Should I worry?

[PenelopeAnn]

Not technically a medical question, but is about BPD.
I have been getting Social Security Disability payments since 2003 and just got the paperwork for a review to determine if I am still disabled. Is it paranoia or legitimate to worry that they will go out of their way to manipulate things in order to deny my review?

Since my initial determination I (part of my disability is my memory problems) my condition has changed. I had severe psychosis during a manic episode and was hospitalized. I will have to ask my mom or doctor that I had then if there were other hospitalizations. Also, I now have mixed episodes. I had a bad mixed episode last spring/summer (lasted months) and avoided hospitalization only because at the time I was still living with my mom and stepdad still and they are supportive & knowledgable and we have agreements on what to do in which situaitons. If I had been living on my own I would have been in the hospital. these past couple of months I have been doing very well. But not because my condition has improved, my treatment has improved. I now live in an apartment with my dog, but I live down the street from my mom and I am there every day because I MUST have someone who is very familiar with me and my disorder seeing me since I can go into severe & dangerous mood episodes and not realize it. If the situation weren't that I could see them every day I wouldn't be able to live in my own apartment, I'd have to still live with them. I still need a lot of help doing mental tasks due to memory problems, disorganized thinking, easily overwhelmed, and need for direction/redirection. I can only drive to the doctor and stuff because I was gotten a GPS. Until then my mom had to drive me everywhere. I do volunteer at the animal shelter now. I visit and walk dogs, fold some laundry. A few hours a few days a week. The vet/president there knows me well, the volunteer organizer has a mental health work background, and the manager, they are aware that I have to monitor my stress level & there may be times when I have to not come in & they also know about my Social Anxiety Disorder (can be more limiting than BP1D).

So overall my situation is better, but it is in a huge part due to the fact that the stress of a job isn't sending me over the edge like it did before I applied the first time.

I am terrified that now that I feel things are going smoothly these past few months, finally after years of chaos, that I'm going to be thrown to wolves and I'm afraid of how I will respond or react to being denied.

Any thoughts?

[edmfender]

PA
Remember that a review of your status is only a snapshot in time of your current status and determination of eligibility for benefits will be based on the ongoing functional status of whether you are able to be gainfully employed.  The adjudicator has to look at the consistency and longevity of your symptoms as reported by yourself and verified by your medical practioners.  Changes in your medications, hospitalizations and situations of rapid cycling and social anxiety disorder are not going to put you in the running for Head Nurse or CEO of a company. The adjudicator is not looking for a way to deny benefits but rather paper her file to justify continuing payment.  Have any of your treating professionals suggested a return to work in any capacity? I didn't think so. And that is your evidence that your benefits should continue.
Volunteering indicates that you are making an effort to be part of society and contribute to getting socially active....that's completely different than earning a wage/holding down a paid position with all that entails.
To put your self at ease, point blank ask your Dr.s whether they feel whether you are employable at this time or if they see that happening in the foreseeable future. If they say yes, it's time to look at rehab/reintegration programs but in my humble opinion, you're not there yet.
Miss you,
Laurel

[Xila31]

Well, I am not on SSI Disability but I know people that are. I would say if you can for your review to have all of the documentation from all of your doctors and the people at your volunteer work place. I would say no, it isn't paranoid to be worried. I think in this case it is normal to be worried. I don't know much about it personally but definately have all of your documentation of your illness. Because it does sound like you are doing better but still not fully recovered. I don't know what they will think, or what the guidelines are.

Good Luck! I hope it works out for you.