I filed on my own first because I didn't know I should get an attorney. I got denied right away even though bipolar 1 isn't my only mental illness nor my only disability(I also have COPD). I then got an attorney at the advice of a friend of mine who receives SSDI benefits. My attorney said that everyone gets denied the first time, usually, so don't get discouraged. They filed a reconsideration which was denied, then my attorney has filed another reconsideration because some of the medical information SSA sent back to me( in their letter of why I was denied again) is wrong. My attorney has filed for another reconsideration and told me we are now waiting on a date to go in front of a judge.
I was also informed, in the first appointment with my attorney's office, that the whole process can take up to 2 years to get approval for SSDI because they're so backed up. ( My attorney also partially blames that on Obamacare but let's not turn this into a political debate. That's just one person's opinion.)