Life sure deals some of us a hand full of nothing. I have been on many medications for my depression, the one I am on now is effexor. Just does'nt seem to work. I can't afford to see a specialist. My poor wife is working 2 jobs so we can survive. I have my social security hearing on the 30th and pray I get approved to take some stess off us. With all the stress my wife is under I really don't want to go to her with the way I am feeling. I don't really talk to my family, and I don't have any friends. Thats sad to say at 45 and you don't have one friend to talk to. Thats all, looking for a miricale in Michigan.

Im so sorry for your struggle. I understand how hard it is to have severe depression. For over 14 plus years I had and still do to a lessor degree depression. I was hospitilized before and tried many meds during that period along with different therapies. Though right now it may feel things cant feel better they can. You have to try to hold to hope even if it is in something small to get you by. Try to just take minute by minute even to get through the ruff periods.
Sometimes it takes a combo of meds,self help,etc to get to a better place. I do believe support is so important and like you when I struggled I had very little. Could you join a support group? What about a hobby group to meet people?
Just know you are not alone. Stay strong

beleave me I know how you feel I'm 52 and don't have friends eather,I am soory for your wife it hasto be very hard on her I know that it is exspensive to go to a speshilest but the S.S.department is probably going to turn you down they useualy do the first time, your best bet is to go to a psychietrist he or she will help you with this mine did and I was on in 3 months no court hearing or anything,if you just need someone to talk to I am here I wish you and your wife all the best tell her to try to hang in there it will get better

Hi from Michigan too !! I know how hard it is with depression. I've been suffering from it since I was about 4 yrs old. I didn't get treatment tho until I was in my 20's cause my parents were too busy gettiing drunk.

I've been on alot of meds too and ALL of them have worked, but after you've been on them for a long time, they stop workiing. Your body gets used to them so they either have to UP the dosage, or put you on something else. Right now, I'm on Cymbalta, the maximum dose which is 120mg per day. It works pretty well, but I'm beginning to think that it won't be long until I'll have to switch to something else.

Talk to your doctor -- it might be that your medication stopped workiing. You might have gotten used to Effexor. So have him either UP the dosage, or switch you to something else. Our body DOES get used to these drugs. I hope he'll do something for you. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

Yep, life hands out lemons, and making something sweet is easier to do than what we get with trouble. However you have us. You found people who have compassion, and will listen. When we get sick or hurt, we find out real quick who are friends are, thats for sure. Most people here, have gone through some kind of depression due to health and or the stress of trying to make it financially when you get sick. Myself included. I try very hard to distract myself, and read like crazy. That takes me far away from my issues. Keep coming back here to talk. You will meet friends, and may just decide to stick around as I did. Be good to yourself, and give your wife a big hug. I will pray you get SSD. ginnie

just wanted to see how you are doing tonight I hope your in better spirits just try to remember that there are people here that will do there best to help

Thank you all for replying. Things just keep getting worse. I have been fighting to get disability for four years, so I have been denied many times. I dont have the money to see a specialist. To many problems to list. just wanted to say thank you.

Hi, and I do know how difficult it is to get SSD. I lost all my savings. As far as specialists go, write a letter to the one you want to see. No kidding, lay it out on the line. There are doctors, who give of their time and talent to those who cannot pay. I did this very thing, and he didn't charge through the time I was waiting to get the SSD. My neck was so bad I would have been paralized, and he helped me to get the 1st surgery so that didn't happen. ginnie

Bretd ~ You don't NEED MONEY to get your SSD -- Hire an attorney ON CONTINGENCY. That means you don't pay him ANYTHING -- he gets his fee from your back pay -- meaning when you get your award of SSD, he takes his fee from your award. He can't get more than 25%. So hire a SSD attorney -- an attorney that specializes in Social Security. You don't have to pay ONE RED CENT. Didn't anyone tell you about this?? Someone SHOULD HAVE.

You could have had your SSD by now, darn it.

So get started -- make an appointment with an attorney that specializes in this. Take all your stuff that you have. Everything you have regarding this, including denials that you've gotten. The atty. will get everything else he needs himself.

Best of luck! I'm sure you'll win with an attorney! Hugs, Lee

Leese, I do have a lawyer I have had him since my first denial. He is a very good lawyer, he got me this next hearing. 98% of the cases that are sent to the appeals council get denied and my lawyer got it remanded for another hearing. I have been in constent contact with my congressman, all they do is send letters. I have read up on social security disability more than anyone person will there entire life.So believe me when I tell you I have studied this for over four years. The judge that denied me has hung his hat on a statment that one therepist made that said I could do sedentary work. Thank you for your response.