New York state residents with mental illness might struggle financially sometimes. If you have a mental illness preventing you from working, you still need money to support yourself.

The Social Security Administration, also called the SSA, can sometimes give you disability benefits if you have a mental condition that prevents working at a conventional job. We will talk about that in detail right now.

SSI and SSDI

The first thing that must happen for you to get money through the state is that a qualified medical professional must diagnose you with a mental illness. You can’t collect any money if you merely suspect you have a particular condition.

The next thing to do is check up on your payment eligibility through two entities the Social Security Administration runs. You must earn Supplemental Security Income, sometimes abbreviated as SSI. You must also look for Social Security Disability Insurance, abbreviated as SSDI.

If you’re eligible for both of them, you can get money to help you support yourself and pay for your basic needs, such as food, utility payments, etc. You can also get healthcare instead of getting it through a conventional employer or buying it through the marketplace as part of the Affordable Care Act, sometimes called Obamacare.

Mental Illnesses That New York State Considers Disabilities

The prevailing theory, in New York state and elsewhere, is that if you have a serious mental illness, you probably can’t hold down a conventional job. What’s tricky is that some mental health professionals might not necessarily agree on what kind of jobs you can hold with different mental health diagnoses.

For instance, you might get a diagnosis of something like anxiety or depression. Some mental health professionals would argue that you can still work if you can find a job that does not exacerbate these conditions. Maybe you can work from home doing something like graphic design or freelance writing.

If you receive a diagnosis like schizophrenia, you may not be able to hold down a conventional job. You’ll need to get the proper diagnosis to use the SSDI and SSI programs, and that’s not always the easiest thing to do. Neurocognitive disorders usually allow you to use these programs. Those might include dementia from multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, or intellectual disorder, among others.

Extreme anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder can qualify. So can certain somatic disorders. Personality and impulse-control disorders can qualify you for these programs as well.

Trauma-related disorders like PTSD can usually get you help through these programs. You see that a lot with combat veterans. Some eating disorders can also get you on the list for benefits.

Gray Areas

Finding the right doctor is the problem that some individuals run into when trying to get a diagnosis so they can apply to one of these programs. Maybe you have a depressive disorder, but some doctors might feel that you can still work at a conventional job or work from home if you take the proper medication. These doctors will use a pretty rigid criteria to try and determine whether you should get these benefits or not.

Take major depressive disorder, for instance. A doctor might run an extensive series of tests to see if they think you’re trying to game the system. They will only suggest you should get benefits from the two programs if you meet five or more depressive disorder symptoms.

If you demonstrate three or four of those symptoms, that might disqualify you from getting benefits, even if you feel like you’re genuinely struggling with your mental health and your day-to-day life. You can always go to another doctor and get a second opinion, though, or a third one.

Limited Mental or Emotional Functioning

Everyone deals with emotional or physical impairment in different ways. If you feel a little different or abnormal, and you’re unsure why, it’s sometimes hard to articulate or demonstrate that when a doctor asks you questions or tries to observe your behavior.

That’s practically mental illness’s definition. You might feel like there’s something wrong with you, but it’s hard to put that difference into words. You might know you feel sad, angry, or depressed sometimes, but what you say may not match a mental deficiency’s symptoms word for word.

If so, you may experience significant frustration trying to get and use SSI and SSDI benefits. You might have to try and live and work with mental illness or impairment until the condition manifests itself in a more obvious way.

For you to get benefits from these programs, some people feel compelled to exaggerate their symptoms. It’s not because they’re trying to game the system. They feel like there’s something wrong with them, but they have good days and bad.

Mental health is never an exact science, which is why New York state residents who suffer from some of the conditions we mentioned might spend years trying to get the money and healthcare they so badly need. The programs we mentioned exist to help them. However, these individuals might not qualify until they either find a healthcare professional who agrees with a qualifying diagnosis or else they suffer some kind of breakdown that makes their impairment obvious.

It’s an imperfect system, but it’s one you have no choice but no navigate in New York state if you want these benefits. You’re probably going to have to submit to psychological and physical testing, some of which you might find invasive.

All you can do is go through with that if you hope to get the benefits you need. It’s best not to exaggerate your condition, but you should not try to hide any of its aspects, either.

Hopefully, you can find a system-approved doctor who agrees you can’t work a conventional job, and they will help you. Otherwise, you may have to struggle for years until you can convince these programs you have a serious enough condition to warrant state and federal government-subsidized healthcare and financial aid.

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It’s not hard to find someone who knows or has a loved one who suffers from mental illness. The thing is that while the physical pain of a broken leg can be readily seen and understood by everyone, mental illness is still something that many people struggle to understand. It’s time for us all to have a better understanding of this misunderstood condition. Let’s break down what mental illness is, the different types of it, and how you can make life easier for someone suffering from mental struggles.

Consult Them On Treatment

It’s good to get the opinions of someone who actually suffers from mental illness on what they think is best for treatment. For example, many people go to the doctor and get put on an antidepressant because their symptoms fit the criteria in the DSM-5. That doesn’t mean it will work for you/them. The sooner you consult them to try therapy, the better they’ll handle their mental illness. This consultation doesn’t always have to be about their treatment plan. It could also be to help them out with how they feel, or what they’re going through in life right now. Sometimes it can be very hard for someone with mental illness to ask for help, but if you offer your support and guidance then that might just give the person the little push they need.

Check Up On Them

It’s a good idea to check in with a loved one who is suffering from mental illness. This doesn’t need to be a formal meeting or phone call every week, but you should make sure that they’re going through what they say they are. For example, if someone says their manic episode was controlled by the new medication they were put on, then it might not hurt to give them some medicine and tell them you hope everything goes well for them. Or after an emotionally rough day at work, people may stay home and not want to see anyone or leave the house. That could easily worry the people around them, but it would be wrong for those people to assume that their loved one isn’t doing anything of importance when they’re alone. People who suffer from mental illness do not appreciate feeling like they need to justify what they’re doing with their time. The more we can understand the disease and how it affects people, the better off we’ll all be.

Don’t Blame Them For Their Mental Illness

You should never blame someone for having a mental illness. If you’ve ever had an issue with anyone who has had some kind of mental condition then you know that there is nothing wrong with them as a person. That’s why people think of those who have some sort of mental illness as not at fault for their actions because they cannot help it sometimes, and it is still up for debate if these conditions are actual illnesses or just personality traits. It might not seem like it, but this is actually a great thing. It means that while you might not be able to change your children if they’re having some sort of mental breakdown, at least you know there’s nothing wrong with them intrinsically. They are not monsters because of their mental ailment.

Encourage Them To Take Care Of Themselves

People who have someone in their lives who suffer from mental illness need to make sure they are taking care of themselves too. Taking up hobbies and having things on their schedule for after the person gets better are good ideas to make sure everyone survives what could be a tough time. Sometimes people can get lost in “the cause” and neglect themselves when they should be taking care of themselves so they will have energy for when the going gets tough. As this is an important thing for anyone to hear, it should be said to people who are suffering from mental illness as well. It would be wrong not to take care of yourself when you know that there’s something hard coming up ahead.

You should not let a person’s mental illness define them any more than you would let an illness of the body define someone. Mental illness doesn’t have to be a terrible thing if we can help it. If you or someone close to you has a mental condition then know that there are things that those who care about you can do to make your life easier. It might seem like tough love, but giving people with mental issues their space sometimes is necessary for them to get better and do the right things for themselves instead of everyone else. And don’t forget about yourself as well, because taking care of everyone else isn’t going to stop your own problems from arising!

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It’s important to think about your mental health and wellbeing in the same way you do your physical health. After all, being emotionally strong can be just as important as being physically fit. Your mental wellbeing can help you deal with emotional challenges and help you maintain positive relationships with yourself and those around you, which is important if you want to be confident and happy within yourself.

There has been much debate over the topic of whether mental health and physical health can impact each other. Many believe the two are very closely linked, which could have some interesting effects on your overall health. With that in mind, Wellbeing365 takes a look at how wellbeing could help you recover from illness, both physical and mental.

The Connection Between Physical And Mental Health

Physical health problems can significantly increase the risk of poor mental health, and it works the other way around too. A large percentage of people who have a physical health condition, particularly long-term, will often find they suffer from a mental health problem too. In most cases, this is depression or anxiety.

It is commonly thought that your beliefs, thoughts and feelings can influence your biological functioning, and how you treat your physical body can influence your mental health. So, if you feel down, you could become more susceptible to physical illness too, and this will have a knock on effect of how well you recover from illness too.

There are many reasons for this, including your body’s physical response to mental states. The fight-or-flight response in particular is a great demonstration of how we feel manifesting itself in a physical response.

Recovering From Physical Illness With A Positive Attitude

There is a lot to be said for looking at the world with a positive mindset. Living a balanced life, developing resilience and practicing self-care can all help you to achieve a more positive approach to life and change how you feel. It can leave feeling much more confident and aware of your environment, which in turn can help you to remain physically healthy.

Being mindful of sleep and diet is another element of your mental wellbeing that also impacts your physical health. After all, a poor diet or sleep deprivation can often lead to health issues and being at risk of developing a number of conditions. If you find yourself sleeping badly or feeling down, it’s more likely you will crave comfort or junk food, and if this goes on for too long you could experience a weakened immune system.

Having a positive mental attitude can not only lower rates of stress, but can help you to experience better cardiovascular health too as well as developing a greater resistance to illnesses like a cold. The reasons aren’t completely clear, but it’s likely that by coping better with stressful situations, you can reduce the harmful health effects that stress can have on your body. So, if you begin developing a physical illness, it could be your body’s way of telling you to check your mental wellbeing.

Keep Active

Keeping active and exercising regularly is one of the best ways to improve your mental and physical health at the same time as helping you to recover from illness. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are known as the feel-good chemical. Endorphins can help with sleep and concentration.

Going for a walk, doing a yoga class or hitting the gym can all have a great impact on how you feel in your mind and your body, making it a great remedy to ensure you bounce back from illness or feeling down.

*collaborative post

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Most of us have someone in our lives that struggles with some level of mental illness. As someone who is trying to be supportive, it can often feel nerve-wracking and sometimes even a little frustrating.

Especially if you know someone who struggles with severe mental illness, being a support system can take a toll. Finding ways to best be there for them, provide love and care, and take care of yourself in the process is essential.

When To Step In And Help

Sometimes people who struggle with mental health issues deal with a lot of internalized shame and embarrassment. They might not want to share what they are dealing with for fear of being judged, misunderstood, or labeled as crazy.

The stigmas surrounding mental illness are very real. Until you know someone who has had to face this straight-on, it may be hard to fully grasp how strong the barriers are for seeking out help.

Unless someone you know or love asks directly for support, you might be unsure if they need help or how severe the problems may be.

Some signs to look for include:

• They shut off from you or stop answering calls.
• They don’t find joy in the things that normally bring them joy, such as passions or hobbies.
• They might eat less and be visibly losing weight.
• They stop going to social events.
• They start using drugs more heavily as a coping mechanism.
• They make jokes or elude to ideations of suicide.
• They stop showing up to school or work and call in sick or completely drop off.

What You Can Do

So, you might be thinking what can I do to help? Of course, you’re not a professional, and in an ideal scenario, the person struggling will be seeking support from a licensed practitioner.

Many people have partners or loved ones who struggle with depression or other mental health issues, and this can make the relationship extra challenging. But as a friend, partner, or support person, there are some things you can do to help.

1. Encourage Them To Seek Treatment From A Professional

This may be a sensitive subject, especially if the person has had negative experiences with therapists or social workers in the past. Remind them that it’s okay to seek support without being too pushy.

If you seek therapy, maybe you can talk about that. Any way to normalize medical support is helpful, and providing help in this avenue could be helpful. You can offer to research certain clinics or research some recommended therapists.

2. Help Them Set Some Goals Or Make A Plan

Make sure these are specific and realistic goals. Maybe it can mean trying to find a professional or a plan for who to call when things are extra hard. You can also work with them on setting some tangible goals for the week, such as getting their assignment complete or prioritizing some work projects. Hold a brainstorming session with them ask them how they want to be held accountable for these goals.

3. Learn About Their Illness

It can help to understand their patterns and how their mental illness might affect them. This creates more empathy and understanding and also prepares you for certain patterns that might arise due to these traits.

4. Remind Them You’re There For Them

Sometimes what people need most is to know that someone cares. Checking in on them might be the best thing you can do. Ask them if they need anything. Let them know you love and care for them, and that when they’re ready, you are there to hold space for them. You may have to remind them often and check on them regularly if you know they are struggling.

Find a Balance

Remember to take always care of yourself first. You can’t take care of someone if you aren’t doing well. Sometimes having boundaries can be important too, so just make sure to balance how much support you can give with taking time and space for your mental health.

Author Bio

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with Mind-Diagnostics.org. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

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