and my next appointment with him is at the beginning of Sept. I'd like to discuss the idea of disability with him. If I do apply for it, I can see there being a problem in that my medical records (and memory of a lot of what's happened in the last 15 years) is shoddy at best. What to do?
>
> If you've read all of this, thank you! Sorry to over share, but I'd love for some feedback.
>
> Thanks so much.
>
> -b
>
>
>If you apply for welfare, you have the option of stating you're unable to work (at least in NYC). Then you go to a special sort of division where you'll wait long hours to meet with doctors for medical and psyche evaluations which will more than likely determine that you are able to work and not eligable for SSI (unless your willing to go really crazy at these evaluations.)
They'll more than likely set you up with a job tailored to your disability, like say a call center. Of course you can refuse the job, get yelled at, then start the process again.
I happened to get "lucky" (I use that term loosely for reasons beyond the scope of that post.) when a family member ran into someone who worked for a state agency for "special" people. It was extremely humiliating, but I managed to get SSI through this process eventually. (Was initially denied due to sloppy paperwork, but after a fair hearing was awarded both SSI and disability.)
I can't say for certsin that this process would work for anyone with a mere depression\anxiety condition. You may also need to be diagnosed as being somewhere along the autism scale, or even "slow".
I would suggest as a first step seeking out non-profits in your area that deal with mental disorders.
poster:schleprock
thread:1023820
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120818/msgs/1023837.html