Whether you are getting disability from an insurance plan or from SSDI, you paid into the system that was set up to provide income when you can't physically or mentally do it yourself. I was on only disability from my long-term disability insurance but after a year they had me apply for SSDI which I was granted. Most of the time I don't feel bad about being on it but I won't go to the university I taught at for anything. When I see people from there that I knew I feel very embarrassed and look away. There is only one person from the university I still see and that is only about every 6 months or so for lunch.

Since getting on case management through the county, I became a member of a social club for people with severe and persistent mental illness and they have become my main outlet for friends. So, most of my current friends are on disability for mental illness. There is no shame when I am with them.