Stress Center Peer Support

Hello Everyone,
I have had stress problems, anxiety, depression, and mild OCD all my life. I would have spells where I would be ok but it always came back all throughout my life. I can even remember having these problems in the 1st grade even though I didn't know what it was. The teacher would pair us up to walk to the park for play time and when I got there I would withdraw from everyone. I just went and sat down behind a tree because I would be stressing and having anxiety. I didn't know that's what it was and in 6th and 7th grades I would withdraw from people. I'm giving you a little insight on me now. I'm 44 and still have these problems. I've tried zoloft, prozac, and paxil and my doctor said that I may want to see a psychiatrist. I'm laid off but always had problems with jobs. I would have to go to the bathroom 5, 10, 15, 20 etc times a day to calm myself down. I always stayed very anxious and times I couldn't make it to work and then when I just had to go to keep from losing my job, that's when I would end up running to the bathroom alot to calm myself down. I don't know of any jobs that will let you do that. And my driving, well times I could drive and times I would go for weeks and months and not be able to drive because of my anxiety. I have even went years and my wife would have to drive me to work and home. Then I would start driving again, wanting to do for myself. My anxiety would get bad again, my wife would have to drive me. I'm laid off and still have these problems. I haven't driven in 2 1/2 years. What I'm getting at is when I went to see my doctor I asked his thoughts on me getting disability. He said No, they wouldn't give it to me so I shouldn't even try. It pissed me off a little because I see people that looks like they're fine and they draw disability. I even know some of them. My question is this...Would you just give up on it or go after it? Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry so long. (some venting)

Inside Man

Insideman,
I know some people get disability cause of anxiety/panic attacks and depression.
It is up to you, if you want to try. I know you will have to sign a release form, from Social Security to get in touch with your Doctor. With your Doctor saying no, I'm thinking that will go against you. Yet, it never hurts to try, if you feel you need it. Only you know what is best for you.
Did the Doctor say No, cause he/she feels you don't need disability? I would ask your Doctor why he/she said "No, they wouldn't give it to you". I'm guessing he/she would tell Social Security you don't need it. Your other option is to get a second Doctors opinion, and see what they say.
Sunshine1960

Hi Inside Man,

I sort of agree with Sunshine, and that is a starting point. Keep in mind that going through the Social Security Administrative procedures can also be very stressful.. I have just went through this process and you have to be disabled for more than 6 months and your doctors believe that you will not get better. In my case, I am a physical wreck and even so, when I asked the doctors about this , they said, well that depends on you. That blew my mind.

If these Doctors are pushed by SSA during the admin procedures the doctors will generally err on the side of caution for their patient.

Nevertheless you might want to have an advocate that knows what they are doing through out the Admin process. In my case I used: allsup

They ma help give you better guidance with a simple phone call or using their free online evaluation

I hope this helps reduce a little of the anxiety you may be suffering from because of the problems this has cause you, and God bless.

Hi inside man,

Just to bring up to date. My long term disability insurance kicked in near the end of August 2008. When it was clear to them that my case was one that SSA would kick in with SSD, they hired Alsup in October. Here is their link:

http://www.allsup.com/

They helped me with getting all the proper papers, filled out and sent off to SSA. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by SSA and they said they needed my birth certificate, as my claim was being approved and in fact was approved in late December. That same day, I went to the local SSA office, waited my turn and presented my birth certificate and any other papers they might want as proof of identity (drivers license, passport, etc).

I went home notified Alsup of what SSA said, and March 2, I had a retroactive payment direct deposited into my account.

I did not think that the process would have gone so smoothly, but it did. Maybe it was my particular case or maybe it was they knew Alsup was going to bat for me. In any case, I am very pleased by the results.

I hope this information proves to be of help to you or any other people that might be interested.

After 23 years I had no choice but to go on disability because I hadn't worked in 13 years and ran out of money, and I still couldn't function because I could barely leave my house let alone work. If you look at me though, I "look" completely fine. But it doesn't mean that I'm not disabled. It's an invisible disability.

I live in Canada so our system is probably different but it took me a full year to be approved, even though my medical file was HUGE and full of evidence that I had been dealing with this for decades. The first time I applied for disability I was turned down, because apparently that seems to be the standard first time response for invisible disabilities here in Canada. I appealed their decision, was approved, and received a lump sum retroactive payment and then my regular monthly payments began.

Look, if you can't function, then you're disabled. You don't have to be missing a limb or have a brain injury to be legitimately disabled.

When I'm well enough to go back to work I'm going to go off disability, but until then I'm so thankful that I have money coming in for the basics, even though it's a very little amount - it's better than nothing.