I have social phobia, panic attacks, agoraphobia, ocd and depression. I have applied for SSI and even if I get it, it's so little that it's hardly worth the time. I want to be able to work, but haven't been able to. I'd be fine with a work-at-home job, but have yet to find a legitimate one. Any advice on a good work-at-home job or regular jobs that are more understanding with people with mental disabilities.
207162
clothing repairs, cooking, ironing, silver polishing, trading on an internet auction site, proof reading for foreign language web sites and publishers of trade / product catalogues, dog or cat sitting, tropical fish breeding, therapeutic massage (yes - i am serious), dog grooming, book binding, etc.  get someone to assist you to get in touch with organisations who assist people with your challenges into work.
243391
Therepy do work pretty good if u can afford them. Ask ur doctor a written statement about u going back to work. If he says no u cant work get a statement\nthat way u can use it for ur disablity and u may want to get a lawyer on that too.
431238
It depends on how severely it limits your ability to work. I am bipolar and have several other disorders that began in childhood...it took a LONG time to get SSI/SSDI...but I finally did.
631237
First of all, if you have mental illness, you can register with your university's Office for Students with Disabilities. This gives you accomodations like extended time, access to tutors, and organizational supports. You still must meet the academic requirements of the course, and can't get assignments excused, but you can get short deadline extensions, etc.\n\nThey also usually have counselors who understand Disability issues well enough to really guide you in how to deal with your illness.\n\nIf you are having memory problems, and are taking a drug like Xanax, that's your problem right there. Review your medication side effects... some have severe memory effects, which as a student defeats the whole purpose of taking the medication to begin with. You don't need to just feel good, you have to be able to function effectively. Not all medications can meet both criteria.\n\nThis CAN be remediated. You must be a strong advocate for yourself, which is very difficult when dealing with mental illness.\n\nFocus on the things that ARE in your control. Check your medication side effects, and get prescription changes if needed. Register with the OSD for your university. Ask for referrals to those counselors with disability coping skills knowledge. Keep your eyes on your career and life goals. And don't ever give up on yourself!
661085
Having a mental disability, the 2 biggest fears that come to mind are abandonment and incarceration.\n1. Abandonment: My mom is the only person in my life and is 67. I am not capable of fully caring for myself.\n2. Incarceration: Sometimes my outbursts have gotten so bad that the law has been involved. I am afraid that one day I will lose control again and be placed into a correctional facility.\n3.Accompanying #1 would also be homelessness and institutionalization.\n\nI am VERY SCARED and think about these things every day. Future-care planning and proper therapy are my 2 most serious issues.\n\nI hope you manage well. My guess is that you probably fare better than me.
143953
Yes...if you are wanting to know about disability benefits.  If your Psych doctor qualifies you as not being able to work and you hire a lawyer to work your way through the S.S. disability system you could qualify for disability or S.I.  It is covered under the Americans with Disabities Act.  I know I am receiving beneifts for this reason.\n\nIf you are  bi-polar then you  understand why you would be able to collect disablity or SSI
639961
I will pray for your job search and your anxiety.  Sometimes, as I'm sure you're aware, you have to job hop until you find something fulfilling.  That really takes it's toll on you emotionally, but don't stay at a dead end boring job.  Life it too short.  Good Luck!.....)(
239756
I am a social worker and I hate people.  My next job will have no people in it.  Widgets here I come.  Seriously, it can be exasperating and stressful and it seems the rewards are fewer and far between.
374441
I understand what your going through!! I was in the same position without a case manager.I called the Dept of Human Services and asked for a Social Worker to help me with all my issues. She has been a great help. I have a mental health worker and someone like a REM worker assigned to me. The 3 of them work together to help me achieve my goals. So you might try there or see if there are and volunteer orgnz. in your community that help with independent living skills. Hoped this helped!!
583962
Depending on your age, you could claim illness of you or family member.  Or disability, (I got out of a couple of jobs claiming disability).  I never got a job that demanded a contract, though.  Or, you might claim another job back home.  One that pays better and is in a better enviroment.  But, I think I'd claim illness in the family.  Most people are pretty sympathetic to that, I think.
393629
First of all, I am sorry for the challenges you are facing.  Do you have any family willing to help?  Homeless shelters are not fun places to be so if you can avoid it, please do.  If you cannot, look up in the phone book your state's department of human services.  You will get a referral number to call and will probably have to leave a message.  Explain your situation to the casemanager when they call back and they will be able to give you good advice on what are your next steps.  Also, while you are at it, check with your local department of unemployment offices for help.  Maybe you are eligible for unemployment and maybe not but there are other services they may provide such as career counseling, review of your resume, computers for job searches, job listings, computer training and others I may not be aware of.  Unemployment is pretty helpful and the counselors/workers seem to really want to help you find a job.  I don't know specifics for your state but in New Jersey there are many services available to those who need temporary assistance.  Good luck!
277694
Go to the SS office and talk to them.  If you are disabled to the point you can't work and can not be trained or educated for work it is most likely you can get benefits.  Sure won't amount to very much though.  Also go on the net and check out their web site.  SSDI is the abbreviation for what you are looking for. Social security disability insurance.  The payments will not be enough to live on without help from welfare.
460587
If you're in the Chicago area, try NAMI of Greater Chicago (www.namigc.org), or go to www.nami.org to find a NAMI affiliate in your area. There, they can direct you to support services, etc. \n\nAlso, have you tried support groups on WebMD? They include people from all over the country. It's a great way to hear what others have gone through and what's worked for them. Plus, it's online, so you don't have to go out in public :) \n\nPsychologists can also help, and may even direct you to a psychiatrist if he or she thinks you'd benefit from medication to reduce your social anxiety symptoms. \n\nHope this helps!
135886
There is more than one stigma attached to mental health conditions. Yes it is uncomfortable, and the stigma most attached that troubles me the worst, is that because the person can't see what is wrong with you, it's as if you are just making it up. If you walk in on crutches, people are much more empathetic, than if they see someone having a panic attack. Terms like "unbalanced, mentally ill" are tossed around pretty freely, without really understanding what is going on. I have a friend who suffers from severe depression and a very severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and her own family thinks that she could change this, if she would just fight it, get a job, get up in the morning, take a shower, etc... and everything will fall back into place.  I know that mental conditions can do a lot of damage to the person with the illness, but it hurts to have other people trying to diagnose you, and tell you how to get over it, when they really do not have a clue as to what the person with the illness is facing. If you would like to know more info. about a particular illness, or talk about it in greater detail, or if you have more questions, please feel free to e-mail me at brew40fw@msn.com, I hope this helps, and I wish you the best
338922
It's called disability.\nHave you been to an institution?\nDidn't they offer you disability?\nI think there is also Medi-Cal or Medi-Care or something like that.\nOf course, in order to recieve disability you can't be working.\nI'm sure you know all this.
552567
I am pretty much faced with the same situation.  I have been denied SSI and SSD.  I have reapplied for it.  I too have a physical disablity that is preventing me from doing a job.  I really don't have any answers for you.  I have applied from everything from being a walmart greeter to a receptionist.  I can not do any job where any walking or standing or climbing stairs is involved as I do not have the use of one leg and can not stand, or walk without the assistance of bilateral forearm crutches.  I have been turned down for everything but to prove it is because of the disability is impossible unless they specifically say it is.  I can only suggest you volunteer someplace to see if you can actually do the work.  I would also keep bugging soc. sec. to get you the help that you are requesting.  Don't leave until you get to talk to a person.
42707
First of all, I'm sorry for your mom.  My mom had Lupus also. Check with the social security office on applying for disability.  I know my mom didn't qualify, but she never was able to work.