Disability payments can be a choice. If you do not qualify for SSDI, you may be eligible for what they used to call Title 19. I may be wrong on the name, but generally funded through the state from where I was. Similar to Medicare vs. Medicaid. You can ask at your local welfare office.

If you don't want to apply but work, that's okay too, if it doesn't compromise yourself, employer or work site.

I kept working as long as I could. It got me out of the house, paid well, and was my extended family. I did not realize that it also served as therapy, until I had been off for a while.

Disability is not all that it seems cracked up to be, but in some cases, as in mine, it was needed. My place of work had become unhealthy for me. As said, it doesn't have to be long term.

I don't understand the statement about parenting.

I would not appreciate the advice to "be real" coming from a pdoc and would ask for direction in how he might think I could improve.

Are you in therapy?

Best wishes.