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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:50
I have been battling depression/anxiety plus a host of personality disorders for 20 years and just can't seem to hold a job or want to. I crumble at almost any situation and am now completely broke with little hope. My question is after reading this board for the last 8 years, how does everyone have the money or ability to hold down jobs and pay for medications and treatment. I look at the posts and by the way everyone interacts it seems that everyone is pretty functional. I am at a loss and confused, scared, and completely fragile.
Please reply, i need hope and feel guilty about my inability to fit and function in society.
God bless,
Leo33
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:50
In reply to How many people are on disability????, posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 14:00:42
I'm on Disability and feel worthless I should be working to earn money. Love Phillipa
Posted by tensor on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:50
In reply to How many people are on disability????, posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 14:00:42
I do not currently work, been away from my job for five months. I have a insurance that pay for my meds and pdoc fees.
/Mattias
Posted by Quintal on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:50
In reply to How many people are on disability????, posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 14:00:42
I have similar problems leo. I've had loads of jobs but can't hold one down. I've been on and off disability for years but right now I'm being refused benefits.
Q
Posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:50
In reply to Re: How many people are on disability???? » leo33, posted by Quintal on January 3, 2007, at 16:07:31
thanks for responses, but I still have the question of how one survives without money. I am 40 and living off mom and dad for the last year and a half, been bankrupt in 2002 and now have more debt i can't pay. My car is on the verge of a breakdown with no money to fix, my teeth are going bad lots of cavities and root canals last few years, paid for by mom and dad thankfully, more cavities to be filled soon. I get food stamps and welfare about $270 in total a month. My meds are not sufficient, Klonopin as needed up to 1mg a day, trying remeron currently but not covered by medicaid so i doubt i will stay with it, not doing much anyway. Father thinks I should try disability again even though they denied me last time, first time he ever thought that I should go on disability. I feel like a complete leech on society and family.
Thanks for listening to my pathetic story anyway.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:51
In reply to Re: How many people are on disability????, posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 17:44:46
It sounds like you have a great family, parents that love and support you through these challenging times. Dont feel bad, feel good that you have family members that love and support you. There are many people in this world that have no one.
As far as qualifying for disability, there is a lot of great information on it on the Internet. I'm no expert, but I have read every time you try again, you come closer to qualifying for benefits.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:51
In reply to Re: How many people are on disability???? » leo33, posted by UgottaHaveHope on January 3, 2007, at 17:58:17
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:51
In reply to info, posted by UgottaHaveHope on January 3, 2007, at 18:43:58
So if I've been on Disability for l0 years and am old will I be reviewed? Love Phillipa
Posted by Reggie BoStar on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:51
In reply to How many people are on disability????, posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 14:00:42
Hi Leo33,
I've been on disability for over a year now. I applied for the SSDI benefits on the advice of my psychiatrist and therapist. I got together with them and my MD and Neurologist and got permission to use them as references on the application form. I don't know what they told the SSDI people, but I qualified first shot and got benefits retroactive to the time I flamed out on the job. I applied shortly after I got ECT, so that may have been a factor.Anyway, about three months later I got Medicare. That's automatic if you're on SSDI. The Medicare came about 1 month after my health insurance ran out, so it was just in time to save me financially.
I barely make it on SSDI benefits and 401K stipends, but I'm making it work. I don't feel guilty about getting the benefits but I have been paranoid that maybe I don't deserve them. My pdoc and therapist have assured me that there's no reason for concern, because I am officially dysfunctional when it comes to work. I just can't concentrate on any task in my old profession long enough to get anything done. After a few hours of that I just zone out and walk away. It's hard to describe, because I'm almost at the stage of doing that right now.
Anyway, that's how it all is happening for me. Right now the goal is to get control of that paranoia.
Best wishes for a happy new year,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by Bob on January 3, 2007, at 21:37:51
In reply to Re: How many people are on disability???? » leo33, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 3, 2007, at 19:37:54
I've been on disability and Medicare for over two years now. I feel bad that I'm not earning my keep, but if I'm truthful to myself, there is no way I can work. In fact the last couple years were not good.
Posted by headcheese01 on January 5, 2007, at 11:55:05
In reply to Re: How many people are on disability???? » leo33, posted by Reggie BoStar on January 3, 2007, at 19:37:54
Bostar,
I'm in the same boat as you, I think.
I haven't worked in 14 months. First got short term disability through work insurance, then it rolled into LTD. Knowing how long it takes to get SSD, I applied for that about 6 months ago (I think... I can't remember anything :(
Anyway, I used to do computer programming, but my memory and concentration got so bad I could no longer continue. Both those issues are still really bad.
Anyway, the truth is, I can't do that stuff any more (at least not now), so I'm not feeling badly about receiving disability. I *think* I might have been approved first time through on the SSD, because I received a check from the US Treasury yesterday, but have not yet received any letter saying I was approved (very odd, I thought).
Anyway, for those considering applying, if you're really badly depressed, with major attention and memory issues, try not to feel badly about getting some monetary help. It's not like you're faking anything. Sure, we'd all rather work, but be good to yourself until you can get back to working.
Posted by stargazer on January 5, 2007, at 16:23:29
In reply to Re: How many people are on disability????, posted by headcheese01 on January 5, 2007, at 11:55:05
Not on disability yet, but I think about it all the time. I haven't given up on working yet (unemployed since 7/06) but I have my doubts when I keep relapsing. I haven't had a good stable productive work period for awhile. I can work on and off (employers not thrilled with this type of employee) but eventually I quit when I get really burned out.
I'm feeling too young to give up on ever working again because I'm of the opinion, once you get on disability it is for life.
What are your ages and has anyone gotten off disability once on it?
I can understand why you go on it though...I may be right behind you..
SG
Posted by stargazer on January 5, 2007, at 16:23:45
In reply to Re: How many people are on disability????, posted by headcheese01 on January 5, 2007, at 11:55:05
Not on disability yet, but I think about it all the time. I haven't given up on working yet (unemployed since 7/06) but I have my doubts when I keep relapsing. I haven't had a good stable productive work period for awhile. I can work on and off (employers not thrilled with this type of employee) but eventually I quit when I get really burned out.
I'm feeling too young to give up on ever working again because I'm of the opinion, once you get on disability it is for life.
What are your ages and has anyone gotten off disability once on it?
I can understand why you go on it though...I may be right behind you..
SG
Posted by leo33 on January 11, 2007, at 15:46:00
In reply to What are your ages? Once disabled, always....?, posted by stargazer on January 5, 2007, at 16:23:45
i am 39 and now on welfare and am going to receive charity care for outpatient therapy.
Posted by Sadaiya on January 23, 2007, at 13:25:44
In reply to work and disability, posted by leo33 on January 11, 2007, at 15:46:00
Ok I take remeron right now for sleeping and my pdoc thinks i need abilify for my "suspicous thinking"..
I am 23, male, and living in suburbs of chicago in illinois..
Am I eligible for disability ? If so then how do I get on disability ?
Posted by Reggie BoStar on February 5, 2007, at 17:08:23
In reply to How many people are on disability????, posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 14:00:42
I'm on SSDI for mental health reasons. Severe depression/bipolar, extreme social phobia, some agoraphobia. I've been through 7 ECT treatments, and got to the point where I bought a gun. My pdoc talked me down from that.
SSDI benefits are very helpful, but for me it is sometimes extremely difficult to deal with the stigma and negative comments regarding people on SSDI. There are many people who consider those on disability as lazy, taking advantage, just don't want to work, etc. This is especially true for people with mental illness, because the old stereotypes about depression (weakness of character, not a disease, etc) are applied to make it seem as though we don't deserve SSDI.
Of course my reactions to the stereotyping may be specific to me. There are also many support groups (on Yahoo, for example) that provide emotional and technical support for people on SSDI.
Of course, my negative thought processes pick up on postings in those groups which cause a large amount of guilt. For example, today I read a message about a person with cerebral palsy who manages to work part-time and collect SSDI benefits to make up the difference. When I see someone like this surmounting a very difficult disability to do what work he can, I become riddled with guilt about being on SSDI full-time.
But then again, my depression will manifest itself with such symptoms. Whenever I bring this up with my pdoc or therapist they always assure me that the SSDI benefits are justified in my case. I try to believe that. Sometimes I manage.
As far as the process goes, if there is a Social Security Office near you, you can just go there to pick up the application form.
Part of the application asks you to list referring doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists. This is where mentally ill people need to go to work. The professionals must all be contacted and informed that you are applying for SSDI benefits. You must ask them to please provide information to the SSDI office.
In addition, you will fill out the application in the presence of a social worker at the SSDI office who will ask you additional questions and enter the information on the SS computers. He/she will also advise you on how to fill out the form and which information is pertinent based on your disability. The social workers are very supportive and want to help anyone who deserves the benefits get them. They definitely do NOT try to prevent people from getting benefits.
I hope the last few paragraphs gave you the info you needed. Sorry about lacing the post with all my insecurities. The SSDI folks are actually very thorough and see to it that the vast majority of people on SSDI really deserve it.
I just don't think I'm in that vast majority. That's just another of my problems.
Take care,
Reggie BoStar
Posted by Reggie BoStar on February 5, 2007, at 17:25:42
In reply to How many people are on disability????, posted by leo33 on January 3, 2007, at 14:00:42
Well, here I go again. Only one week after I said I wasn't guilty about being on SSDI, I posted the previous message saying that I AM guilty.
This can be very frustrating. I keep screwing up like this when it comes to thinking consistently.
To be sure, I had a bad week dealing with the stigma, and this may have added guilt to the overall package. But I see in my earlier post that I was paranoid about not deserving the benefits. Why I thought that did not involve guilt is beyond me at the moment.
Sorry for jerking everybody around with these inconsistent posts.
For the record, I AM paranoid about receiving the benefits, and I DO recognize that guilt has been a part of this paranoia and is now very intense.
Well, at least I cleared that up for me. Hope it worked for you, too.
Take care,
Reggie BoStar
This is the end of the thread.
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