Topic : Bipolar Disorder

I am writing an articile on disability benefits so people can make a percise decision before the file for disability. 

Here it goes! 

Hi Graham, Here are the facts of how to be prepared for fighting for disability.  I hope I can help make a difference in this world by sharing my experience. First of all this country sucks when it comes to right for any kind of handicaps, slow learners, diabetics, any physical disability and mental disability we are all handicaps in differents ways we all get discriminated against and it has to end. I hope you will agree with it. All my life I have survived struggles, I had a father that acted like hitler or a dried alchololic, we get beatings when we didn't deserve it.  All four of us sibling and mother were afraid of saying anything to him for fear of killing us.  Now I know where I get my disability was from him. My sister was bipolar my other sister is add and my brother was bipolar too.   My younger sister and brother committed suicide due to they couldn't cope with life's struggle now it's me and my sister.   Well enough about my life history sorry for being too personal. Moving on with the facts of how to not give up with fighting for disability.  You will be turn down as many times without a hiring a lawyer too many people gets frustrated and give up and say I am going back to work. But if you want disability bad enough you will do what it takes to achieve your goals or dreams. I am a firm believer. You will be turn down atleast twice before you get an attorney. Get a darn good one who just doesn't want to take your money and then say it's not a good case.  Find disability attorney's that will take it on a consignment basis and won't take the fees out until you win the case. No. 2 find a attorney firm that will only take 25% of your backpay.  Remember they will taxes out of your back pay. So include that as well. Moving on with the proceedures, Your attorney will ask you for a 10 year employment history if your like me I can't remember all the jobs I have so I listed them under a certain temp agency if your not like me better yet. List the job that you had for ten years address phone number and dates you work there. They need that as well. Have your attorney have your medical doctors, mental health doctors or an other pyshical health records released to their hands.  Have your school records as well.  The purpose of that is to throw everything to the judge so he can make a clear percised decision.  Have your imediate family member not your spouse or children be a witness for you and have an attorney or judge sepna them.  It will diffently help your case.  Don't be long winded in the court room or video room. Be honest and to the point.  The attorney will do most of the interviewing so get to know your attorney very well.  The judge will ask you a couple of question but not that much. Then he will either say if it's a bench decision or he'll look it over and get back with you.  Always say your honor when talking to them, it always makes them feel respected.  Furthermore it all has to do with the judges if they're friendly and understanding the odds are in your favor and if you get a hard nose judge that doesn't care about people and wants to educated them instead look out.  Democrats are very understanding, republicians are very conservative.  Doesn't give breaks for anybody.  I am not either democrat or republician I think there bad side to both parties. Moving on to the last step. Sorry for being long winded.  The proccess of getting your letter from the judges office is anywhere from 30-days. Be prepared for snags along the way.  Sometimes they will push your file aside and makes excuses of why the letter hasn't come in the mail.  And sometimes they will say it take 8-14 weeks to get your letter after 60 days of a waiting period.  After that it takes 60 days to get the back pay unless the state appeal it.  The state has 60 days to appeal it and if they deny you you have 2 yrs to appeal it and take it back to court. In those cases it wouldn't be adviseable because you'll go completely over your head in debt cause of bush administration changing laws on bankruptcy. They made it impossible to file bankruptcy.  I like to change that policy throw it right out the front door But that's another story huh?  Not trying to put the man down that's not me.  Anyway when you do get your back pay if you have any children that is under the age of 18 years old you get survival benefits for them.  And by the way for people who don't know this you have to have enough quarter like 10 years I think to qualified for disability. And also when dealing with the social security office in your local area please be cautious don't wear too much jewerely, don't dress up fancy, don't gloat about winning your case.  They will look at you on every mood you make.  Don't let them ask you too many question.  Just say I have a doctor appointment or some kind of excuse.  Always bring a birth certificate for your child.  Make Tax arrangements with the IRS they take taxes out unless your on permenant disability which means you can't have any kind of income but what the social security gives you.  Last but not least please don't get frustrated if you don't win the case it just mean that it wasn't meant to be. But the goverment doesn't want you to have disability you need to fight for it if you want it bad enough.  Pray every nite to Jesus and ask him to send angels to you and have everybody you know to pray for you.  And believe me the power of prayer works.  I know for a fact, because I am married to a man of 8 years and believe me most people hasn't gone through the crap we have of child abuse case the state step in and took my child we win the case and the state had to give my son back.  The step mom isn't allow to see my son by herself anymore since she was the one who beat on him.  Then we went through financial hard times of finding churches to help us with food, utilities and had our parents to rely on for rent.  I guess what I am saying everybody has hardtimes and are disfunctional but God has a plan for us and he just let things happen for a reason to wake us up.  If you get your disability or other cases won then it's a blessing from God not just luck.  One last quote that I loved from the Garth Brooks  song I thank god for unanswer prayers.  Just remember when your talking to the man upstairs just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care. Some of God greatest gifts are unanswer prayers.  Well Got to go just relay this message to anybody who's discouraged and it will help them.  God Bless Phyllis KC,KS
 P.S. If anybody has any additional comments or something to ad to my list please let me know so I can give more information to bipolarworld.net

  

This was a copy to bipolarworld.net and Graham is the owner of the message board! 

Phyllis 

 I just read your post (I am a new user as of five minutes ago).  Please don't give up hope.  I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder seven  years ago after trying to kill myself. For nearly five year after that I was very depressed and really didn't want to live.  All I could think about was everything Bipolar Disorder had taken from me.  I was also very angry because no one--especially my family--seemed to care enough to educate themselves on Bipolar Disorder.  I finally decided, thanks to some special people in my life, that I would read everything possible on Bipolar Disorder and do everyting in MY power to help myself.  In these efforts, I have come across a poem written by a mother whose daughter is bipolar.  I would like to share that poem with you now:

It's a journey you've not chosen,
destination not know
but no matter where it takes you
I won't let you walk alone

No matter where the highs and lows
may take you to
I'll hold your hand, and take a stand
and be right there with you

Don't ever panic
and think you can't make it through
those thoughts are just the illness
and really are not true

When the deepest of depressions
come swirling in
I won't let you sink
I'll teach you how to swim!

When the mania peaks out
at an all-time high
I'll keep you grounded
until it passes by

When we see the delusions
come sneaking in like thieves
I won't let them steal your mind
and confuse all your beliefs

When you've had more than you can take
and you're thinking suicide
you're riding waves of destruction
that are welling up inside
I'll control the demon
and I'll turn back the tide

It's a journey you've not chosen
with pitfalls and dangerous ground
but bipolar is just an illness
that we will turn around

So take my hand and walk with me
and trust my every move
we'll ride out the journey
and I'll help you make it through!

Though it's a journey you've not chosen
our destination we have found
with medication and treatments
we have gotten to solid ground

As we move beyond the illness
lest we dare forget
Let's use our story to help those
we haven't met

And with our encouragement
help them find their way
and stand beside them
till we hear them say:

It was a journey not chosen
but our destination we have found
bipolar was just an illness
that we turned around

Then we will add them to our group
and still we won't forget
that it will always be our duty
to help those we haven't met.

This poems was written by Mary Worthen in her book:  Journey Not Chosen, Destination Not Known. 

While it's just a poem, it has given me hope that there are people out there who both care and work hard to understand bipolar disorder.  It has given me hope that, one day, I will find someone who will stand beside me and help the way she has helped her daughter.  But for now, my job is to just hang on. 

I, like Lorrie, am more than willing to exchange e-mails so we can help each other.  Please consider doing so.  And PLEASE, hang on!

Colleen

This is Wendy. I just wanted to know if any one has been on Lamictal? I used to be on Depakote and it made me sick all the time. I have only been on it for 5 days now. Is anyone else on it, and if so how is it working for you. I also take Cymbalta 60mg and xanax 1 mg three times a day. I am still very sad and depressed. It says it takes a while for it to get into your system. If any one is on this please tell me if it helps you. I am hoping that it takes effect before the holidays. I dont know how I am going to handle them. Some one please give me some input. 

Wendy Gail 

Hi Ellie, 

  

first, let me say how sorry I am for your loss and my heart goes to you and your family for the tragedy that has hit your lives. I understant that I'm lucky because I was able to get diagnosed and will eventully get all the help I can get. 

Unfortunately, not all are so lucky. I feel extremely blessed and wonder why am I so lucky to be taken under safe wings of understanding. I can accept and I WILL COPE. What keep's me going at this point is TAKING CONTROL of the life I thought I had and now I KNOW I CAN HAVE. 

  

I also know that families who are affected by this disease suffer just as much, if not more, than the person living with it. 

  

I embrasse your courage and find faith the love can endure many things... 25years, God bless your sould and your children are extremely lucky to have a mother as strong, devoted and beautiful as you. You are gifts to youselves. 

Thank you for taking the time to write to me and share your pain. It's easy to forget how others have pain too. 

  

Warm regards... and PS:  I STILL HAVE SOME FIGHT IN ME!!!!! 

  

Nat 

Hi Wendy, my name is Linda, I have been on "Lamictal" for a few years now due to my bipolar state.  I also take Prozac and Lithium to stablize my moods.  I am not sure which meds are helping but somthing is. Oh yeah...  I am also taking trylyptal as well.  My problem is, I start feeling better after a crash and my husbands constant support and nagging to take my pills, I start to convince myself that I dont need them anymore and that I am strong enough to go it with out them.  Then I have some very crazy high and whirlwind days.  I am sure that I am CURED!!!!!.  And then....  the terrible fall and crash harder than the last time.  I am struggleing to continue to stay on my meds and to combat the feelings that I just dont need them anymore.  It is an every day challenge.  I hope that the meds will help you and you can find the peace in your life.  If you have any more questions or would just like to talk via the board, just let me know...   good luck!  

Hi! my name is Linda and my daughter has bi-polar and had a very hard time sleeping also. She would go for long periods without sleep and then crash and sleep all day and night. The psych doc put her on Seroquel after trying several other meds and it helped a lot. Once she took it she was asleep in an hour and would sleep 8-10 hrs straight every day. Now she is controlled on Wellbutrin,Prozac, Trileptal, and Klonipin. She still has a few problems but is able to talk them out and go on. I hope this helps you. Linda

In regard to normal there is no one who is normal. The ones we think are normal have learned to hide their problems very well. If you look in their skeleton closets you would find all kinds of problems that no one talks about until they trust you. Once they trust you , you can find out they also have problems and have learned to deal with it, has received treatment, or is currently receiving treatment. Dont get down on yourself about all of this. We can only do the best we can and hope our Faith and our friends help us get through the tough times. Linda

I also was very upset when I started to read this site. I could not find out where to start and find someone to talk to after July. I have finally found the newest e-mails and am pleasantly suprised with the care they show. 

 It seems like you are having a very difficult time also, and are very angry with the illness and the world around. you. If you need to vent I will always try to help. I have a daughter who was depressed since middle school and it took 10 years before they decided she had Bi-Polar I depression type with only hypo-mania instead of the severe mania.  

It still has been a long trip and it is not over yet. She is now 27 yrs old and has a new baby that I am trying to teach her to care for and  continue to take care of herself. She still lives home with me and I worry about when she decides to move out and I am no longer around to help her with the crisises. Linda 

My husband has bipolar and I also know how hard it is for him, if I can help anyone out there I would love to. Even if you just need to vent. I am a very warm and understanding person and love helping people.