Are You On Disability For Ptsd?

[Lionheart]

and maybe find out the neurological processes that cause things like shizophrenia, bi-polar, and PTSD, and maybe a better means of curing them. I hate psychotropic drugs, but right now we just don't have any other means of helping people.

I have 4 family members with PTSD (including myself), I have a brother who has schizophrenia and a daughter that has bi-polar, it would be nice to know you are in our corner finding out about the neurological processes involved in these disorders. You give me hope that one day these things will be cured. I wish you the best!!!

 

[Emilie]

I have 4 family members with PTSD (including myself), I have a brother who has schizophrenia and a daughter that has bi-polar, it would be nice to know you are in our corner finding out about the neurological processes involved in these disorders. You give me hope that one day these things will be cured. I wish you the best!!!

I sure hope I can!! I still have a lot of hurdles to cross but I'm really trying to do all that I can at this point. In all reality it's not likely that I will be the one who finds the cure but I wanna be a part of making it happen.

Our best bet is psychology and it's expensive, takes a long time, drugs us up... It sucks that so many people who have mental health conditions can't get the support they need by the government and our peers. Healthcare, disability, jobs, social stigma... I wish and hope that someone can do something to change that. The biggest problem is that our condition is invisible. It's not like a gaping wound on your side. (Don't put gaping wounds on your side, srsly) All of the mystery of mental health is creating a barrier preventing the help that's needed. I want to be a part of a movement to unlock those mysteries and tear down that barrier with education.

 

[Emilie]

Emilie, if you can maintain... you go for it... enroll and see 'how' you do. What do you have to lose but the insanity of it all.

a couple thousand dollars too :whistling:

LoL.
Naw, I'm convinced I can do it if I dedicate. Even if I dropped out I feel like I would learn a lot more about myself in the process. My sister-in-law inspires me. She was in a car accident and was in a coma for 2 weeks. when she came out of her coma she could only say cheeseburger. She wouldn't even walk. She re-taught herself everything and buckled down and studied every night towards becoming a doctor. She's a successful doctor in cali now. And now she is also a pescatarian(no red meat).

 

[Emilie]

I am unable to work right now, but I am not on disability. It is hard for me to even get housework and errands done most of the time. Right now my fiance is working so I can get through college. I seem to be doing good with that as long as I go to school, do nothing but work my butt off at learning and then come home. I'm unable to socialize with anyone at school, but that's okay right now because that is not what I am going for. I am hoping I will be better or at least much further down the road in my healing by the time I graduate so that I can excel in my career. I want to do this for my sister.

Same here. My husband said he would help pitch in for my college.
Don't worry too much about socialization, we've got your back if you need someone to talk to.
Besides, growing up how many A+ students did you know in honor courses who had lots of time to spend socializing? :D I think our condition has blessed us with an opportunity to focus on what matters. I wish you the best!!

 

[Emilie]

Thank you Sharon;
I ended up going back to school at a late age, but unfortunately it was the wrong direction. I thought, oh! I'm at peace outside hiking, so I'll be a Biologist!

I did it, finally. Gruely, especially with Fibro and CFS and in denial of that too!

I did end up working in my field. OMG....developers are the most disrespectful, self-centered, arogant and they employed me, much to their distaste. I dived down quickly but kept trying. They were all men, all selfish, all terribly bad to me. I was constantly having to stand my ground and put up with a ton of attitude.

After all those years studying and all that money, I'm not able to continue.

I'm still looking into non-profits to no avail so far.
What I truly want to do is train dressage horses. Don't want to deal with their owners though. But I'm training one right now for free and loving it.

How were the courses for biology? Did you have trouble with it? I'm looking into biophysics and luckily for me most students in physics are pretty anti-social as it is LOL I'll fit in perfect. But I know that physics is daunting so I might start off with biology. Either way I've got to take both courses to do what I want.

btw; Why don't you try to start your own non-profit organization?

 

[Sethe]

I was taught as a child that hard work was important and that anyone who didn't 'work hard' was lazy. Of course, I can now see how crazy that statement was as well as the actions of my parents (e.g. just the two of them putting in a pasture fence using a manual post-hole digger, hammer and nails from dusk to dawn and then staining it by hand with my father yelling at my mother when she got too tired). Sorry, got off on a semi-rant there.

I do have a job. It's not a well-paying job, but I know ways to get the most bang for my buck. Call me thrifty.

I also work with several people who have also had trauma in their pasts. I haven't divulged mine entirely, but I do feel a little safer in the environment. Unfortunately, when my depression hits me it can be very hard to drag myself to work and perform.

 

[cat]

I work in education full time.
I was off sick for 2yrs following my diagnosis of ptsd, i've been back for 2yrs now, had a few weeks off with physical illness but apart from that I've managed quite well, when i get home from work i always have an hour chill out time, no music, tv, computer no stimulation at all until i feel re-energised.
That is until a month ago, when an incident at work together with extra stress at home caused me to take 2wks off sick, it will take a few weeks to get back into routine but at least now i know i can do it. I find working gives my life a different focus & less time to worry about the how i'm feeling.

 

[Anna]

I work full time, have also studied full time. Keeping myself busy is the way I cope :)

 

[Lionheart]

I have a pet peeve about the term 'on disability'. It reminds me of the terms being 'on welfare' or 'on drugs' and it seems to carry a negative connotation with it. Perhaps, I am just reacting to the social stigma which seems to judge us as being bad in some way when we are not able to work. But I needed to say that it bothers me, so that I don't freak every time I see this thread. lol :) I would prefer people to ask me if I have a disability or if I receive disability benefits rather than being asked if I am "on disability." I am sorry if this seems like a trivial matter, but I think it is a more respectful way to ask the question. Thanks for letting me rant.

LH

 

[BloomInWinter]

Lionheart, I'm grateful you brought this stigmatizing language usage to my attention. You're right!

I'm confront this IRL when I hear it.

 

[Gamereign555]

I lost my job 4 months ago, I want to believe that I can still work. I don't want to be on disability if I don't know I can work. Now if I can just find that job, any job, really.

 

[Palu]

Hi Shadowchaser,
I've been seeking employment for more than 4 yrs. The VA says I am 50% disabled because of PTSD. If that were true, you would think I could at least get a half time job. (I'm in the U.S. too) I worked many years at various menial , temporary and part time jobs. I would like to work and keep searching, but I guess I am banging my head against the wall.
Hope things improve for you.
I have written to my senators to ask them to include a provision in the budget that would permit full employment. My proposal asks that the work week be shortened to as much as just over 34 hrs so more people could be hired. The U.S. as I understand it is at 9.2% unemployment, but that figure does not take into account those diagnosed with disabilites and receiving SSI , VA or other disability compensation who might prefer to be working instead of receiving "benefits".
In my proposal, for every employer with 6 or more, the week would be shortened to hire a seventh, which would result as follows;
The 6/7 split;
If six 40hr FTEs were to have their work week reduced to accommodate the hiring of a seventh, the payroll of the company for the seven would remain at 240 hours, and each of the seven would work 34.28571 hrs per week or about 34 hours 17 minutes. This would result in a 16 2/3% increase in the workforce for a company with 6 FTEs' or multiple of 6 participating. For the 6, each would enjoy a 14.2857% reduction in hours, but a matching reduction in income.
The 7/8 split;
If seven 40hr FTEs were to have their work week reduced to accommodate the hiring of an eighth the payroll of the company for the eight would remain at 280 hours, and each of the eight would work 35 hrs per week. This would result in a 14.2857% increase in the workforce for a company with 7 FTEs' or multiple of 7 participating. For the 7, each would enjoy a 12.5% reduction in hours, but a matching reduction in income.
The 8/9 split;
If eight 40hr FTEs were to have their work week reduced to accommodate the hiring of a ninth, the payroll of the company for the nine would remain at 320 hours, and each of the nine would work 35.55556 hrs per week or about 35 hours 33 1/3 minutes . This would result in a 12.5% increase in the workforce for a company with 8 FTEs' or multiple of 8 participating. For the 8 each would enjoy a 11.1111% reduction in hours, but a matching reduction in income.
The 9/10 split;
If nine 40hr FTEs were to have their work week reduced to accommodate the hiring of a tenth, the payroll of the company for the ten would remain at 360 hours, and each of the seven would work 36 hrs per week . This would result in a 11.1111% increase in the workforce for a company with 9 FTEs' or multiple of 9 participating. For the 9, each would enjoy a 10% reduction in hours, but a matching reduction in income.

Even a 8/9 split would allow for employment of some people on disability. I'd like your feedback on this idea.