57 and depressed

[Carlee1962]

Hi I'm new here. I retired early from my career at 55 due to job stress, depression and anxiety. I thought that in retiring and moving out of state, my depression and anxiety would go away. I have been on meds since 2005. Well, retiring and moving away hasn't been the magic ticket. I had to find a new mental health care provider and she's got me trying new meds. Fortunately, I have a fairly decent pension but it's now hard making ends meet. I've decided to apply for SSDI. Any advice out there in undertaking this process. You hear nothing but nightmares about the social security system. How bad do you have to be? I've never required acute care but I know I'm not suitable for work anymore. Any words of wisdom out there?

[kenster1]

best thing to do is get the forms needed and then get help filling them in and see how it goes.

[Carlee1962 in reply to kenster1]

Thanks for the reply and I like your analogy about the tree and branches. I just filled out the SSDI paperwork so the process is just beginning. A daunting process it will be most likely.😒

[kenster1 in reply to Carlee1962]

yeah it can be a nightmare the forms are difficult I got my letter today as I appealed a decision but I aint got a clue what it means.yeah I was sitting in my bedroom looking at the leaves falling from the trees and it was like seeing myself being stripped bare of happiness hope everything really.

[a_work_in_progress]

Hi Carlee

Nice to meet you.

I understand where you’re coming from because I am in a similar situation and I just turned 58. It’s hard moving to a new State I know been there done that. Little by little you lose touch with friends and acquaintances that you used to have and it’s not that easy make new ones. Plus Finding a new dentist a new PCP new therapist blah blah blah.

As far as words of wisdom.

Be your own best friend. Don’t sweat the little stuff. Leave well enough alone. Expect the unexpected. Get your rest and exercise and eat right. Come here when you need someone to listen or just be the listener.

Glad you’re here 👍

[Carlee1962 in reply to a_work_in_progress]

Thanks! I think things will get better once I make progress on exercise and diet.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Carlee1962]

Carlee

My word of advice when you apply is make copies of everything. I had to appeal and was glad I could just recopy things.

I did get approved the second time.

Good luck

[Carlee1962 in reply to Dolphin14]

thanks for the reply. Happy that you are successful ultimately . Roughly how long did it take from your first application to approval . Did you file by yourself or did you have an attorney? I got an attorney.

[a_work_in_progress in reply to Carlee1962]

Yeah I’m always working on that too I do love my chips and french fries

[Dolphin14]

It's took 7 months to get the first reply. I did first application and appeal work myself. They do have people that will help you fill out the forms.

I wouldn't waste my time with a lawyer

My brother had a lawyer do his and my brother made all the calls anyway. So the lawyer got the money and didn't do much at all. His took 9 months for a heart issue.

[Carlee1962 in reply to Dolphin14]

I had to laugh about your brother getting an attorney but ending up doing all the work anyway. Dam attorneys! I'm sure I'm capable enough to handle it but I'm tired of being that way. Don't mean to be nosy, but was your claim based on mental health issues?

[Dolphin14 in reply to Carlee1962]

Yes mine was mental health anxiety depression ptsd

[Carlee1962 in reply to Dolphin14]

well I wish you the best and I hope being approved relieved some Financial pressure.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Carlee1962]

Financial as well as giving me the opportunity to continue therapy to heal myself

I hope it goes smoothly for you

[Carlee1962 in reply to Dolphin14]

Yeah that's definitely important and is getting to be a big factor for me receiving it as well.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Carlee1962]

They want documentation

As you know since you filled out the paperwork

I hope if you are on meds and in therapy and seeing a doc you have a chance with their documents

It is so hard because no one else lives in our head. So they have no clue what we go through.

[Carlee1962]

And it's such a subjective area. I've got a huge file with my former psychiatrist who I had been seen since 2006. I lost him about a year ago when I moved away out of state. when I told this new mental health provider that I have that I was applying for SSDI, I felt like she thought I was a scammer or was just copping out. That makes me angry and hurts my feelings. In the meantime I feel like I'm a guinea pig with her trying different and new Med combinations.