I'm on disability, and part of my unemployment is by choice, part by my panic and obsessive compulsive disorders, and part is my lack of transportation. I've decided not to mention my disorders when I do finally go back to work, because I am positive I've been rejected because of them before. I remember one guy directly asking me about my disorders, and how it would affect me workwise. He had a very doubtful tone about me, even though, at the time, I was very willing and able to work; I'd been trying to become independent and was doing well.

That's the funny thing. My mom, when I was in my early 20's and found a med that made it possible for me to have an almost-normal life, didn't want me to work. To this day, she wants me to live with her (she's talked about moving into an apartment together, if she became unable to care for herself, but my OCD could never handle it--I won't go into it here right now, though), and I'm 37. I haven't lived on my own, and I desire it so much.

Anyway, I'm straying off-topic. I was trying to do the right thing, become responsible for myself and independent. I even chose to go to college, even though I did drop out. And still, here I am, all these years later, and my life is screwed up. My dreams out of reach. The times I've talked to employers about possibly working at home, they take one look at my practically-empty resume and toss it. I don't have work experience, I don't have skills, I don't have anything. I am a loser.

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As for other peoples' opinions about your employment status, it's none of their business.

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jennie, in general, I agree with that...but nevertheless, people ask. When I went with my bf to his work holiday party a couple weeks ago, people asked what do I do? I never know how to answer that. They're just trying to make conversation, but I feel ashamed to say I'm on disability or to lie. (I'm not completely lying; I tell them I design websites and/or write...I don't do these things professionally, but I do them for myself--I'm not skilled enough to be a professional web designer, and plan to try to get published when I have a laptop computer my mom's planning on getting me in the future.)