2009 was the accumulation of all that had gone wrong for us. My husband got made redundant in 2006; so I had the great (sarcastic) idea of joining an MLM company. I bought their crap and promises that we would make a great living working from home, it didn’t happen and we ended up losing a lot of money. My husband couldn’t walk for 6 months, started to suffer with depression and anxiety, and had an operation in 2007 for a split disc and; 2009 I had an op to fix a should that kept dislocating. I had to cope with all of this, and find a job, as we didn’t have any money coming in. I hadn’t work since 1999 when I left to have a baby. 2009 I was living in a daze but I had to carry on for the sake of our 8 year old daughter. I remember being in the supermarket thinking I haven’t got any money to pay for food, but we have to eat. I was in a tunnel, only just functioning, and others were saying I should get a job. I wasn’t functioning properly or mentally capable of doing a job. I felt that people just didn’t understand because I couldn’t talk about it and everything was my fault.

I don’t know how old you are or why you’re claiming SSI, but you can pull yourself back from the brink. I didn’t have anyone to turn to. What I did was get myself a a job collecting charity bags, clothing people left out on their doorstep – it was ok and got it got me back into the job market. I then got a job at McDonalds, I’m 52 so didn’t really fit into their environment, but I’m guessing you’re younger than that so it may work out for you.

Whatever you think your life is like, it will get better, but you have to try. If I can do it at 52 without any support, I’m sure you can.