[Venus2!]

Soo does anyone have advice for me? I was just given my GAF score (50) and my Psych says I am disabled. I know I need to get better. How can I make the most of not being able to work or go to school? Not like I really could before, but now the state is involved. any knowledge on this whether good or negative would be appreciated.

[Forget-Me-Nots]

Now and days Universities and Community Colleges have online classes and disability support services, . if you can get the pell grant by signing up VIA Fafsa. You can go to a community college for free or close to free. Take an introductory computer class and try it out. You can also check out your local Vocational Rehabilitation office but they haven't done anything for me though. The probably could hook you up with school though.

[Perna]

How is the State involved? I would look into their programs or your County's.

[justbeingme80]

Originally Posted by Venus2!

Soo does anyone have advice for me? I was just given my GAF score (50) and my Psych says I am disabled. I know I need to get better. How can I make the most of not being able to work or go to school? Not like I really could before, but now the state is involved. any knowledge on this whether good or negative would be appreciated.

How is the state involved? If you can't work or go to school, you could always volunteer somewhere even if it's only an hour a week. You can pretty much go when you feel able to go.

[Hellion]

If you haven't applied for disability either SSI or SSDI depending on if you've accumulated income or not...I'd recommend doing that. That way you will have some income...aside from that volunteering is good and spending time doing things you enjoy or find meaning in can also be helpful.

[Forget-Me-Nots]

You should also check out the non-for-profits organizations and see if you can't get a job.

A GAF of 50 is fairly low. It likely would indicate that volunteering, at least initially, might be a bit of a strain, actually, and energy is best spent on establishing a personal routine structured around stabilizing personal hygeine, healthy eating, a clean and organized living space, health habits, etc. Once a person has those down and it isn't a struggle, than yeah volunteering would be a good way to build up stamina and confidence needed to move up to job and school.

Having a step up process is hepful, but if the GAF is 50 and you feel it is fairly accurate in that it does reflect your level of functioning, it might be more helpful to focus on the things you are having trouble with first.

To take up some times maybe you could join a meetup club or something at the library that doesn't hollld you obligated to go to meetings, or something that isn't highly demanding to do on your own for the time being.

[shortandcute]

I would be careful of that, because social security caught wind of me doing some volunteer work (because of something I mentioned to a doctor) and that was one of the reasons I was denied. They figured that if I "worked" for free, I could work for pay.

Also, having any kind of social life at all, is cause for denial along with doing anything beyond just sitting and staring off into space. You can't go shopping, or clean your bathroom either.

p.s. my GAF score is 45.