I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS BIPOLAR. I TAKE DEPAKOTE AND WELLBUTIN ON AND OFF.NOT GOOD AT TAKING MY MEDS.DONT SEEM TO CHANGE ANYTHING ANY WAY.I HAVE HELD A JOB FOR 25 YRS. I CURRENTLY AM OFF WORK FOR A BACK PROBLEM BUT AM GLAD DUE TO THE FACT THAT WORK WAS REALLY STARTING TO CLOSE IN ON ME. I AM TERRIFIED OF GOING BACK.ONT WANT TO BE AROUND PEOPLE.HATE EVERYONE JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE IN MY OWN LITTLE SPACE.IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET OFF WORK FOR THIS PROBLEM? PEOPLE CALL ME WEIRD ALL THE TIME.

I collected SS Disabilty for 2 1/2 years due to Bipolar and some physical aliments, could not take it anymore and went back to work, and if I was you what other people think of you, its what you think of yourself, GOD does not make junk

[This message has been edited by minerva (edited 11-22-2002).]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE..I WILL CONTINUE ON MY QUEST THEN...I AM ASKING MY DR. TO REFER ME TO A PSYCHIATRIST. YOU MADE ME FEEL BETTER .WHAT ALL DID YOU HAVE TO GO THRU TO PROVE YOUR DISABILITY? WHAT ALL DID IT ENTAIL? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

MD and shrink signed State disabilty papers and I called SS up and they sent me a whole load of paperwork, questionares etc, its been 10 years so? If you have a hard time getting SS Dis there are a ton of lawlyers who speciize in this field, but please think this out and for yourself please get a good shrink, going on dis could make you worse it did to me imho. Good Luck

your best bet is to call your local ssa office or at least file an application for disability so they can discuss the requirements with you...usually you have to be disabled or will be disabled for a period of about 12 months or so, and this includes following the doctors orders for taking meds as prescribed....not taking meds that create a disability is not a basis for a disability approval....
if your employer offers an early medical retirement program then you may qualify for that as the conditions are usually different than the regulations for ssa....also if your employer offers short or long term diability insurance than a mental illness will qualify you for that as well...also important to let your employer know that you are bipolar as leave should be granted for doctor's visits, also you have certain protections with your job in the event that you are seeking treatment but the meds are not working for you...best wishes to you!!!

THANX MAGNOLIA AND JABBER FOR YOUR IMPUT.I AM ALSO HAVING BACK PROBLEMS WHICH ARE THE REAL REASON I AM OFF WORK BUT FRIENDS TOLD ME IT WAS EASIER TO GET SS FOR YOUR MIND THEN YOUR BACK SO I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT ALL GOING DOWN THAT ROAD ENTAILS. I WOULD SAY DUE TO MY BACK PROBLEM I WILL BE ABLE TO MEDICALLY RETIRE BUT THE ROAD TO GETTING DISABILITY IM SURE WILL BE A LONG LONG AND WINDING ROAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLIES

Mzrose
Ask your Doctor about it. They can give you a cse worker and see if you quaify. I am just starting to see if I can get help with medicaid, or anything for the cost of meds, and the shrink and blood work all that. I don't care if I get money or not,, yet that would be helpful. I am just going for some kinda of health insurance.

We are a family of 5 and my husband makes 390 before taxes. We have medicade on the boys. Thats it.. So I have some hope we can get something for me..

Good luck for us all !

Thanx Toomuch for your reply.Everyone on here is so helpful.thank you all http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Hi, how are you? Yes, it is possible to get disability for bi-polar and other mental health disorder. As a matter of fact, I'm going through the process of getting it myself. I have been denied so far but they say that happens the first time. But you can appeal the decision and that is what I'm doing.

First they will send you a load of paperwork and you just fill it out and send it in. They'll talk to your doctors and most likely will send you to one of theirs. It's not bad going to one that they refer you too. They just check your ability to concentrate under pressure, memory, vision, and mental status.

It is best for you to have a good therapist when you go for this. And make sure that you know how they feel about disability checks. A lot of them aren't too big on getting people started on those.

Good luck and I hope everything works out. It's a long process but you can do it. Just hang in there and work with them.

Larissa

thank you 1stepcloser i am going to go for it.thanks for responding.

Hello, Iam trying to get disability to because of manic depressive, ialso have hep-c and diabetes.I applied for social security disability in sept 2001 i got denied in jan2002 i appealed and finally got a hearing in oct 2002 still waiting for the judges decsion,just hang in there its a long process but u should recieve back pay from the day u signed up. Also get a good lawyer!!!!!

Tadpole

I WILL THANK YOU TADPOLE http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Tadpole is right. Your best bet would be to get a good lawyer. It makes the process much easier. Or you can get a non-attourney representative. It can be a friend or family member that knows a lot about what's going on with you. Someone that they can ask questions about the ordeal.

Larissa

Thanx didnt know bout using a family member or friend. Funny you should say that ...because of friends and family they were the ones who pointed out my problem and helped me find out what was wrong with me.

I was denied disability, any type of assistance, everything. I make too much money & I'm "not crazy enough". If that makes ANY sense. I not only have medical problems, but I've also been unemployed since July. I'm trying to find a job & fight the system at the same time. It's such a pain!

MZRose, how are things going with the disability? I have not heard my second opinion yet but I'm sure that I will get denied again. Nothing ever goes right for me anyway.

Silverwillow, I know that it's a pain. I got denied my first time because I can do substantial work. Ya know, like cleaning house, taking care of myself, etc. Duh? What person with OCD isn't good at cleaning house?!?
Also, I'm smart. Another OCD thing here. I was obsessed with knowing it everything when I was in school. Still am. Just because I'm smart doesn't mean that I can get out there and work like it's going out of style. I also have Social Anxiety Disorder. But, again, it is something that can be helped with benzos. Apparently they've never tried to work while "high" on some kind of tranquilizer. I would love to talk to those people in person and let them hear my full side of the story. I would gladly trade places with them. If they want to try and prove you can work like this, then I'll let 'em at it. Okay, sorry, I'm using this board to vent. LOL Guess I'll shut up.

Good luck everyone on your disablility claims. Let me know how things are going.

Larissa

Thnk for inquiring..that is so kind of you ....disability people called me and said they were sending me an appointment with a head doctor. we will see whhat happens http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tongue.gif

there's a form to fill out and you give it to your doctor and he fills it in. then you submit it back to Social Security and they put you on temporary disability. when that runs out you go for SSI. they deny everyone almost up to the appeals process. you need a lawyer to fight for your money. i got a law firm that took my case and they wanted me to keep treating with doctors. the whole thing just got too expensive for the lousy $800 a month i would get. it was an uphill battle while you're sick, endless paperwork and daily mail bombarding your mailbox and it can ruin you financially if you have no insurance. get a lawyer immediately if you deal with Social Security. best wishes. pinkcat

[This message has been edited by pinkcat (edited 12-16-2002).]

Thanx Pinkcat...i have filed and am on my way...i will keep you informed

I totally hear that with the OCD comment. Now really, if you're obsessive & compulsive about something, whatever it is will get done about 40 times! I don't think I have OCD personally, but when I clean, I tear the place up & re-organize EVERYTHING.
& my last rent cheque bounced because I was out spending again. I lost the love of my life over this. I just want to get better & get back together with him!! Being away from him makes me anxious sometimes & I go out & spend money I don't even have. I don't do it all the time anymore, only when I get scared that he's never coming back, because I'll never get better & he won't be able to trust me. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif
I myself have a high IQ & I told my friend at work, just because someone is frightningly intellegent does not automatically make them "normal". Some are completely insane, some are your average person, some are nobel prize winners, & some are even psycopaths. It has nothing to do with knowledge. It has to do with something's messed up in my freaking head.
I used to be like that, with the social anxiety. The meds I'm on took care of it a little bit & it's livable now, so I was told I didn't need to be on anything else.
Oh, I'll go with you to present the case! I was a self-injurer. Being bi-polar, having those urges & trying to fight them all by myself, made me totally insane. Eventually I got to the point where I didn't know where I was & I was scared to death. My girl from work had to smack me around a bit, so I'd stop & she could calm me down. I used to puncture myself repetedly at work with thumbtacks, scratch thru my skin with my own fingernails & then disappear to the bathroom for like 1/2 hour while I watched myself bleed, tear out my hair in clumps, etc. I had wild mood swings where I told people to get away from me or I'd stab them thru the heart with a pen. & I'd get so hyper, that I couldn't sit still & I'd throw up.
How is that normal behaviour that would be tolerated in the workplace??! I worked for an annuities company & sometimes I had to talk to agent & clients. Imagine my conversations....
I have to agree completely with you on the whole--you live as me for a day concept.

silverwillow, I totally hear you on the repeating things 40 times. It takes me an hour or sometimes longer just to clean my room in the mornings and the only thing I have to do is make my bed, open my curtains, vacume and dust.

Do you really think they could handle being like us for one day? lol, I'd like to see that.

Larissa


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-Kind words are short and easy to speak but their echos are truly endless.
-Friends are like bras, they give lots of support.

Originally posted by *OneStepCloser*:
silverwillow, I totally hear you on the repeating things 40 times. It takes me an hour or sometimes longer just to clean my room in the mornings and the only thing I have to do is make my bed, open my curtains, vacume and dust.

Do you really think they could handle being like us for one day? lol, I'd like to see that.

Larissa




I'm not always like that, but I do get that way & I get so mad when it's mot clean to my satisfaction that I tear the place up & start all over. It sux!

I'd like to see it too. I think they'd beat their own heads in before they got through the day to be honest.

~Will~

I appreciate all this imput gives me lots to go on...last year i use to be driving and get places with no knowledge of driving there or even have to pull over cause i didnt know where i was going or even what time of the day it is...i also would get violent and hit my husband and find things i bought with no recollection of buying it...i get money orders for my bills and a month later find i havent mailed them....buy things i have no use for...get up in the middle of the nite start some stupid project then after sporadic sleep decide to not even want to do that...start 10 projects and finish none...glad to know im not alone...glad to find out whats wrong with me

I was diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder in 1994 on retirement from the military, after a suicide attempt with narcotics. I was recently diagnosed as having Alzheimers Disease. Whether they are related or not makes me wonder wheter they are related (?) At any rate, I will be applying for permanent disability as son as my employer lets me go (I am a nurse and my forgetfulness and judgment are now impaired but will hang on as long as I can. "Idle minds are the playground of the devil," some say. I am sure that is true. We become what we dwell on) I hope to go into full time ministry at that point. I will not let boredom get to me. What do y'all think? I would love to have a professsional opinion here before I go to the Alzheimeers Center here in Indianapolis for further evaluation and treatment.

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Just a thought to consider...Joe http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by philippine_dude (edited 12-22-2002).]

MZROSE,
I have many suggestions for you if you would like, on how to get disability. It takes a while, but with the right lawyer or family member to support you through this, you can get what you want! It takes a lot of pressure off when you don't have to work.

Jana

[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 01-30-2003).]

Originally posted by MZROSE:
last year i use to be driving and get places with no knowledge of driving there or even have to pull over cause i didnt know where i was going or even what time of the day it is...

This has happened to me. I actually posted about it once. It was the weirdest feeling in the world. It was like one minute I'm pulling out of my driveway and the next I'm at my destination without a memory of the drive there. Sometimes I even have to pull over and try to remember where I was headed. There's been times that I never did so I just come back home.


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-Kind words are short and easy to speak but their echos are truly endless.
-Friends are like bras, they give lots of support.

This seemed like the best place to vent since this topic is about disablity. I GOT DENIED AGAIN!!!!! Here's what they said. "Although you experience mental difficulties, your records show that you are able to communticate with others, act in your own interest and perform most ordinary activities."

I just don't understand this. How can they tell me what I can do when they aren't living with this everyday!? They're not the ones who get up every morning fighting themselves and go to bed everynight exhausted from the emotional battle and then stay awake all night fighting yourself somemore. This is really pissing me off. What did you guys do after your 2nd denial if you had one? I need some advice here. I've done all I can do about this. I feel like I'm making all of this crap everyone's business for no reason but to make a fool of myself. I hate people knowing what's wrong with me and now everyone does. And for what? Nothing at all. I have nothing to show for all of this.

Okay, I had to get that out. Thanks.

Larissa

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Kind words are short and easy to speak but their echos are truly endless.

Originally posted by philippine_dude:
I was diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder in 1994 on retirement from the military, after a suicide attempt with narcotics. I was recently diagnosed as having Alzheimers Disease. Whether they are related or not makes me wonder wheter they are related (?) At any rate, I will be applying for permanent disability as son as my employer lets me go (I am a nurse and my forgetfulness and judgment are now impaired but will hang on as long as I can. "Idle minds are the playground of the devil," some say. I am sure that is true. We become what we dwell on) I hope to go into full time ministry at that point. I will not let boredom get to me. What do y'all think? I would love to have a professsional opinion here before I go to the Alzheimeers Center here in Indianapolis for further evaluation and treatment.


I guess I'm wondering if you are in a manic phase now. You tried to commit suicide, was diagnosed with bipolar and now diagnosed with Alzheimers? You plan to go into full time ministry? This is not from a professional by any means but in my humble opinion it seems far fetched. Surely there are less destructive ways to avoid boredom.

to one step closer: you have to get an attorney to fight for your money. it is denials denials denials all the way up to the appeals process. there are law firms that specialize in social security law, disabilities, etc. that do not charge you up front and fight these cases all the time. what they require of you is to keep treating. once they win your case they take a small portion and you don't have to fight this alone while you are disabled. if you do have a lawyer you might want to look for another so that you are properly represented. the idiots at social security don't want to pay and you have to fight fight fight. good luck.

Originally posted by JanaBree:
MZROSE,
I have many suggestions for you if you would like, on how to get disability. It takes a while, but with the right lawyer or family member to support you through this, you can get what you want! It takes a lot of pressure off when you don't have to work.
Let me know, and I'll send you my email address for some good tips!
Jana

Hi Jana,
I saw this thread, and your post. And I was wondering if you could send me a few tips too.? I applied for SSD in 1995. and was turned down. I applied again this month. I am seeing a physciatrict, and a family dr. for my illnes. (Bi Polar11)
I am on alot of meds, and when I look them up to read about them, they are medicans mostly used for epelepsy.

Anyway, I would appreciate any advice that you have to give.
Thamks
Suzanne