0baobab

I've been in the mental health system for ten years now, I started when I was twelve. For the past seven years I've been on roughly 8 different meds simultaneously, though the cocktail has been constantly changing and being monitored. Today, my psychiatrist who I've been seeing for four years (I get switched a lot due to changes made within the system) gave me a letter to give to school stating that I am "permanently disabled." It is supposed to help with funding and accommodation but I feel as though I've been told that I'm never going to be completely better. I will have periods where I am okay but this mess will always be present at some point or another in my life. I'm only 22... I live in a care home for people with mental illness and cognitive delays. My cognitive function is, according to specialists, well above normal, but I feel that with this label I will always be looked at differently. I'm not stupid, I'm in university and am maintaining an A average, but I'm still different... I'm debating whether or not I should give the letter to the registrar, are funding and accommodation worth them knowing that I'm strange? Wrestling with this... Any input would be helpful.

Thanks,
Kassie

Dee74

I don't think you should get too hung up on this Kassie.

I have cerebral palsy - different problem I know but...the fact is according to the state in which I live I am permanently disabled - but apart from my pension card I never think of myself that way.

I'm just me - I've always had to deal with a recalcitrant body - it's not a struggle , it's simply life as I know it.

Try not to think of this as a sentence being passed upon you, it's just a letter to help you with funding and accommodation

D

raku

Boy !...my first reaction would be...do you think that this letter could be changed to "temporarily un-abled "? Mental illness can be an on-going issue, full of ups and downs, better functioning or less functional, abled or not. (I'm 60, diagnosed at 30) Being honest is important ! If school is important to you and feel a letter of "dis-abled" would help, and you under the care of this psychiatrist who supported this, and you are honest and straightforward with him, accept it as a gift and be grateful, not stressed !

CINDY

Love & Light,

Cindy

0baobab

Thanks guys, you're awesome.

Opivotal

You define yourself 0baobab, not a piece of paper. That statement just makes life a little easier for you. I would take the assistance and leave it at that.

I think it's terrific you have the opportunity to further your education.

Sending my very best wishes to you!

peanutter

well if you really look closely, you will see that you are on the road to accepting that you are strange.. being on all the meds, living in special housing. And the registrar most likely knows that already! It is AMAZING that you have such a high cognitive function and can maintain an A average.

It is a real BLESSING to have been given a paper which entitles you to disability. Lots of folks fight all their lives to get this.

I know that with my bipolar, I have never been able to hold down a full time stressful job.
So life was always hard, isolated, alone.. because work gives more than money, it gives a sense of purpose.

But with that disability paper, you will have a guaranteed income and will not have to struggle as hard. You will have help in keeping a roof over your head and will not have to worry about being on the streets/ And you will be able to keep studying and find a way to contribute.

I think that you are pretty lucky

except, of course, for the sucky diagnois and all !

0baobab

You guys rock. Thanks so much. <3