I have been on disability for about 3 years I think. I have been on disability two other times. The first time after 2 years and I was quite stable and did okay for about 7 years with short episodes of depression and hypomania. When my depression got out of control after that with many hospitalizations, I went on disability for about 1 1/2 semesters (I was a professor). I returned to work part time for a semester but the work I did was not in any way what I normally did. When I returned to working full time, everything crashed down on me. Also, the university I worked at broke every accommodation I was supposed to have (3 of them). I lasted about 3 or 4 weeks before I had to return to disability. I haven't been back since and was required to resign because I had to apply for tenure as my time was up and my chair said they wouldn't approve tenure. It is better to quit than be denied tenure. Now it is moot as I don't think I will ever be able to return to college teaching.

I do volunteer twice a week but the smallest stressor there sends me reeling.