Bipolar and Disability?!
Question: I never would have thought I would have to ask about applying for disability. I recently took a job part time and I thought that I would be able to handle it along with raising my son and all of the doctors visits(which are a few a week) and tonight I finally broke down in tears, and realized I cannot, not only mentally but my time would not allow it. I've been trying to fit all of doctors visits around my schedule which changes from time to time and it just is so much added stress that I can't handle right now. I feel I need to stabalize my moods and take care of my family. I am asking for advise on what to do? If they found I could not work due to the BP could they then say I could not take care of my son? This is my greatest fear. I am a very responsible and good mother and since I have never thought that I would not be able to work, it scares the heck out of me. Any help would be appreciated.
Answers: I never would have thought I would have to ask about applying for disability. I recently took a job part time and I thought that I would be able to handle it along with raising my son and all of the doctors visits(which are a few a week) and tonight I finally broke down in tears, and realized I cannot, not only mentally but my time would not allow it. I've been trying to fit all of doctors visits around my schedule which changes from time to time and it just is so much added stress that I can't handle right now. I feel I need to stabalize my moods and take care of my family. I am asking for advise on what to do? If they found I could not work due to the BP could they then say I could not take care of my son? This is my greatest fear. I am a very responsible and good mother and since I have never thought that I would not be able to work, it scares the heck out of me. Any help would be appreciated.
You have come to the right place at the right time. Hmmm. Life's stressers finally overwhelmed you. Me too. I've been on disability for schizophrenia and bipolar since 2000. What a blow to the ego at first. I was a pharmacy major and already in pharmacy school when I got sick. I lost everything. My advice to you is this.
1. Take time to access what you truly value. You may have just learned a very valuable life lesson- you can't put a price on a peace of mind.
2. Stabilize your mood. Realize that you have to let yourself grieve your loss (of ability). You won't feel so great for a lil' bit. Take your meds as prescribed and don't deviate.
3. Find an interest. When you wake up in the morning at least you have to look forward to ________ .
4. Eat healthy. If you gain weight it'll be a downer. You know it, I know it, and Bob Dole knows it. :)
5. Take care of your sons needs- YOU! Yes, your son needs YOU as healthy as you can be. Even more so than money, friends, and church.
6. Just accept you for who you are. Jeez whiz. It's tough enough dealing with a mental illness without being against yourself. Reassure yourself YOU will make things right....work or no work.
Okay this might not be the biggest help cause my mom mostly got things filled out but in Canada where I live you can go on Disability for being bi-polar. I am on Disability. They can help you find jobs also and job training, Now to get a form I think you need to talk to your psychiatrist about it and they should know what your talking about. You have to apply for it and stuff but I have seen people with way less problems like just general depression go on disability so its not impossible. Not sure if this was any help but anyways best of luck,
Yes you can be on disability for bipolar and be a mother at the same time. I know because I am bipolar, a mother and on disability. SSI will not say anything. I don't know where you are from, but here in California there is no law that states a Bipolar cannot raise a child unless that person is not stable and on medications. So, as long as you take care of yourself you have nothing to worry about.
A lot of people with health issues as well as mental health and physical issues have applied for disability. You need to go to a office for DHS and they will have a forn for you to fill out. It might take as long as about 60 days to be approved by DHS. It is not bad to recieve disability payments. You will recieve it once a month and usually comes from US Security on the first of the month. Each year the amount of disability goes up.Normally you can only have about 2000 a month in your savings.If you go over a certain amount your disability services may be declined.Also finding good drs are a must. It drove me crazy having appointments every week to about every several weeks. I see a psychologist but no psychiatrist. My stress level is limited.It can also be helped by certain meds a person takes and by their diet too. There are a lot of factors that can decrease a person's stress.I hope this advice will be helpful to you.