Disability Hearing on August 12th. Please help.

[tambee]

LOS ANGELES, CA

Hello,

I am a 31 year old female who has been contributing to society and has a great track record of good work ethics for the past 10 years. I am now in great health and wanting to move forward with my life and am looking for work again. However, I was disabled due to anxiety which lead to dependency on alcohol. I would like to recover money for the time I was not working but was technically employed full-time) and while I was seeking treatment for the beginning months of this year... Jan - May 2009.

I have a disability hearing coming up in a couple days and was wondering if I could get some advice on the direction I should take when talking to the judge and presenting my case. I would greatly appreciate it since I do not have a lawyer to guide me.

In a nut shell, I had severe anxiety, to the point of having panic attacks at unexpected times. I felt horrible, not myself, unable to function properly and not knowing when to expect the next surge of anxiety. I couldn't pin-point the cause but had a feeling it was due to the stresses brought on by work. I did go to a few specialists who said that I was in good health and it was most likely stress induced or in my head. I was still experiencing unexpected panic attacks and unfortunately fell into drinking heavily for a couple of months while working from home.

My parents were concerned enough and frightened because my condition was so unusual for me, so they found a 4 month program through Narcanon to rid me of my anxiety and alcohol dependency through life improvement courses, a sauna program and counselors to help me get to the bottom of my problems. I also got a note from my family doctor stating that I was disabled due to Anxiety (primary) and alcohol (secondary) during that period of time.

The program did work, I am anxiety free and have been sober without fail. I did apply for Disability pay through EDD which was initially denied because the facility was not "state approved". However, the facility is state approved. I have a letter of completion from the rehab center. And I was taken to doctors for check ups and bloodwork.

So, now I have my hearing date set for this coming Wednesday and would like to present the right angle so that I am eligible for the money which I feel I rightfully have earned. I was physically and mentally unable to work, I was seeking help to get better so that I could return as a contributing part of society and in doing so I have fallen into debt without that period of pay.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thank You.