It seems like just yesterday that I was fighting to get better, fighting with the insurance company, anxious about my employment, and totally overwhelmed by life in general. I’ve come a long way since then. Now, I’m finally at a place where I can focus on my health and on looking forward at what’s next for me. I didn’t get to where I am overnight and I didn’t get here without help. This is my story.

Early Battles with Mental Health

Since I was a teenager I struggled with my mental health. I had periods of time when I felt down or anxious, but I always managed to push through. That is until this last episode, when I couldn’t push any longer.

I had been working at a job I loved, helping my clients invest their money and create financial plans to set them up for their futures. At work, I put my heart and soul into providing exceptional client service. I was attentive to details and committed to meeting my targets which I often exceeded. Additionally, I enjoyed working with my team, and I took tremendous pride in what I did and how I did it.  I had been well paid and my income allowed me and my family some financial stability and flexibility.

Confronting the Signs of Decline

Then things began to change. I can’t tell you exactly when it started but I do know that over the course of several months, I began to struggle with my mental health. It might have been that I was putting too much pressure on myself at work, or maybe my work was putting too much pressure on me. Maybe it was the stress I was feeling at home, managing my household, raising my children, and working at my marriage. Maybe it was a combination of all of those things.

I just remember that over time, I began to lose focus, my concentration and memory began to deteriorate. There were times where I often found myself feeling tearful for no apparent reason. I was snappish with my family. I began making mistakes at work. Some days, I struggled to get out of bed, preferring to hide away from the world and sleep. When I did sleep, I often woke up to my heart racing and my thoughts spinning out of control with worry and dread. Avoidance and isolation were my new coping mechanisms. Then one day, I could not bring myself to leave the house to go to work. I was done. 

My family saw the subtle and not-so-subtle changes in me and they were worried. I insisted I was fine until I was not. That’s when I finally admitted to myself that I needed help. I went to see my doctor for a sick note for work, she asked me questions and let me vent to her. In the end, she told me that I was suffering from depression and anxiety. I needed medication and I needed to talk to a therapist. She told me that I also needed time away from work for the treatment to work and to get back to feeling like my old self. 

Applying for Short-Term Disability Benefits

When it became clear that it would take more time than anticipated, I applied for short-term disability benefits through my employer’s group benefit plan. Unfortunately, despite adjustments to my medication and finally getting in to see a therapist after a long wait, I was still not well. In some ways my condition had actually worsened. I was constantly worried about my job, my clients, and my family. I would need to make a long-term disability claim. That’s when things went sideways for me. 

I assumed that there would be no problem getting long-term disability benefits. After all, I was clearly unwell and my family doctor and my psychologist agreed that I was not well enough to work and returning to work would cause me serious harm and set me back in my recovery. That’s why I was shocked when the insurance company sent me a letter saying that my claim had been denied. They said that I had not proven that I could not do my occupation as an investment advisor. I was confused and upset and had no idea what to do. 

Finding Support Through Mulqueen Disability Law

That’s when I reached out to Mulqueen Disability Law. I had seen their website in my middle of the night scrolling marathons. I read some of their articles and their appeal guide and I felt like their website was speaking directly to me. Within a day or two I had my meeting with lawyer, Courtney Mulqueen.  She made me feel heard and understood. She knew the law and my rights and she explained everything to me in a way I could understand. She set out my options and answered all my questions. She was patient and kind and incredibly knowledgeable.

After weighing my options, I decided that the best thing for my mental health was to let Courtney and her team take over the fight for my long-term disability benefits, while I focused on getting better so that I could one-day return to the work I loved. 

Letting the Professionals Take Over

Courtney and her team went out of their way to make sure I felt supported and advocated for. They started the court action right away and not long after, we were sitting in a meditation with the insurance company, talking about my case and working together toward a settlement. Courtney was a fierce advocate, laying out the facts and evidence of my case to support my claim for benefits, while also ripping apart the insurance company in terms of all the things they did wrong and all the damage, financial and emotional, that they caused me in the process. She provided me with the guidance and advice I needed to make a decision that was right for me. 

Thanks to Courtney and her team at Mulqueen Disability Law, I no longer have the stress of dealing with the insurance company. I am slowly starting to rebuild my health and my life. I’m not able to return to work, just yet, but that’s okay. I now understand that my health is my priority and everything in my life depends on me being well. I am grateful for the financial means to take the time to get well. I don’t know where I would be if I had not found Mulqueen Disability Law. 

Disclaimer: The names and some details have been changed to protect the privacy and maintain the anonymity of the subject of the story. The preceding is not intended to be legal advice. This blog is made available for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog, you understand that there is no solicitor client relationship between you and the blog publisher. The blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed lawyer in your jurisdiction. If your disability claim has been denied and you require legal advice, please contact a lawyer specializing in disability law.