From: Dr. Susan A. Nickerson, DC PT
“The Disability Doc”
Dear Bipolar Friend,
Let's face it, if you or someone you care about has serious bipolar illness, life can get tough in a big hurry. Each symptom of your bipolar manic depression makes it that much harder to hold down a job.
Mood swings. Mania. Restlessness and irritability that make you unable to concentrate or sleep. Depressive episodes that make you feel sad, empty or hopeless.
Living with this manic or depressive disease can suck the energy right out of you.
You may be taking heavy-duty bipolar medication for your mood disorder. Drugs like Lamictal, Depakote or Trileptal. Meds like this can make you feel tired all the time. Who can work a normal schedule when they are constantly fatigued?
You may be working fewer and fewer hours since your diagnosis of bipolar -- or you may be unable to work at all.
And when you can't work, you suffer. And so does everyone around you.
You may relate to these unfortunate but common bipolar manic depression predicaments:
There are government programs in place that are supposed to help you when you are unable to work due to illness or injury. Mental illness or physical disease, it doesn’t matter. If you have a severe mood problem that prevents you from working regularly, you DESERVE to receive bipolar disability benefits from Social Security.
But how do you prove that your bipolar or manic depression is a disabling disease? What if you have Type I? Type II? Rapid cycling? What if your symptoms are primarily due to clinical depression rather than classic bipolar?
There are no standard medical tests for bipolar like there are for most physical diseases. Especially with cases involving mental disorders, every sign and symptom must be correctly documented before you can win Social Security disability benefits.
Which form or forms should you start with?
To make matters worse, how do you even establish your eligibility or qualifications for benefits?
Should you believe what they tell you down at Social Security?
What are the requirements to WIN bipolar Social Security disability benefits?
How can you prevent being denied?
If you’re like most people, you're going to have a lot of questions. Questions that need good answers.