Last post Thu, Apr 10 2008 9:04 PM by jillwilliams. 27 replies.
I'd love to see a forum on disability and mental health issues. I've struggled with depression for way too long and much of it is disability related.
What do others think of this idea?
Jen
Hi, Jen,
Thank you for your feedback about adding a forum for Mental Health issues. I have added it to the list and hope to see it in the next site upgrade. In the meantime, please use the General Health Conditions/Issues forum. I'm sure others will join in as depression oftentimes goes hand-in-hand with another disability, or is a disability unto itself.
Hi Jen,
Couldn't agree more with you. My only (lucky me) disability is psychological, but mental health issues can plague anyone. Mine are anxiety related ( see DISALIFE: Out of Closet), though I've dealt with depression also (see DISALIFE: Loves Lost), actually being hospitalized for it.
My wife struggles with depression too, and it is considered situational, directly related to her being disabled (CP).
Bruce
DISALIFE
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Tony,
There've been some more resources posted for you at I am so LOST, DEPRESSED, & POSSIBLY HOMELESS -- where can I get help? PLEASE!, relating to Oklahoma (Okmulgee) and Indian Housing.
Hope they help,
My name is Dawn, I suffer from generalized panic anxiety disorder. I have had this condition for over 10 years now, it was brought on by graves disease and has messed up my brain chemistry. I have tried many treatments and medications.
I am now at a point that it is affecting my ability to work and function outside my home. I am affraid to go to work and I have been on "temporary" disability two times within the last few months. What I am wondering is if someone can be put on long term disability for something like this. My doctors keep playing with medication and I am not getting better and I fear that I am developing a phobia about work and leaving my home and being around a large group of people.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I would appreciate any feedback I could get.
Thank you,
Dawn
Greetings,
I have suffered from anxiety (GAD, social, panic) and depressive disorders (MDD) since 1978. I have worked really hard with some excellent doctors in therapy and utilized psychopharmacological interventions so that I was able to work as a Psychological Associate and HR Professional for 27 years. It has been a real fight, but I managed to remain successful in my career and worked every day to hide the symptoms of my disabilities.
I know the feeling about developing panic and avoidance anxiety regarding work because for the past 6+ years I have been unable to work and I am now on SSDI. I am in my early 50s and also dealing with hormones during perimenopaus. I would have anticipatory anxiety at night about the next day's work and awaken early with panic and avoidance tendencies. Those are difficult feelings and no one should have to live with them. It is painful but I learned that with treatment and patience life does get better.
Another thing I learned was to not chase the anxiety or the depression. Both disorders run rampant throughout my family so I just happened to be a part of the "wrong" genetic code. Predisposition to mental health issues is very common in the general population and is definitive in my family history.
I pushed to become very knowledgeable about the "monsters" I face and decided that I would beat these diseases well knowing that trying to run from them is impossible as they were (are) a part of me. I sought out mental health professionals who were (are) both well trained and experienced in therapy and psychopharmacology and went after the depression and anxiety full force. For a long time TCAs (Tofranil) worked well for me. Then my body changed and now I use a combination of Effexor XR and Cymbalta (SNRIs), with low level support from Xanax. All of my meds are carefully monitored.
As you know we all are different. I believe that a solid diagnosis was important for me. Treatment without a good differential diagnostic process is usually useless or benign. I also worked with cognitive - behavioral therapy techniques and did well. I continue to use what I learned in therapy, combined with relaxation techniques. It was not all wine and roses though and some of the mental health professionals were not the right people to help me in my fight. I had to find the right combination.
I do not know if any of this is helpful but I am here if anyone needs support, and always remember that you are never alone in your fight.
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES (depression and anxiety) can qualify as disabilities under LTD through a company plan or SSDI. The important component is to have solid medical documentation to support your claim. For SSDI, it is important to work with a reputable disability lawyer who does not get paid unless compensation and coverage is awarded. It varies with each state or commonwealth.
Hello! I am bi-polar I have been for many years. It took a many years for anyone to give me the correct diagnois. My problem is my friends that I live with are finding it hard to deal with. Even though one of the other housemates is also bi-polar. She is not being treated for her disease though. I am! I get so frustrated I could just scream sometimes. But I don't. I find that I am having a hard time dealing with this. She refuses to get help. I have thought many times of leaving this situation. Yet, I have no relatives or anywhere to go. I have been wheelchair bound for over 17 years. I also have some other medical issues to deal with. A blood disorder and cancer. So, I am not in the best of shape. This is very stressful.
Well, yesterday I decided to say something about all of this. She totally agreed with me an said no dr. would find her bi-polar. She is so wrong. She needs professional help. But I can't make her get it. She has no friends. Her and I aren't really friends we are more or less acquintances, who live in the same big house. On friday she came home from work and told us she got laid-off from her job. She has been good to me. I just am not in the mood to deal with her. I am having a hard enough time of my own dealing with things. She needs some serious help. Her mood swings get really out of control. She is in a maniac phase right now. I needed to vent. Thanks.................Sherry
Hi Sherry, My name is Julie and I have anxiety disorders and other stuff. I was once diagnosed with bi-polar but now they say it's BPD. But I have my ups and downs. I have been having a hard time where I live. I always end up living next to the most inconsiderate people, they are very noisey and do things intentionally to piss me off. I know they do. I can't deal with anymore so I am moving. You sound like you are stressed with your situation with your roomate, I am sorry to hear that, I hope it all works out for you. I'm glad I live a lone with no boyfriend or friends because it never has seemed to work out when I have tried that, we end up mad at each other and no longer so close. I wish you the best and it is good to have a safe place vent isn't it.
Hi Dawn- My name is Julie and I suffered for a long time with severe anxiety disorder including(ocd,panic/phobias,addictions,ect.) I had a real hard keeping steady employment. I just couldn't funtion well and wasn't getting the medical help I needed because i did not have insurance. I decided to apply for SSDI and they denied me at first, but when i finally got a doctor and therapist and was put on meds they started to pay attention and I did get them eventually. You have to be persistant, but if you feel you need them fight for them. I don't know where I would be with out them.Good Luck. If you have any questions I can help you with please let me know.
I had a Doctor tell me, when you have pain or physical Disability it is only logical that someone would deal with Mental Health as well, as he said,"Who wouldn't" It fits with me, so I liked it. I have Physical and Mental health problems that don't help each other. Sometimes one effects me more than another, sometimes they effect each other. As with Physical I have many problems, but am glad this is an area, because it would seem helpful to many.
This is my first day on Disaboom. It's overwhelming.
I have a spine injury and related mental health issues. I had no idea where to go for help, so when I stumbled onto this site, I started checking it out.
How do I find resources for help in my idea?
Do you mean where to go for help with your mental health issues?
Finding support in others like you are doing is one way to start but if you'd like to also benefit from professional help, your doctor may be able to refer you for outpatient therapy or you can visit your community mental health facility and see a therapist. They usually offer a sliding scale fee so it can be the most affordable option.
Good luck Jay and welcome to Disaboom!
Hi, Jay
I know the mental healthy systems as both a therapist, a consumer, and the parent of a consumer. And the best information is gathered from a number of sources. If your finances are limited and/or you have medicaid or medicare, you may be limited to who will take that form of payment. So, find that out first. Then, begin asking people what their opinions are of various options. Call each one and ask a few pertinent questions (like what forms of payment do they take? What are their options for in-pt? How long does it take to be seen as a new patient? Do they have other programming, such as day-tx, CSU, case management, etc. ) While you do want that information, tune in to how polite and informative they are. Do they put you on hold forever? If they do you on hold, do they apologize when they come back? Do they help with transportation? I'd be glad to give any more ideas, and hope this helps with a place to begin.
My own correction: mental health on line 1
