I haven't been through the Canadian system but the US system also usually has long delays and initial denials. I applied certain that it would take a few years and that I would depend on my mom for all that time (and eventually would give her all my back pay) and instead I was approved in just over 2 months since I sent in the first form. There is some percentage of people approved the first time and you don't know if you are one if you don't apply. In my case I was selected by a computer program that scans the information submitted and if there is someone who there is no chance that they will not be approved they just approve it without doing a big review. That's a small percent of cases and even smaller for mental illness but it does happen; I'm living proof. It helps (here) to be sure when you fill uout the forms to emphasize that you can only do _______ with ____ assistance or that doing _____ requires 3 days of rest after completing it, etc. Don't highlight what you can do but what you are unable to do and why. Cognition was a big reason I couldn't go back and I was afraid it would be too hard to explain that but either my paperwork showed exactly how bad it was or my dr's notes did because I did get approved so fast. And I am so grateful for that; I know there are people who applied when I did 3 years ago who are still waiting. I can't imagine that; I would have been bankrupt by now and my mom would be working instead of retired just to support me (which would be awful as she was really ready to retire and did so within hours of my approval).

It's hard but if you really think you can't work it's worth trying the application and seeing what happens.