I was on disability for 3 years before I got my medicare. It is hard being on disability for a mental illness. People do think that you are just opting out of work and all. My stepdad still says that I need to let god heal my illness and go back to work. I just agree and let it go over my shoulder. I believe that if God was going to heal me then he would have done it sooner, like 24 years ago when I got sick. I have schizoaffective Disorder (basically schizophrenia and bipolar) as well as borderline personality disorder, ocd and am a cutter. It is really tough sometimes being on disability for MI, but you make it out to be the best you can.