What Now?

[GunnarTheShiznit]

Long story short, I was raped and forced to use drugs for about 2 years from 11-13, before any of that I was diagnosed with Severe ADHD, after being forced to use drugs for so long your body will develop a chemical dependency, depending on the drug, and sadly I did after what had happened and I kept using to keep what had happened to me as far out of my mind as possible, for a long time I used, but I'm sober now. I never even was able to start formal high school and I did three years of middle school, yeah three, two years of eighth grade, anyway I've lost jobs due to my PTSD, a lot of jobs, and now I cannot even leave my house most days due to flashbacks and not wanting to have to go through that in public, making sure I stay away from items of abuse and things like that, and my just plain fear of large groups of people and African Americans. I am not racist at all, I simply was abused by African Americans and seeing them brings on horrible, debilitating flashbacks. I've been told I can't get disability due to the fact that it's been so long and I wasn't in therapy or whatever. I was on drugs! I was forced to use them for years i didn't know anything else. Now I can't work anymore, and I'm going to end up on the streets because of it. I know what to do and I have my own ways of dealing with stress and things like that, but none of that is going to matter if I'm homeless. I can't do it. I am not mentally strong enough. What now? Am I just screwed? I have ADHD, PTSD, and a shattered clavicle that didn't heal right due to hospital error, and I can't get disability. I know people on disability for such lies and deceit one person I know got sent to prison got jumped by a rival gang in prison, got out and got disability for freaking PTSD, and I can't get it. Help?

My only chance at life is disability, and I am not lying about any of my conditions, I've been told oh "you don't look disabled" that hurts. Disability doesn't have a "look".

 

[KwanYingirl]

You can appeal the disability decision. You'll need a lawyer. They can't charge you more than 25% of whatever past pay you're entitled to. A lawyer will represent you and they prepare you for the appeal by getting your evidence lined up and PTSD can certainly disable someone a long time since it occurred.

 

[Friday]

Sometimes the things that sound the worst/scariest are actually the very things that will get us he help we need.

Ex) When I left my ex a few years ago, if Id gone to the shelter instead of my parents my son would have been hooked up into daily therapy, we'd have gotten a lawyer who specialized in domestic violence cases, help with finding my education, etc. A whole lot of serious et cetera. All of which I've had to fight for tooth and nail, and not gotten 10% of what was actually out there for the plain and simple fact that I didn't know it was out there for months, and even years later. People in the system have been outright horrified. Because we fell straight through the cracks. Because the scary (horrifyingly embarassing for ex-military, combatPTSD who should have been able to take care of myself) thing was going to the battered women's shelter.

You're afraid of being homeless... And yet? Most of the resources for exactly the very things you need? (Education, legal services, job training, housing) Are available through homeless networks.

There are always those who slip through the cracks, both in and out of the system. That said? Where resources congregate is at the watering hole. If you're an individual, organization, or company specializing in helping XYZ group of people? You go to where most of them are found.

 

[GunnarTheShiznit]

I'm confused, it sounds like your telling me to go ahead and become homeless because only then I will get the help I need? Excuse my language but hell no. I just want the disability I so rightfully deserve. But I don't "look disabled" I'm told. Has anyone ever gone through that also? Being told you don't "look" disabled?

 

[KwanYingirl]

Yes Gunnar, I have. Not only to I have CPTSD and major depressive disorder, I also have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Basically all man made products have chemicals in them that trigger asthma and mental changes. I look normal and no one accomodates my needs,that's why I'm self employed. I call the shots on clients not wearing perfume and no plugin air polluting fragrances. Again, consult with a lawyer that represents disabled people get there case appealed. You'll need corroboration from all your doctors. Without that, you have no case

 

[GunnarTheShiznit]

Oh wow. And I pretty much have nothing on paper because I was a f*cking junkie for years. So I'm screwed. Oh man I was so scared this was going to happen.

Thank you guys for your replies. Any info/ just talking to other people helps.

 

[KwanYingirl]

What about your current docs? Who diagnosed your PTSD? That person can be your expert opinion.

It's the present state of your mind that SSDI would be looking for

 

[Friday]

I'm confused, it sounds like your telling me to go ahead and become homeless because only then I will get the help I need? ?

Nope. You were the one who said you're about to end up on the streets.

I've been homeless. I know the resource pool available to people who are and don't want to be, which also sounds like exactly the stuff you need. Hence sharing that so the process isn't so overwhelming, as it usually takes people a few months to get dialed in. I shared about the abuse shelter instead, because it was a better parallel. As the very thing which scared me the most, had exactly what I needed. Meanwhile when I was homeless the resources available are geared towards exactly what you are looking for, not at all what I was looking for at the time. I had countless people trying to offer me those very services that you're banging your head against the wall trying to get. But I didn't want/need legal aid, disability, education, substance abuse, housing, etc.