I currently work very part-time, but only because I am a full-time student. Prior to that, I've always worked full-time. I have had four hospitalizations, three of which were covered under FMLA so I pretty much went in, called in to work from the hospital, was discharged, and went right back to work (I'll admit, not the most therapeutic thing). The most recent I took an LOA for. I had a period of time shortly after this last hospitalization, two and a half years ago, where after returning to work I was having a panic attack in the shower nearly every morning. I couldn't eat much, and lost about 30-40 lbs. But I still had to work. I support myself, and don't have a partner or parents to lean on if things get really bad. My mother and I were homeless for a period of time when I was a child, and so I think the fear of not being able to support myself really pushed me on because there were some days when it was a struggle just to get out of bed.

I'm doing okay now and even periods like the last few weeks where I'm feeling a sort of downturn, it's no struggle to work. But that's me, I know not everyone is like that and if I had anyone to lean on I may have done so.