Disablilty for chronic depression? - Page 2

karen82252 · 01-23-2006, 11:04 PM

Well, certain things are better since I have been on DA. I know the check is coming every month (direct deposit) on the 3rd. I know how much money I have and how much I can spend. I know I don't have to make myself go to work to earn the money. There is alot less stress in the income department.
My life is so complex. I can't tell if I'm the worst I have ever been with depression or the best I've ever been. Go to see the psycharist on Feb. 3, maybe he can tell. I have a 25 year old daughter that has just about driven me crazy since she was 15 years old. She has been married and divorced 2X. No children - 1st to a cop and 2nd to a criminal on the run from the law. The day they were married 2 months he was arrested and spent 26 months in jail. My first husband left after 25 years of marriage. 3 years later a married a man 19 years younger than me. He is into crack. He has sent me to hell and back many many times. I cannot end the marriage. I keep trying another round. I think it is because of the depression. I feel like I am ssuch a poor excuse for a wife and a woman most of the time, also a pitiful housekeeper. I threw him out in March last year and he is in FL. He has sent me some money to help me but he has had us in the hole on money for years. He was clean for 2 years and then almost 3 years. There is no way I can tell if my depression is better between the daughter and the husband. It is calmer at my house with thre hubby in FL. The money issues are worse because 2 people have been paying bills and now only one does.

I don't know what I would do if I did not have DA. So the bottom line is , YES it help a lot to know the money is coming every month. I will not be checked for 5 years to see if my condition has improved. I hope your like is not as crazy as mine.

What symptoms do you have of menopause? The dr. gave me a blood test last year to see if I was still ovulating and it came back yes, not staring menopause. I skip about 3 periods a year and have for the last 3 years. I thought maybe the depression was coming from menopause and that is why I asked for the test to be done. I guess I can't blame and mood swings or depression on menopause.lol I'm just looking for answers.

Countrygirl1 · 01-24-2006, 12:05 AM

whirlgirl8, I am speaking as a social worker. You WILL be denied the first time you apply for disability. However, keep appealing! You will get it! Unfortunately, it may take the 18 months that it took karen. It is a disgrace how the system is!

whirlgirl8 · 01-24-2006, 12:23 AM

Hey Karen,

Yes my life is just as crazy as yours! My mom is a chronic alcoholic and smoker. She has peripheral neuropathy do to her alcoholism and it makes her walk crooked, she can't get her balance and she's always depressed but believes she's not depressed. It's so apparent to all of us that she's treating her pain and depression with alcohol.

My sister was born deaf and my brother was born deaf and blind. My baby brother has decided now after 10 years of marriage and a baby that he is gay. Now the doctors tell us my sister needs a kidney transplant very soon and we can't find a match for her.

My life is a bit crazy too!!!!!!

I'm a recovering alcohol and addict and I've been in A.A. for 20 years. Clean most of the time with a few slips. One of the slips was really bad and I lost my house and dog. I had allowed myself to get involved with a man in a.a. who was also a recovering crack addict. I found a pipe in his house and confronted him about it. He said it was a very old pipe and swore he was still sober. Well a couple of days later I caught him smoking crack and instead of running the other way I smoked a hit. I had never tried it before and didn't stop to think of the ramifications. What a huge mistake. It took everything from me, that was 3 years ago. Today I'm clean but still deprressesd. I know from experience that drinking or using will only make my depression worse.

As for the menopause symptoms I get night sweats, anxiety, depression, foggy brained, mood swings, bloating.

I take 300mg zoloft, 600mg prometrium for depression and perimenopause.

Just because you're still ovulating doesn't mean you're not in menopause, menopause can last 10 years. Once you completely stop having periods then you are considered to be through menopause. Menopause is a gradual decline of our sex hormones.

I would say get a good female gynocologist who's up on the latest in women's hormones. Suzanne Sommers book The Sexy Years has some great info about hormones.

Do you take any meds or do you know anything about effexor?
l.o.l. whirlgirl

Mworks · 01-24-2006, 01:34 AM

I agree with the other posters. I was also denied the first time. I applied in 1990 and was denied. I then spent 9 months in a psych hospital which I guess then they figured I really did need the disability. I got it in 1994. Its not great. I mean the depression sucks big time. I get almost no relief from medications, been on everything. I have done ECT and that did more harm than good. I do wish I could work as the disability is barely enough to live on, and it is paying for the meds , which I would be a total basket case without.

Just keep trying.

karen82252 · 01-24-2006, 02:13 AM

whirlgirl8 I didn't tell all about my crazy family. My mom is almost 90 and still lives by herself and does not have health issues except for knee replacement. Her mind is going and you tell her something and she says I did not tell her or she tells you something 3 or 4 times. I love her but it is so stressful. I end up argueing with her over something stupid. I have a sister who is diabetic and in the beginning stages of kidney failure. She is 62 years old and is on DA. Her vision is bad. She has had a detached retina and she has neurothopy(sp) She is very depressed. I have 2 sisters beside me who take AD. One who needs the but won't take them. Also, 2 neices who take AD. My daughter has taken 2-9month rounds of AD. She says she does not need them and will not be like me and live out of a bottle. She does take Xanax as needed - usually to sleep. My son was diagonised with clinical depression this summer. He went to counseling and has worked hard on his attitude. He does not want to AD either. They lived with me to long. My DH is 25 years old. DS 33 Years old, married and has my only grandchild, Sierra 5 years old. Some days if it were not for her I could just check out of this world. Don't think about suicide. Just don't want to live. Stupid!! I heard this on a movie "I don't want to die, but I don't want to live." That's me. Most days I feel like I just exsist. I do take meds and have for 15 years.
I take 200 mg WB 2x a day, 40 mg of Celexa and Xanax at bedtime. Every now and them I take 1/2 for anxiety. I did take Effexor for 8 months. I have no blood pressure problems but it elevated my bp so I asked to be changed.

It is DD that is 25 years old not DH. DD lives with me part time and her boyfriend part time.
Meds help, counceling helps, talking to friends help but I keep thinking someday I am going to come with an answer for why am I so depressed. It is not that I am that I have such a cheery out look. Most of the time, I just think it is stupid why I can't get better. I feel like I have tried everything (sure I haven't) but I feel I have. Some days it seems alright and then no.
I am a roller coaster in my moods. It is terrible. I am parinod. Feel like people talk about me, look at me funny. I never feel like I fit in anywhere. Even in my family. It is not that they say or do anything to make me feel this way. I just do deep inside. I just want it to get better. Boy, is depression a bumber.