[Hbomb0903]

So I'm spiraling down now pretty quickly, but I see the doctor on Monday. It took me a while to get an appt and I have become unable to manage the complexities of my busy life I built while stable. I'm currently only on Lithium but went off it several months ago and only started back up when I really felt myself sliding, and Lithium has never been very good to lift my depression by itself.

I am seriously considering applying for SSDI, but the thought of meeting with people and filling out paperwork and following up on things seems ridiculously daunting right now. I wondered if anyone has advice or insight into this. I've read that you can still work pt here on another thread. I just see it as admitting defeat in a way, though. A huge part of my dealing effectively with this illness is that I get feeling good and I don't "need" my meds. I can handle it, why not??

[r010159]

You need to be evaluated by a pdoc, who then will support you to receive disability. But IMO the doctor more likely will not cooperate if you continue to go off your medication. After all, who needs disability if they do not need to be treated for their problem?

First, I went to a pdoc to be diagnosed. He dxed me as BP I. I went to a second doctor outside of my home state (AZ), a well-recognized expert in his field. He dxed me as BP I and recommended I go on disability. I went to my current pdoc who dxed me with the same illness, and supported my application for disability. I had my history with BP well-documented by this time. I then proceeded to develope a history of being treated for BP, which I committed myself to doing. I then applied for disability with all of these records once I found myself not being able to work. I was initially tuned down. I then procured a good lawyer who had no problem getting me accepted for disability.

I discovered that you can only be accepted for disability when you have a well-doecumented diagnosis, history, and treatment for BP. And you cannot hold down any job, even one that only requires you to push a broom around. And you have been in this handicapped state-of-affairs for a significant period of time. This includes one or more hospitalizations for this illness. At least that has been the way it was for me.

Good luck with your decision!

tucson

[LadyShadow]

I agree with everything the above poster said. My illness was well documented and I had several (12) hospitalizations before I received disability. Also you have to be compliant with meds and have a pretty good pdoc on your side to support you. It takes a lot of work before you can get it, so that's something to consider. Unless its been well documented it will be difficult for you to get disability.

[Hbomb0903]

I have been going to doctors off and on for years. I am completely a mess when it comes to ordering all the paperwork and long-term focus of things and I tend to wander away from things I start.

I guess I could get my records from where I went in the last place I lived. Is there a way to look at your own life-long, medical record? That would seem unrealistic. I haven't been compliant to meds though. Isn't that I great symptom though, of being unable to manage yourself adequately without help? My family and friends are supportive, but I don't have a solid rock of a person that helps keep things together for me. I've always felt like I needed someone like this in my life. I tend to get very needy when depressed (really???) and have worn out a lot of my relationships that way. I don't blame, I do understand how hard I am to live with.

Anyway, I see from some other threads that getting a lawyer is always a good idea. Guess I have to drag my *** out in to the world and do something for myself. Why am I so avoidant?? The ability to observe and yet feel and be powerless to do is maddening.

An

[MagicsMom]

Don't want to argue but you don't need a hospitalization. My husband was approved without one for severe PTSD. You do need everything else everyone mentioned and a stable history of seeking and going to treatment - PDoc, counseling, etc.

[r010159]

Yes, this seems to be the case. But for Bipolar, my lawyer saw this as being very significant.

tucson