The following true story was sent to our EPC “Story Contest”

Please visit our “contributor info” (Link). “recent stories” (Link). and “story index” (Link). We would be thrilled to receive your own story at: story@epcc.ca

All formats are welcome, especially short videos.

By Eliizabeth

Back in 2012, I had multiple chronic health conditions and had failed completely again at getting and holding down a job after moving to a larger city with some money from family to try to find work I could actually do. I needed disability benefits, but didn’t have it. I’d already been denied once for it in 2010, and applied again in 2012 and suspected I wouldn’t get it. I have generalized anxiety disorder and depression that was severely aggravated by my financial troubles and inability to support myself, and I started having panic attacks and cutting myself, as well as not eating enough and becoming underweight with dizzy spells. I felt like a burden and had suicidal ideation, though I didn’t try to kill myself.

A few months later I finally got the letter back about disability. I was convinced I’d be denied again, and had to read it through twice before I realized it was approved. It totally changed my life, and I am very glad to still be here today, even if I still can’t support myself financially by working due to health issues, living with chronic pain and struggling with depression and anxiety at times. 

Your worth as a human being and right to live doesn’t depend on whether you can earn a living, and there are other ways to contribute to society even if you can’t earn a paycheck.

This was before MAID was legal. I already felt like a burden and was struggling with suicidal ideation to the point where I was cutting myself without society offering me social sanction for dying or suggesting I should do so or offering to help me while making it easier and faster than applying for disability. 

Offering me death would have made my mental health struggles so much worse.

Elizabeth