It does take a long time for them to approve. Most people who apply are turned down initially, between 65 -73%. Then the appeal process begins. You can get an attorney to help you and the attorney will not charge you anything unless you get awarded disability. Then the attorney's fees come out of your retroactive disability award.
The attorney's may not be able to speed the process up, but they may.
Anyway, it may take several appeals and finally a hearing with a judge to get the disability and that whole process takes anywhere from 3 to 5 years.
While I was waiting for an approval, I was blessed to have short term disability for 6 months and then long term disability for 3 years. This was through my former employer. If not for that, I would not have survived until the government approved my disability. I do not know how people do it without the employer disability insurance. Maybe an attorney could help you figure it out. Some of them will handle everything over the phone with you, so you do not even have to go to their office.
I wish you the best, regardless of what you decide.

I sometimes feel guilty about being on disability through the government, but as someone reminded me recently, I worked for decades and paid into the social security system the whole time. So, at least in some sense, I am getting my own money back, not taking from anyone else. That made me feel some better about it.

Again, I wish you the best, no matter what you decide.