Disability

[stormbear]

I haven't been able to work for the last 5-6 yrs because of this illness i'm on disability and everytime i feel i might be able to go work my confidence get's taken away from me and i get knocked to the ground my severe depression  ( i could be schizoffective ) the psychiatrist is unsure at this stage but anyway i got no licence and can't drive either it affect's me that bad , my coordination , concentration and focus is very poor and i tend to go in and out of trance like states ,lost in my own world but i think the voice's and racing thoughts are a factor in all this . Can anyone relate .

[persephonedemeter]

I've been on disability for 3 years and had to quit my job because it was impossible for me to work and try to get well. My psychiatrist forced me to quit and 2 other doctors plus my friends, colleagues and family were actually relieved that I stopped working. Apparently,I am in the 10% category of "bipolars resistant to treatment." Taking a class or even volunteer work is out of the question for me up to now. Since I love working, I was told that my job right now was to learn to take it easy and get rid of stressors. I had a life that was wired to high stress situations. I thrived in it when I was well, but the bipolar onset 13 years ago unhinged my ability to live in that environment. It just dawned on me that the stress I went through was extreme last week. My doctor, who has been with me for years, just smiled and said yes, you were. then, I asked him if I can work yet and he said no. I just started getting better a couple of months ago. The doctos said I can never go back to my former profession before, but they said I can eventually work in something else. One psychiatrist (who is from your part of the world who was determining whether disability should be given to me) said that, and inquired if I had any idea. I seriously said I wanted to make cotton candy at a zoo. He just laughed and said " I think you should do something more substantial because you are very smart. You need to use your brain." I just said it was my brain that got me in this mess, but if you don't mind, I'd like to think about it some other time. I did think about what I want to do, and it is likely I will work in a lab, since it is quiet and I can think. I don't exactly just stick to the leisure lifestyle I'm suppose to lead. I got involved in community issues. That did wipe me out depending on what I had to do to tackle the problems. It paid off, The issues were resolved and neighbors think I'm great and are very kind to me. The problems ranged from rescuing snakes to vandalism and burglaries or getting the fire department to send trucks for show and tell to the children at the annual summer block party.

[stormbear]

thanks , yeah i'm not in the US , but i do attend a rehab activities program a few days out of the week which gets me amongst other people i might have to ask a few questions to the guy running the show and possibly think bout doing some volunteer work

[ILADVOCATE]

   Yes I have been in this position. I found that doing some minor part time volunteer work was of help. This helped me retain work skills and also keep in touch with people. After that I was able to do some minor part time work that was paid. Social Security has some programs to help people transition back to work (options outside of the U.S. may be different) . A social worker or as I found an independent living center might be able to help make you aware of your options.