If you have a documented history of hospitalization, mental health treatment you can apply for SSDI and a lawyer will have to make a case for you. Speak to a lawyer and he will tell you if you have a case even if you're Dr. is not 100% convinced. My Dr. was not completely convinced (eg. he was very stubborn), but I could not function or work. My work history showed that I could not hold a job and my symptoms were severe.

Everyone gets turned down for SSDI (because SSA is backed-up) so you appeal after 6 mths and wait another 6 mths for a court date. I got partially favorable decision (SSDI and one yrs back-pay) then appealed again and got back-pay going back two yrs when my work history started to fall apart. The Judge could not read my Dr's notes but that did not matter, I had a good case and long treatment history (including previous SSDI) and won. Get a good lawyer. (They take 25% after decision.) I was lucky that I had a parent who financially supported me thru the process. I had an excellent lawyer in Philly. (My lawyer told me that he would rather take a mental health case than a physical health case because the latter is harder to prove most of the time.)