by dingbat13 » Mon May 24, 2021 3:02 pm
I have a couple examples. I was living with mental illness starting about my teen years, if not sooner. It started as depression. Eventually, there were manic episodes, the first in my early twenties. Somehow, I served four years in the US Air Force, took several years to get a bachelor of science in computer science (overall grade of B). My first computer programming job I had I only stayed a couple years and then moved on to a better paying employer also offering better benefits. I've been at that job over 20 years now and still going on. I'm earning more money than I dreamed I would, I like my job and the people I work with, and I have their respect.
Another example I have is a friend that I met at the support group meetings I attend. He was in his late thirties. Up until that time he was on disability because he has schizoaffective disorder. He went from having no job, to having a job, buying a car, getting a driver's license, and acquiring a girlfriend. He is currently not receiving disability because he voluntarily stopped it because of the money he is now earning. He even quit smoking, too, and goes to a gym/health club and works out regularly.