Triggering (Suicide): Applying for disability due to mental health.

[Ennui.]

I talked to my medication prescriber yesterday and she recognized my job triggers me and I said that I think working in general is a trigger. She asked if I meant disabling and I'm like, "I don't know but I have no choice but to work."

I attempted suicide while at this job and it's an easy job with a flexible schedule. I worked at VS and it made me WANT to kill myself. I would actively self harm at work the two different occasions I worked with my dad, and when I was in high school I got an interview for a job and went to it but then decided I was too anxious to work.

Has anyone successfully gotten disability benefits in the US for mental health, and what did you go through to get it?

[Rika]

I honestly didn't have a hard time getting approved for SSDI. I pulled I think SSI as a kid, but was not told about it I don't recall. It took me becoming grown to be told I did used to get SSI as a kid. My parents did use it to buy me clothes and such, so it wasn't going directly to just benefit them. This maybe why it was easy for me.

Anyway I hear it's super hard for some to get SSDI approval and best bet maybe to try to get an attorney/lawyer who'd help you out. I think there are specialized ones for just SSI/SSDI benefits. Get as much documented stuff on your disability by whoever you see for it.

[Resilient]

My mom applied for it in January due to after covid effects and she's still waiting on a response. She had to go see an actual disability doctor for an evaluation about 3 weeks ago and he told her she should hear something by the end of next month.

It can take a while for them to l determine and most times they deny you your first application and you have to appeal.

[Wͦaͦtͦeͦrͦ Sͦpͦrͦiͦtͦeͦ]

Originally Posted by Wheek!

I talked to my medication prescriber yesterday and she recognized my job triggers me and I said that I think working in general is a trigger. She asked if I meant disabling and I'm like, "I don't know but I have no choice but to work."

I attempted suicide while at this job and it's an easy job with a flexible schedule. I worked at VS and it made me WANT to kill myself. I would actively self harm at work the two different occasions I worked with my dad, and when I was in high school I got an interview for a job and went to it but then decided I was too anxious to work.

Has anyone successfully gotten disability benefits in the US for mental health, and what did you go through to get it?

I had not trouble, I got mine within a month, but I was a special case. I was in and out of the mental hospital 2-3 times a month for like a year. I was actually in the hospital when they talked to my grandma and understood I really needed it.

However I have heard that most people are denied at first and it’s good to get a lawyer who works specifically with people trying to get SSI. But I’m not sure grandma pretty much did it all for me. I hope your able to get it.

[Rob]

I can't comment on US disability benefits system, but on the work front I would recommend trying to figure out which aspects of the job are causing you to feel this way. Is it certain people? Is it pressure? Is it the hours? Is it the tasks? One way you could do this is keep a trigger diary where you keep track of what happened immediately before you felt triggered, when it happened and who was involved. Once you know exactly which aspects of the job are causing you to feel this way, you might be able to explore alternative jobs which remove some or all of these trigger points. From what I can tell the job market is very good in most places right now so there's lots of alternative options you could explore.

[Astro04]

Well, if it is a pro of a mental disability, my smell is now amplified.
At least, something good I think...

[Stacey]

I was actually coming on here to say something similar to Rob. Figuring out what triggers you about the jobs you have/have had may really help you. Especially with how things have gone since the pandemic, the options for accommodations for those with disabilities are much greater in the sense that we now have hybrid/work-from-home, etc for most types of jobs making things a bit more accessible if you know what type of work you can and cannot do.

With that being said, I'm in Canada, but if it's anything like here - as long as you have enough documentation from doctors and other professionals the process may be long and may require an appeal depending on how disability works there, but with the right documentation mental health concerns are generally a cut and dry decision in this case.

[Ennui.]

A friend told me that you may need to have worked 5 jobs and have enough work credit to be eligible for SSI. I don’t know if I’ll be eligible. :/