answer:Our stories are very similar. I was on SSDI for about 8 or 9 years. I went back to work last year. I also am in recovery from bipolar disorder. Your desire to return to work is an excellent indicator that you have come a long way. Congratulations! You have healed a great deal. Celebrate that! Since you have an associates degree in office technology, you might want to approach some temp services in your area. Most temp agencies can be found in the phone book under employment agencies or temp agencies. The idea of doing temporary office work is also good for starting out part-time with lower stress. As you’re aware, stress can lead to episodes of relapse in the illness. If you decide to give this a try, you have the choice of how much of your story you want to reveal. I’m in a unique situation. I work in the mental health recovery field, so I can be extremely forthcoming about my illness. It’s not as easy for others. Stigma is very real. Mental illness is greatly misunderstood even here on enlightened ask-public. The temp agencies are going to want to know what you’ve been doing for 5 years. If you think you can be open, tell them the truth in simple terms: “I was disabled with a mental illness, and I am now recovered and returning to work.” If you think you need to be more circumspect, try: “I was disabled for 5 years, and I am now recovered and returning to work.” In the second case, do not answer if they ask the nature of the disability. They cannot ask you that by law. Again, congratulations! Send me a PM, if you want more private dialogue, or just carry on here in this thread.