T 'exaggerated' on my report to get me on disability

Pavlov's Cat · Nov 18, 2019 at 05:20 PM

Hello,

I think I remember my psychiatrist saying he exaggerated on my report to get me on disability. It's not clear whether this is a standard exaggeration that everyone does, like on a resume, or whether he went too far.

I feel like maybe he just thought I'm kind of a deadbeat that's not going to get any better, and the only way I was going to move out of home was if I was on disability, which grants enough money per week to live alone in a rental property.

My dx that I'm aware of are general anxiety, social anxiety, depression, I'm also a hypochondriac.

My mental health does make it hard for me to commit to anything, because the anxiety can come out of nowhere and make it tough to do anything other than lie in bed. Nevertheless I wonder what my psychiatrists motivations were.

Does anybody else have similar feelings?

Mountaindewed · Nov 18, 2019 at 05:49 PM

I think it’s pretty common. My Pdoc said something similar. He said I am for sure still disabled and he will make sure I still get my benefits. But also my T had to do paperwork too and so did my mom and I. So it wasn’t just him. But yeah something similar happened to me.

susannahsays · Nov 18, 2019 at 07:41 PM

Hmm. Well, I don't have any experience with applying for disability. I will say that it sounds like I have the same problem with lying in bed due to anxiety, but nobody has ever suggested I go on disability. I do wonder if that will be helpful. I totally understand that anxiety can be so debilitating, that it could require disability. But since you don't seem sure you should be on disability yourself, I wonder if it could actually be detrimental to you because you will have less motivation to address the anxiety.

Also, disability is really hard to get on, so maybe you won't even get accepted. If you do, I don't think it's much to live on.

As for your psychiatrist's motivations, I'm not really sure what you're getting at. He doesn't get paid for putting anyone on disability. Putting you on disability doesn't benefit him - it's just extra work.

~Christina · Nov 18, 2019 at 08:01 PM

Most Doctors will write /fill out report based on when your at your worst. Because sure on good days you probably could function well enough but I’m guessing the bad days are within guidelines pdocs follow.

JaneTennison1 · Nov 18, 2019 at 10:30 PM

yeah I have heard too that things need to be completed based on your worst day. Yes you "can" do something but it doesnt mean you should. I doubt he said things that weren't true.

sophiebunny · Nov 18, 2019 at 11:42 PM

My psychiatrist takes a completely different approach. He's a firm believer in patients working. He says the benefits of employment are well known and disability itself is debilitating, sending the message you are "too sick" to do anything is a self-fulfilling prophesy. I'm retired now and I write for a living. The day I reentered the professional workforce many years ago was a therapeutic breakthrough. He was almost as excited as I was.

Polibeth · Nov 19, 2019 at 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheltiemom2007

My psychiatrist takes a completely different approach. He's a firm believer in patients working. He says the benefits of employment are well known and disability itself is debilitating, sending the message you are "too sick" to do anything is a self-fulfilling prophesy. I'm retired now and I write for a living. The day I reentered the professional workforce many years ago was a therapeutic breakthrough. He was almost as excited as I was.

I'm on disability but I work part-time. My pdoc is a firm believer that employment is a stabilizing force and he is correct. However, he also recognizes that I'm not in a place to work full-time but when I do I know he will be thrilled.

He was not my pdoc when I went on disability.

Mountaindewed · Nov 19, 2019 at 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polibeth

I'm on disability but I work part-time. My pdoc is a firm believer that employment is a stabilizing force and he is correct. However, he also recognizes that I'm not in a place to work full-time but when I do I know he will be thrilled.

He was not my pdoc when I went on disability.

This is my case too.

wotchermuggle · Nov 19, 2019 at 09:16 PM

I just wanted to let the OP know that my Pdoc wrote me up worse to get me on disability as well. It was during an inpatient stay. Here, almost everyone gets denied disability on your first application so to be ensured to get it, you need to be pretty bad off.

That said, I firmly believe work is a healing and stabilizing factor in recovery. I’ve gone back to part time work with the intent to go off disability altogether in the future. Not having a purpose really can keep you down.

sophiebunny · Nov 19, 2019 at 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polibeth

I'm on disability but I work part-time. My pdoc is a firm believer that employment is a stabilizing force and he is correct. However, he also recognizes that I'm not in a place to work full-time but when I do I know he will be thrilled.

He was not my pdoc when I went on disability.

I eased into full time employment. I started part-time. Worked through the issues I had about working while mentally ill. Finally, a full time research position opened up and I got the job. My psychiatrist said gaining full time status was a process not just an end point. As long as I made steady progress toward the end point he was fine with my disability status. He knew I was working seriously on it.

Menu

My Support Forums - Mental Health Support Groups

Get emotional support and friendship from others like you!

T 'exaggerated' on my report to get me on disability

My Support Forums

Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,125 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,744 hugs given	Nov 18, 2019 at 05:49 PM #2 I think it’s pretty common. My Pdoc said something similar. He said I am for sure still disabled and he will make sure I still get my benefits. But also my T had to do paperwork too and so did my mom and I. So it wasn’t just him. But yeah something similar happened to me. __________________ Ridin' with Biden
	Reply With Quote

~Christina Legendary Wise Elder Community Liaison Member Since Jul 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 22,450 (SuperPoster!) 12 12.7k hugs given	Nov 18, 2019 at 08:01 PM #4 Most Doctors will write /fill out report based on when your at your worst. Because sure on good days you probably could function well enough but I’m guessing the bad days are within guidelines pdocs follow. __________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~
	Reply With Quote

JaneTennison1 Magnate Member Since Aug 2014 Location: US Posts: 2,202 9 121 hugs given	Nov 18, 2019 at 10:30 PM #5 yeah I have heard too that things need to be completed based on your worst day. Yes you "can" do something but it doesnt mean you should. I doubt he said things that weren't true.
	Reply With Quote