[hamster-bamster]

I understand moms with children. But outside of that - ?

[BuggsBunny]

I homeschool now. Before that, I did crafts for gifts. Long, involved crafts. at my worst, I played a computer game for a good part of the day. at my best, I volunteered at my local hospital 2 afternoons a week. I did needle point and crochet that could be given away as gifts.

started my own business, wrote a novel, authored 3 (going on 4) photography books, do dog rescue, hike, do dr visits, cook, visit friends, enjoy life...

pretty much the same stuff i did before i was on disability just better than before because of more time..only the business i have now i did not have before.

if i am bored it is my own fault.

[mokie]

volunteer my time to NAMI to help others better understand what their mental diagnosis is. mental health advocate.

[Miss Laura]

I joined an organisation called Penumbra which caters for people with MH Issues. I get a 2 hour 1:1 emotional support once a wk. With their help I managed to join a Badminton class, Swimming group, Tai Chi class and now Tennis class too. Without them I wouldn't be here as they push you to do things. They also have group studd you can go along to the other wk it was a relaxation group. There are 3 support workers and 1 manager. They have paperwork which we do once every 3 months and they check in with your moods, circumstances etc. I am hoping to volunteer with their help. Also thinking of going back to college. I have only been attending Penumbra for a year next month.

I also attend app's, meet up with friends for lunch/dinner try and enjoy my life.

Being on disabilty doesn't mean I am a recluse lol!

[Rose76]

I'm pursuing getting disability. If I do get it, I think I will feel less afraid of destitution. Over the past 10 years, I've lost a string of jobs. It was my regular doctor who advised that I apply. He said "You couldn't have tried any harder." I don't know that I'ld give myself that much credit, but I always berate myself for my failings. At one time, I was quite successful, so this is hard.

Were I to be on disability, I think the lessening of fear might allow me to do something productive. I know that, on disability, you're not supposed to do stuff that's comparable to going to work. I am a person of many interests. I have thought I would like to do literacy tutoring. My diagnosis is Bipolar II. When I'm hypomanic, I can really get things done, if I don't get too disorganized.

I imagine the depressive episodes will still come around cyclically, as they have all my life. The lessening of fear might make them more manageable. I am alone with no one to depend on. I have no economic support outside of what I get on my own. All my life has been a struggle to support myself, with suicidal ideation coming when I've been in fear of homelessness.

With some security, I think I would like to teach, in some capacity. That was my dream all my life. Instead I had become a nurse because it did let me support myself for many years.

My kids are at school during the day, so I have a lot of time to myself. I clean, garden, craft stuff or paint, I like to refinish furniture, I've got quite a few hobbies and I also snowboard, bike and stuff like that.

At first it was really hard for me to get used to. But you find your groove after awhile. My biggest problem is finding people to socialize with. I'm not a very social person either so it isn't too bad most of the time. I used to volunteer for Canadian mental health, but after I was put on a fuller schedule I just couldn't function very well.

My bf is really trying to convince me to paint more and put my stuff out there. I'm thinking about it, nervously.

[Anneinside]

I have hobbies - knitting, quilting, surfing the internet, watching tv. I live alone so my tv is on all the time. Every weekday morning I go to a little hole in the wall diner for breakfast. I know all the waitresses, the owner/cook, all the other employees, some of the regulars. I see friends once to 3 times a week. I volunteer at a charity that fixes computers and gives them out to people with low incomes twice a week and sometimes do small chores for them outside of that time. Now I exercise at the Y three times a week (just going back to it after 2 surgeries). Doctor and therapy visits. Clean house, sometimes. I like being alone and I need that time alone so I try to spend the weekends at home.

[nicole84]

I'm not on disability but not currently working much. I really feel like a hermit that does nothing after reading this thread. And here I thought i'd improved lately.

Basically I get up, breakfast, tv, computer, shower (not always in that order) in the last few weeks i've managed to go for a walk and actually get out of the house. Got pretty agorophobic for awhile there

I read books and watch lots of tv shows and movies but nothing really exciting. My life sucks lol. I'm looking to study soon but don't know how i'll go with that, but at least the urge is there.

[moremi]

Sometimes its what I can do when depressed. Im out of that for now and I go out and visit family, watch tv, walking dog, internet, cleaning or shopping. Just depends on the day. I am just getting used to being on disability. My kids are at school all day and husbands at work so I am alone to do whatever. I am trying to get a schedule for myself now that I am out of the depression. Its a work in progress. The sunshine makes me want to just go and do something the past weeks. I am taking walks now. I like it. I just go out with my kids and walk around the neighborhood. I think my day depends on what day it is in the year it varies with my illness. if its gloomy I feel gloomy. Sunny, I usually am up and at it.

I like to go visit with my family during the day while my kids are at school. See my sisters and brothers and their kids (my nieces and nephews) The little kids are always entertaining and I love to spoil them.

[unaluna]

my usual answer is, I do absolutely nothing, and somehow it takes me all day.

[Irreplaceable]

I wish I could get disability...Too many responsibilities and people to take care of...No time for me....

[LiteraryLark]

Hmm, my ex best friend just spun herself insane all day long.

[touchingsaturn]

i have a part time job... with every other day off... and shorter (six hour) shifts... so when i'm not well, i can usually pull it together long enough to get through the shift... and then when i'm not working, i recover... sometimes i even wonder where the time goes when i'm not working... it's not hobbies.. it's not anything tangible... sometimes it really is just allowing my brain to recover from having lived a day out in society.... and even though logically i know that's what i need... it drives me nuts that i have to do that... i so much want to be that 32 year old who has a full time job, and has her own place, pays her own bills... has a life... just like the majority of the population... has so much on their plate that they'd kill to have every other day off... *sigh* but yeah, as of right now... i have limitations that (whether i like them or not) i have no control over... and to be honest, it's absolutely exasperating sometimes...

[Rose76]

I'ld like to think that if I get on disability, that I will get a good bit of relief from a tremendous load of anxiety that I carry around in the workplace. I am chronically stressed. Not having to go from job to job and having that keep ending in failure, would take a good hunk of stress out of my life.

I'ld like to think that the removal of the burden of horrendous stress that comes from working at jobs I fail at would allow me to have some recovery from my general psychiatric problems. If I could recover, then I think I could lead a more normal live - kind of like a retired person. I'm age 59, so I think that's reasonable for me to hope for. Had I gone after disability when I was younger, I don't think it would have been a healthy thing - for me. Back when I was having a good bit of success at work - like when I was in my 20's and 30's and 40's - not working would have kept me from knowing what I am capable of when I feel relatively well.

I sure hope I get approved and that it doesn't take too long. Otherwise, I will be doing whatever it is homeless people do. I'll probably read in the library during the day, eat where they give out meals, and head for a shelter at night.

[bowhunt72]

I'm a former firefighter/paramedic on a disability retirement, so my experience with disability may be different from most. Since I'm not on social security but on my state's police/fire pension fund, I'm allowed to work at almost anything I want, I just can't have anything to do with police work or firefighting. I work part time as a tire and lube technician in an auto shop. Not very fulfilling work and it pays less than a quarter of what I used to make, but it fills some of the time and brings a small paycheck. I'm currently separated from my wife and living away from my family, so a lot of my time is spent sitting alone reading or surfing online. I'm trying to force myself to get outside and walk or go to the library or do anything but stay home and become a hermit. Trying to become involved in bipolar/depression support groups for contact with people who know what I'm going through and may be able to help.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Rose76

I sure hope I get approved and that it doesn't take too long. Otherwise, I will be doing whatever it is homeless people do. I'll probably read in the library during the day, eat where they give out meals, and head for a shelter at night.

How would you transport yourself from the library to the meal place to the shelter? Would you get to keep the car? Who would pay the gas, insurance and maintenance? These are the thoughts I think, not just about if I do not win the disability case, but also about while I wait.

[unaluna]

cars are pretty expensive. that's why you look for a town with good public transportation and amtrak and greyhound stations are pluses. the facilities you talk about will be either in walking distance of each other or on a bus line. if you have low income or SSDI you can often get a reduced fare (50%) card for the bus. your life really changes. it shouldn't be a choice? I was almost catatonic and just didn't have the right support or the knowledge or ability to find it.

[Rose76]

In my town, most of the agencies that provide for homeless people are concentrated in the downtown area so that one can get from one to the other on foot, if one can walk okay.

In my town, there was a policy that no female would ever be left on the street at night. Our main homeless shelter would send a vehicle to retrieve any female who is without shelter at night. (Not all women want to be retrieved.) The shelter was an okay place to sleep, I found out, when I was in a domestic situation that caused me to go to the shelter to get away from being taunted at home. I felt very safe there. In the past year, though, I have heard that there may soon be not enough beds for even females. It may become - first come, first served - as it is for the guys.

I have been extremely worried about how to meet my needs while waiting for SSDI, even if it looks like I will be approved. My law firm, however, has told me that I can probably get SSI, while waiting, based on "dire need" status. I am really glad I did get a lawyer. The staff at the firm knows about stuff I never heard of.