Hi Patrick,

I am glad you requested to be freinds.  How are things going?  Any progress with Social Security?  The depression can be so draining.  Are you taking any meds for it?  I am treated for depression and anxiety, the meds have side effects that I don't care for but if I don't take them I don't do very well in my world.

Hi Patrick:

I friended you as someone who cares about people and especially with TBI as I am a survivor of it myself. If I can be of any help to you by talking, any questions you may have or just someone to listen, I am here for you. Thats just the kind of person I am. Looking forward to getting to know you more. Blessings to you and to your family.

Debi

Sorry, I meant to comment about the situation with you marriage - someone on this network told me that the statistics for marraiges ending after one partner has a TBI are pretty high, I did look that up but don't recall the numbers - but I do remember that it was pretty even with both husbands and wives choosing to leave their disabled partner.  There is a large body of evidence that suggests that keeping a positive attitude is the single most healing thing you can do for yourself.  There are some recovery groups that stand by the saying;"fake it til you make it", to me that translates to look for something positive in whatever you are dealing with and even if you aren't too excited about it at least admit that to someone somewhere it might be considered a blessing.  My latest example of that was this morning when I woke up to at least an inch of new snow on the ground...the plus is, it makes the yard look perfect and it covers up all the gardening projects that I know I'll have to do soon.  You, no doubt, are a different person but that might not be all bad - I have heard many people share that they have become much more able to understand the struggles of all other people with any sort of disability and in trying to help others they have found a part of them that brings them joy.

If you are having difficulty working and it's related to your TBI you can go to Vocational Rehabilitation and they will try to help you find employment and sometimes will provide funding for training AND if they conclude that you are not able to work in a competative job market THEY will help your case to get SSDI or SSI.  Here is a link to the office in your area (I think).

http://www.rehabworks.org/area1_offices.shtml

They will ask you to provide medical records so if you gather them up before your first appointment you'll be ahead of the game.  This is a federal program and is free to you.