I've heard it is very difficult to be considered disabled because of depression. I was wondering if anyone here is on disability because of depression? I have a college education, I want to work, but I seriously doubt my ability to hold down a job at this point. I know there is no way I could work full-time. The problem is that with my education (I had planned to work in the city where education would actually be a good thing), I'm seen as over-qualified for most of the part-time work that is available in this town. It's in a depressed area in which only 13% of people have college degrees. I've managed to get a job working 10 hours per week, and I did well with that for a long time. My anxiety though has really worsened over the past few months. I started working with someone I dislike. He said something that really offended me and I told my boss this which resulted in me losing my shift and moving to just 5 hours per week. I know that I should have stood my ground and normally would not let something like that bother me so much as to speak to my boss about it. But the desk (I work at a library) was getting busier at that shift, and I'm partly relieved at the hours change. However, it drives home to me that I may have to face facts that I just can't handle work.
It seems that whenever I get an interview and get my hopes up, I'm told I'm overqualified and/or asked questions like am I married or have kids, which is so sexist and illegal in most states to ask. As a young woman, I'm starting to feel like they give you incentives to get pregnant and go on welfare - it's easier than getting a job in this town! Since I make hardly anything, I asked the health dept about health insurance, but the only way I can qualify for that at my age is to be pregnant. It's like they're saying, come back when you're knocked up! I definitely cannot handle children - I can hardly take care of myself. I know some people in my situation who substitute teach (all you need is a degree in this state), but I shadowed one day and chickened out when I was asked to sub. It's still an option for me as my dad is friends with a principal who said I can try it anytime, but I'm just afraid something would happen, and I can't just run away when I have a room full of kids. I have no experience with children, and they don't give any training. So, I'm applying to basically whatever part-time jobs I see. I've not heard from any lately which may be a blessing since I'm unsure of my ability to handle it. But, I feel like such a burden to my parents. I have a lot of arguments with my mom who can't understand why I'm this way. I'm afraid I'm going to start thinking about suicide again if I don't make some sort of improvment in my life. I've already been in a psychiatric ward - shouldn't that qualify me for something, lol? The only reason that I'm giving life a shot at all is because my dad has been so loving and supportive of me and I know it would kill him if I were gone. I'm so desperate for money and a life on my own that I've thought about prostitution, or getting pregnant so that at least I can get an apartment and some support, maybe help to get a job. I can't understand why mental illness is rarely recognized as a disability. Has anyone here gotten disability for depression? How would you suggest I go about trying for this, or would it even be an option in my case?
Topic: Disability for Depression? (Read 1688 times)
January 30, 2009, 11:24:32 PM