disability and marriage rules
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Disability and marriage rules

We are in the midst of wedding season.  Weddings are generally beautiful affairs where two people commit to one another, announce their love to the world, and celebrate their relationship with family and friends.  I attended two weddings this year, one for my cousin in Ohio, and another where a long-time friend of Al’s got…

disability and sleep disorder
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Disability and Sleep disorders: why we need a good night’s rest

Nearly 20% of the global population has a sleep disorder.  Sleep disorders can be debilitating, and sleep disorders make other conditions worse.  With our daily patterns and routines disrupted, the only thing that would be surprising would be if our sleep cycles weren’t affected by our disabilities! Why is sleep so important? When you are asleep, your…

Can you get disability if you have never worked?
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Can you get disability if you have never worked?(What is SSI)

The short answer is: probably if you are “disabled enough”.   Supplemental Security Income(SSI) is a needs-based program specifically designed to help people who do not have a work history to apply for SSDI.  Generally, these are people who have been affected by their condition since birth or childhood, or who have spent long periods of…

woman holding head
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Can you work while applying for disability?

I was fortunate enough to never need to ask that question. When I applied, I was physically unable to work due to symptoms and had lost two jobs in the previous three months.  My parents helped me through the wait financially, and I focused on my treatments and healing process.  I did not even think…

wrong way signs indicate you may be misdiagnosed by your doctor!
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Misdiagnosed by your doctor? Here are ways to minimize and mitigate the damage!

There are times when doctors, very simply, are wrong.  There are also times when they do not know the answer. Mistakes can and will happen, and your goal as a patient is to make sure you are properly diagnosed by your doctor.  Making sure you aren’t misdiagnosed!  If your doctor does not know what your…

Maintaining mental health while filing for disability
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Maintaining mental health while filing for disability

Filing for disability put me in a depressive funk that left me exhausted, and the process of filing the paperwork literally took me weeks because I couldn’t work on it for more than ten to fifteen minutes at a time before I was physically unable to continue.  Filing for disability, in itself, was an emotional…

Internal Physical Therapy: Should I see a pelvic floor physical therapist?

Internal Physical Therapy: Should I see a pelvic floor physical therapist?

For both urge and stress incontinence, the best treatment is actually physical therapy.  You’ll probably have to do some digging, but there are physical therapists(many of them are DPT’s(doctors of physical therapy) as opposed to having a master’s in physical therapy) out there who focus in on pelvic floor health and rehabilitation.  Do some searching…

Should I see a psychologist?

Should I see a psychologist?

Psychologists treat psychological concerns or issues through conversation, observing your thoughts and actions, and helping you think through your reactions to events in your life.   They meet with their patients regularly, and it is an emotionally intimate relationship. They do not require a specific diagnosis but instead work with their clients to help them…