Proving an invisible disability

I wasn't sure where exactly to put this, but Insurance and Finances didn't seem quite right... so here it goes.

I got a package in the mail a couple days ago. My medical records that the ministry received. I went through it all and my heart sank. I wouldn't have approved me either, if that's all I saw.

I was listening to a person talk about their chronic pain. One of the things they mentioned was that their pain was so intense all the time, that when things happened like a broken bone, people would think it was just a sprain because of her outward reaction to it. It's just her pain tolerance was so high, her reactions to serious things were... underwhelming.

I realized that must be what's been happening for me. I've been having serious mental health issues for so long (essentially my whole life), that when I describe to the mental health professionals what's going on, it just sounds "like a sprain". Something you could pop a couple Aspirins, wrap it up and get on with your day. When really I don't have a foot to stand on. I've been denied twice, and now I'm afraid that my tribunal appeal won't even go through. I can't work, I can't go to school even. I've spent 6 years trying to get my high school diploma and I still don't have it. So much for my dream of going to University. I wish I could work, have a normal, boring life. But I'm far too broken. And I don't even know HOW I'm broken. I don't even have a solid diagnosis. How can I tell someone I can't work and then not know how to say WHY I can't work. I don't know why. I try and I fall on my face, and I don't know why that happens. What can I do?

I'm sorry, I don't have any words of wisdom to help. Just wanted to let you know that someone heard you.

Hi Adespota,
Your situation sounds frustrating and familiar.

I have chronic pain issues and don't react much to pain. I finally learned to say when something hurt. Sometimes, I'll even add an, "Ow!" Turns out, the squeaky wheel really does get the oil. When I've reacted, the doctors have done x-rays that show how bad my back is. Or that part of my lung collapsed.

Also, I've been hiding physical and mental symptoms since I was a child. It's hard to change that. It's also why people have been surprised when, seemingly out of the blue, I end up in crisis. It's made it hard for some people to accept that I really do have a serious mental illness.

Only thing I can think of is to be the squeaky wheel. Keep going to a T or PDoc and get them to help you access what you're actually going through.

I hope things get better for you.

Adespota. I read your story and things may be different in Canada. I will tell you what I had to go through to get Social Security here in the US. I applied for disability with some medical information and got turned down. I applied again with more medical information about some mental health issues and got turned down. This is normal here. The gov't knows that a lot of people try to get social security for false reasons. I then had to hire an attorney who specializes in social security cases and had to sit before an administrative judge and testify in person. My attorney made sure that I had documentation from all of my doctors and it was during this third proceeding that the judge made my case fully favorable. Things may be different where you live but what helped me was a lot of documentation from professionals and the attorney.

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

This and not giving up! My friend just went through the same thing and this is what got her, her disability. DON'T GIVE UP!

Oh wow. I am so much in the same boat. I am helpless. I filed for disability, was denied. Appealed. Was denied. Now I applied for an administrative appeal, during which I am supposed to be able to speak. Nothing for, oh, 8 months now. Not a letter. Nothing.

It's all about documentation. Period.

I have had issues with past doctors, so I stopped going to see them. I have no documentation. I have to go through the new insurance here in the U.S. and accumulate such documents.

How to do this? I have no clue. When I am around people, I tend to under emphasize what problems I am having. Doctors included. I get all stoic. I tell them what's wrong, but they don't ever get to see a whit of pain or anguish on my face.

They don't believe me. I'm sorry, but I will not act under any condition. However, I feel as if I am acting by not expressing my feelings/pain. It's a problem.

The eventuality for me is homelessness. I see people on the streets and I know that I could be that person soon. I have been there before. But I was in my late teens. Now I am in my 40's.

Documentation or a card board box here.