As I said earlier, I have finished everything both CE exams: physical for all those issues and mental for depression (which I was surprised they wanted me to do) both doctors told me they would support my disability - I lost it in mental exam and felt pretty stupid - had such difficulty concentrating on memory tests - Now I wait for denial as that is what I have learned from this board that will happen - I just cannot help but want it to be approved and trying not to expect anything but bad news - please add me to your thoughts and prayers tks for support Reva

How long now since you filed the first paperwork?...curious.
Good Luck.

I filed in October and received the appointments around Christmas - both exams took about an hour and a half each - I was surprised cuz I kept hearing they would be about 15 minutes but nooooo not mine

Hey Babs - if you are interested I will tell you about my mental exam , nothing like I was expecting- I am still recovering - the doctor however was a sweetheart Grins, Reva

Please...if you feel like sharing, I'd be more than appreciative to hear about the mental exams. Thanks friend.

My mental exam went very much in my favor I think - I filled out papers about my childhood also about medical history [bilatateral mastectomy,several surgeries to follow for other complications leaving me with chest pain and neck pain, herniated discs in low back which are really my main problems - not depression) he read everything asked some questions about alcoholic parents then we played this game of what would you think if I said strike while the iron is hot - another one was why should people in glass houses not throw stones, well we talked about my answers to those and then it was memory time - he started giving me 4 and 5 sets of numbers and wanted me to repeat them backwards - well I am 54 but did not think I was too feeble minded but for the life of me I could not do it - I got frustrated and teary eyed and he was just the sweetest he said he felt I was just too depressed to concentrate and he could not believe they had not given me a mental exam before turning down when I applied before - he said I had been through enough and obviously was unable to work and that he would help me anyway he could soooooo waiting for my answer now for two weeks and trying not to hope for anything positive - I hope you will have someone like I got he was great Grins Reva

just a thought - I have suffered from chronic pain for five years and one mention of depression and that has seem to draw interest - I am in terrible physical shape but cannot prove it = huuuuummmmm

Hi tampatar..My exam with the psych went almost exactly as yours did. I was asked about the glass house, strike while the iron is hot, etc. I was also asked about my childhood and actually spend about 45 minutes with the psychiatrist. He told me at the end of the exam that his diagnosis was depression with anxiety which didn't surprise me. I have been diagnosed with that many times in the last 20 years. I really had high hopes that I would be granted my disability but was not. I have recently hired an attorney and my first appt. is next week. I am very anxious to view my social security file and see exactly what the psychiatrist reported. My attorney said that we would be able to do this. I sincerely wish you luck and that you don't have the same outcome that I did.

you had mentioned "things about your childhood" were asked...is this illnesses, or actual events that mighht have affected you mentally?

Did you have an actual diagnosis from another MD of Depression/Anxiety before this exam? (if you don't mind sharing this info)

What was your answer to strike while the iron was hot?? This ...I am just curious about ;)

I had a pretty rough childhood with alcoholic parents and had a diagnosis of depression and GAD (general anxiety disorder) - I really put on a happy face and do not know why I got so upset in my interview except I am pretty emotional about alot of things (boohoo during movie Nannie McPhee) -
My answer to strike while the iron is hot was something like - you should not put things off until it is too late, seize the day, do not procrastinate - I think the reason he was so helpful is he reacted to tears and I really was sincerely upset - I do not know if it was the questions about parents or how I was dealing with breast cancer recovery and all the pain but I am sure the emotion was what helped sooooo I do not think I would hide any problems because I cannot help but think some of these guys are good and want to help -
unique - I am glad I have someone in the same phase I am in - we used to live in Prattville - the Lemon lady sold our house - we need to get together with Babs and work together to see if we can get ourselves through this and approved
I have been studying constantly and I really think that the only thing I can get someone to be objective about is mental pain even though my physical pain is greater even the guy that did my physical exam was more interested in depression??????????????????????? Reva

Just to offer a bit of comfort..When I was sent for my mental exam my lasted 4 hours....
My ortho exam lasted 15 minutes...

Thanks it is good to know someone is 2 and a half hours crazier than me - what did ya'll do all that time - I really would have been a mess - I thought the hour and a half was agonizing - where are you at in the process now or are you done Grins Reva

I had a mental exam last summer and it last far longer than the physical exam. I have seen my report (no atty) and the psych said I was disheveled and unkempt when I arrived. And I had taken the wrong bus to get there so had to walk over (actually it was the strong winds that made me unkempt). She had me do some some stuff with memory but mostly she asked questions about my childhood. I was honest about being molested by a neighbor as a teen and then him getting a slap on the wrist (community service) and I had to testify in front of everyone in the courtroom about where he touched me and what he did. It was a very humiliating ordeal for me and I told the shrink I never dated because of the molestation. Then we talked about my hubby some and how safe he made me feel.

Then forward a few years and my grandfather passed away(1993) and I am still not over it. The a few years alter I lost custody of my 2 sons and my PCP at the time put me on something that my mom or hubby or someone made sure I took as prescribed. I told the shrink I really don't recall that 1st month and that my hubby and mom and all said they had to make me eat, I stayed in bed all day, etc. Hubby was afraid to leave me home alone, and the only reason things changed was I found out I was pregnant. So things were okay for a few years, still fighting to get custody of my sons back.

In 2002, I lost my mom and that has been very difficult to handle as well. And 16 months later, my dad passed away as well. Dealing with their deaths has been very hard for me. One thing that makes it so hard is my daughter was born on their wedding anniversary and they were with me when she was born. Little things can trigger a breakdown for me and I still don't watch TV or movies much anymore. If I do watch something it is usually a cartoon with my daughter. But when the shrink was questioning me, I lost it so bad. I was trying so hard not to cry and analyse it in front of her and it was obvious she could tell. She even told me it was ok to cry if I needed to. Several times she had to wait until I could get even a little control back so I could talk to her.

The only thing in the report that might be damaging is the fact I carried a newborn kitten around with me. My daughter found him the day he was born and he was still so young his eyes weren't even open yet. She asked me about him too and I told her my hubby said not to get attached in case he died but I was his momma now and he needed me or he would die. She asked me about feeding him and if I did it like a human baby. About that time he woke up and started crying so I took out the bottle I had and started feeding him. I told her simply if he cried, I fed him, I didn't have to think about when to do it or anything. And I told her I would just sit in our recliner sometimes and stroke him after he ate and that he liked to nuzzle on my neck and sleep on my neck too. She asked me what I'd do if he didn't make it and I told her I would not let him die, he was mine to take care of and nothing was going to hurt him. Guess it was obvious to her I am way too attached to this kitten and give him too many "human" qualities. He is now 9 months old and I still treat him as a baby. I told the shrink that my dr had told me I shouldn't have anymore kids so the only babies I would get to take care of would have 4 feet. I was a nervous wreck when he had his neuter surgery and they had to do a tail amputation because he had chewed a large portion off when I went on vacation and was gone for a week. I have told my hubby that he will never be left behind like that again.

Anyways, the shrink report did say I was capable of handling my own money but it also said I was not able to deal with public, relate well to authority, handle stresses of working, and that even little things could trigger a breakdown to a crying spell. Her main diagnosis was major chronic depression and she stated she felt it would be not be resolved until the issues causing it was solved, especially the custody fight for my 2 sons.

The reason I think the report is so much in my favor is the one thing I have done the most is work fast food as a cashier. SO since I can't handle stresses and I am not able to cope with the public and anything could trigger a depression "spell" fast food is not an option in any way at all.

What is the "reasoning" why they want to do a mental exam?
I can see that the physical can play a role in functionality, and being able to Physically work...but it seems that the mental exam is very thorough, and I am just wondering WHY the "state" is so intertested in a person's mental status when it comes to disabilities... and excuse me if the answer is a simple one. It may just be that I am not getting the impact of a mental exam on one's outcomes to receiving disability.

By the way...everyone sounds like they've been through a lot...God Bless!! :angel:

Thanks it is good to know someone is 2 and a half hours crazier than me - what did ya'll do all that time - I really would have been a mess - I thought the hour and a half was agonizing - where are you at in the process now or are you done Grins Reva

LOL! I am finished with my process, I won my benefits at the hearing level last September 06'......

We went through all kinds of test, from spelling, math, puzzle games with blocks, about 2000 questions, past and present history, and then when all that was done, I was handed a standardized test to go out in the hall to fill out and that was about 360 questions long...I was spent after all that for sure....
I suffer from aniexty and panic disorders but my application was on my lumbar spine...I had a severe injury that required surgery plus I have severe spinal stenosis...
I hope all things go well for you and you win your benefits....

Hi Reva....The lemon lady is still driving her bright yellow VW around town..:) It is great to have someone to share experiences with during this frustrating and depressing period. I've been paying into SS since I was 16 and I feel as I am sure others do, that I shoud be able to draw benefits when I need to. I thought I was prepared for my denial, but I wasn't. Oh well...maybe I'll have good luck at the attorney appointment next week. I actually have known this attorney for many years and know that he is very good at what he does. Maybe there is hope after all. Please keep us posted on what is happening with you. Barbie

Everything is gonna work out for you at some point Barbie - but I feel the same way - I have been paying on this forever and it is infuriating to have to jump through hoops
the mental exam is done to determine what you can do mentally - the guy that did my mental exam said he thought I was too depressed to concentrate on working so he was going support my claim - I told my ss worker that I was too depressed to go through all this again and she set up the exam -

Sam do you think that the mental exam had any influence on the decision