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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
for those on disability ....do they feel even part time work is mentally better than staying home all day
Posted by Christ_empowered on April 4, 2015, at 11:32:29
In reply to disability, posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
Hey. It depends. For me, I'm on disability AND a pariah in this community. If I worked, because of all the stigma attached to me, it'd be rough...and I'm not qualified for whole lot of jobs, so it'd be low-wage, part time work at most.
I may or may not be typical. This is a small, southern area. For me, I'm getting a degree and considering volunteer work, which combined will hopefully land me a more secure, maybe better paying job down the road.
I think it depends on your situation, honestly.
Posted by ClearSkies on April 4, 2015, at 16:56:05
In reply to disability, posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
I don't feel I am at a point where I could show up.
I have done some volunteer work. It hasn't been so great for me.
I realize I have much work to do - on my anxiety, on my depression, whether I can control them - before I would consider putting myself out there as an applicant. I haven't known stability in years.
Posted by Chris O on April 4, 2015, at 22:08:17
In reply to disability, posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
Joe:
I feel better when I "work," even part time in the sense that it gives me some feeling of pride, of "earning a living." However, I know in my current state (horrific anxiety disorder resistant to most medications I have taken), I do not function well in the work world. I have been substitute teaching the past few months and even on my better days, I know I appear anxious and off to people. It's frustrating, to put it mildly. At least when I stay home all day, I don't get into some of the frustrating/humiliating (not always these things, though) situations where I have to explain to others "what's 'wrong' with me," and they just don't get it, or don't accept it, even when I am very straight-forward and honest about my disability. In fact, I sometimes I feel these situations lead people to taking advantage of me more, which is terribly painful. Anyway, that's my two cents.
Chris
Posted by Phil on April 5, 2015, at 20:11:06
In reply to Re: disability » joe f, posted by Chris O on April 4, 2015, at 22:08:17
I told my doctor that I was anxious about an upcoming three year review to continue disability. He looked at me and said, I don't think you have to worry about that, Phil. But we did talk about doing maybe ten to twenty hours a week at a LOW stress job to supplement my income. I don't know what I'm going to do. If I thought I could work, I would be working right now.
Posted by Zyprexa on April 6, 2015, at 2:18:08
In reply to disability, posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
I like to work part time. I've been working part time at a job for the past 5 years. Its better than staying home all the time and gets me out into the world and meet people. I also need the extra money. Disability does not pay a full salary.
Posted by joe f on April 6, 2015, at 7:29:23
In reply to Re: disability, posted by Zyprexa on April 6, 2015, at 2:18:08
thank you .....great answers
Posted by Kirkglen on April 7, 2015, at 12:07:31
In reply to Re: disability, posted by joe f on April 6, 2015, at 7:29:23
I'm
Posted by Kirkglen on April 7, 2015, at 12:18:06
In reply to Re: disability, posted by Kirkglen on April 7, 2015, at 12:07:31
I'm interested how you qualified for disability. I haven't worked since 2011 and am waiting
for the admin. Judge mtg. which will be the final consideration.I would think it's difficult to explain atypical anxiety/depression to anyone and why it limits what I can do. You would think after 35 yrs. of struggling with this disease / meds/ docs/hospitals would explain something.
Posted by Chris O on April 7, 2015, at 23:53:05
In reply to disability, posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
Joe:
Just curious: Is it difficult to survive on disability? Where I live (southern California), I cannot see it providing me with even close to enough money to survive.
Chris
Posted by phidippus on April 12, 2015, at 8:11:29
In reply to disability, posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
You are allowed to earn up to 1070 a month on social security.
Eric
Posted by baseball55 on April 12, 2015, at 19:19:40
In reply to Re: disability » joe f, posted by phidippus on April 12, 2015, at 8:11:29
> You are allowed to earn up to 1070 a month on social security.
>
> EricIsn't there a limit on the number of hours/week you can work (in the US)? A friend on SSDI told me she can't work more than 17 hours/week, but I don't know if this is always true.
Posted by alexandra_k on April 13, 2015, at 1:57:24
In reply to disability, posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
If I don't have external things then I can't seem to internally generate a routine. But, I've learned, I'm much happier with a routine.
E.g., if I don't have anything external then my sleep-wake cycle sort of reverses. So I'm up most of the night and sleeping most of the day. I think I sleep more than is actually good for me, but I get addicted to it, somehow, and feel so awfully tired when it is time to get up... I guess it induces a general depression.
I like studying part time because it gives me a compass. I would imagine that working part time could do the same thing. Something that I have to do - whether I feel like it or not. Strangely enough... The act of forcing myself to do something that I don't feel like doing... Actually makes me feel better / is good for me.
I'm currently studying full time. A demanding year, by anybodies account. I'm fairly surprised to find that I'm actually thriving on it. I mean... Early starts. Lots of little tasks... Very structured. Do this, then do that, then do the next thing. It isn't a lot of standing about (though there is a fair bit of that) it is mostly 'hurry up, move quickly, you should be near the end of the NEXT bit of that...' and I'm feeling like I'm thriving on it. Sort of borderline... At times... But it feels stimulating in a good way, yeah.
I think a large part of it is about finding your niche. Something that is manageable for you... Something that pushes your competency... But not too much so it is unmanageable... But something where you feel stimulated and feel like it is improving something about you, somehow. At least... That is fairly crucial for me. To feel productive and happy and alive...
Posted by phidippus on April 14, 2015, at 8:52:54
In reply to Re: disability » phidippus, posted by baseball55 on April 12, 2015, at 19:19:40
There is no limit to hours worked.
Just a limit to the amount of money you can earn.
There is a trial period of 6 months where you can work and earn however much you can, but then after that you can only earn $1070 a month.
Eric
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on April 22, 2015, at 21:51:53
In reply to disability, posted by joe f on April 4, 2015, at 7:27:20
> for those on disability ....do they feel even part time work is mentally better than staying home all day
I was evaluated for disability a few years back and the conclusion was that although i was functioning in a diminished capacity, i was told to get lower level work
i did and i think it was helpful. took some time off over the winter with many projects planned but stayed in bed many days.
I think a job helps in getting you out of bed, allows you to have casual conversations and (in my case) increasing physical activity.
sorry, that was a long yes
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