If people with mental illness such as bipolar or schizophrenia can work, why are they considered disabled?
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at
8:37 am
the social security is paying me disability money even though I’m schizoaffective bipolar type 1, I can work but only for a couple of weeks before I relapse and get irritated, have anxiety and mood swings and even suicidal thoughts.
I can only work so much before I relapse again and I guess that’s why I’m considered disabled?
Tagged with: Bipolar • considered • disabled • illness • mental • people • Schizophrenia • such • they • work
Filed under: Bipolar Type 1
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so you answered your own question
yea thats disabled cuz u cant wrk 9-5 for not very long..im mental 2 but i dont think im disabled
They aren’t always, but some have symptoms that they are unable to get under control even with medication and therapy, or the medications they need to get them under control leave them unable to perform a job, so they get extra help.
Yeah, that’s why you’re on disability.
Some people with these disorders can work when the medication is working and you are considered stable. But like you said sometimes you can work, but only for a short time until your symptoms come back. That is why you get disability. Bi-polar symptoms can get better as you get older, so hang in there.
Yes. They give disability to those people whose ability to work is impacted by their illness. If you were able to work full-time week after week without being affected by your mental illness, I’m sure you would NOT get disability. But it has shown to cause you distress when you try to work too much, so that is why they gave you disability.
You have answered your own question correctly.
The disabled person can have all the brains or muscles in the world – but is unable to “keep working” day after day, week after week, year after year without their illness coming back in a manner that causes them to not be able to work again.
Honestly, be thankful for disability. I’m on it too, and like you, I can work but the stress can almost incapacitate me. Disability is a hard word to stomach, because of the stigma of what it implies. So try and take the drama out of the word. I’m not really sure what your question is…you came into this forum with an answer.
Take care.
There’s a common misconception that if someone’s “disabled” that means they’re utterly unable to work…or do much of anything else,for that matter. This is true for physical or cognitive conditions.
A better word than “disabled” is “impaired.” Stephen Hawking is the leading mind on earth at this time regarding physics and astronomy. He’s also physically impaired to a degree that he needs to use an electric wheelchair and an artificial voice to communicate.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a disability as a “physical or mental impairment impacting one or more life areas.”
If you’re a web developer and you need a wheelchair, you’re “disabled” (need accommodations to help with travel and other things) but clearly able to do your work, possibly with “reasonable accommodations” such as having a wheelchair ramp added to the building where you work.
Possible reasonable accommodations for the types of mental illness issues your’e describing might include a more flexible work schedule, the abilty to work in an environment with fewer distractions, the ability to access counseling services on short notice, that sort of thing.
If you can’t be accommodated to a degree that you can peform the “essential functions” of the job (e.g. firefighters need to be able to drive fire trucks, manage a charged fire hose, work in extreme environments, etc.), then you’re not a qualified candidate for that type of work.
Programs like PASS and Ticket to Work are in place to help individuals like you to attempt to return to work or change jobs without jeopardizing your benefits. Talk with your state vocational rehabilitation service to find out more.
It sounds like your illness is keeping you from holding a job. What company is going to want to keep somebody who can only show up for work about half the time (or less)? Yes, I would consider that disabled.
Some people on disability are able to work a little but are unable to hold down a full time job.
Because they can not work as effectively as a so called normal person.
There is a disability rating system. Schizophrenia is #3 after quadriplegia.