Exactly. Doctors and therapists know "their stuff," but by and large they don't know unemployment and disability.

When my productive life collapsed under the pressures of mental and physical illness, I quickly sought the help of organizational experts, knowing I'd never be able to navigate the bureaucracy on my own.

In your case, before making any commitments to a course of action, I recommend talking to one or more lawyers (or "disability advocates") who specialize in disability cases. They can knowledgeably advise you with respect to your conditions and the laws.

I've heard many people say you can't secure the services of a disability lawyer before being rejected once. I've seen no evidence this is true.

If you decide to go for disability, it is recommended to have some sort of expert develop your case carefully, employing their knowledge of the system and bureaucratic-legal argot that speaks directly to the expectations of the adjudicators.

Also, if you decide to apply for disability, I suspect you may be advised to exhaust your unemployment benefits first. (I may be wrong.)

Whatever you do, may you find the right course for you in your unique set of circumstances - including your sanity!