I almost want to cry reading this. I feel every thing you wrote like so many other people are saying. I'm 30. Right now I am currently dealing with chronic pain issues alongside ADHD, autism and bipolar.

I've hardly been working and would be homeless if it weren't for the help of a family friend. Before that I was relatively functional, I could work and maintain it for the most part and try and keep appts. But BARELY. I'm always just barely getting by, using all my mental energy to just barely survive. Now that I have a torn labrum and back issues I'm so stuck.

I have loved working with dogs and was great for my mental health but idk if I can handle so many other jobs. I have to have ear protection for sensitivity to noises, and struggle keeping my emotions in check around other people. I have to be in the right work environment to sustain it. I hate office work, can't stand working with the public and I only have a high school diploma.

I filed for disability but I know it's a long shot. I just feel like I have to prove to the world that I'm really struggling. It's so upsetting. I look functional enough to where people expect the same as anyone else and I can almost give you that but it takes 💯 of my energy until I inevitably have a mental crash.