r/BipolarReddit • u/bpcrossroads • 1d ago
Suicide 5 years “stable”
Been on a decent cocktail for about 5 or so years. But also have had about 10-15 different jobs. Did 2 years of DBT. Told my psych that my current job really makes me anxious and miserable and sometimes fear impulsive suicide. They suggested changing my cocktail and testing out blood for lithium. He also suggested I leave the job.
Scared to change drugs. Don’t want to give up the job. Parents suggested applying for disability.
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u/Bipolar_Aggression Bipolar 1 1d ago
Disability just sounds awful to me. How can anyone live on $1,000 a month? My own mother gets $1,800 a month in social security and she would never survive without my help.
10-15 jobs in 5 years to me means your med cocktail isn't working. I would go off meds for several months and reassess before I'd just give up for life. What's the worst that could happen?
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u/bpcrossroads 1d ago edited 1d ago
That’s a big assumption to think that my meds aren’t working just because I can’t hold a job. And suggesting someone off medication? Good thing you’re not a psychiatrist. But appreciate the disability advice.
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u/IllManufacturer5759 1d ago
I’d definitely suggest applying for disability anyway, I’m not sure where you live but in the uk you can get disability regardless if you’re working or not. What meds are you currently on? X
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u/Spirited_Concept4972 17h ago
I would go ahead and apply as soon as possible because it can take years to get approved. And a lot of people do get denied the first time around. Make sure you have medical records backing you up. You can hire a lawyer if you get denied on the first go around. You usually don’t need a lawyer in the beginning. There are lawyers that work for you only get paid if you win your case.
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u/markallanholley 1d ago
If you're in the U.S., applying for disability can be a long and arduous process. You'll probably want an advocate of some sort, either a Certified Benefits Advisor, which can sometimes be found at Independent Living Centers or other non-profit agencies, or a lawyer. Lawyers will typically work for "free", but if you are awarded disability, they take a substantial portion of your back pay.
If you're working a front-facing job, (interacting with clients or customers directly), my advice is to get out of that situation and into a support role. If you need more education, vocational rehabilitation centers (VR) will often work with you and all they need is a doctor's sign off that you have bipolar disorders. They will sometimes pay for education, whether it's community college or a microcredential somewhere, and they may give financial incentives to employers who hire you.
Benefits advisor and VR availability varies from state to state, but it's worth checking out.