I can only speak anecdotally, but my employment history sounds a lot like yours, @Crook32, and I was approved in 7 months without a lawyer. I had years of documentation of attempts to work as well as an extensive treatment and hospitalization history. I think the disability office appreciates multiple attempts at employment - the cases seem to take longer if you've never worked or worked very little, or if you haven't been in treatment very long. In any case, I was eventually able to go back to work and have been employed for a little over a year. My point in this long-winded reply is that there is hope, both for getting disability quickly and maybe even for eventually returning to work. Best wishes and let me know if I can help further!