Advice Needed: Pursuing Disability Benefits for ADHD, Bipolar/Schizoaffective Disorder & Chronic Hypoxia

Hello, redditors!

As the title says, I’m working on applying for disability for - ADHD - Bipolar/Schizoaffective - Chronic Hypoxia due to a still unresolved deviated septum, and would appreciate some support. I’ve done some independent browsing of my own and read some posts. I worry about the process seeing other’s experiences with denial and overall difficulty getting approved especially for conditions like ADHD and Bipolar.

I feel like writing and sharing, so I’ll just ask my questions first. I appreciate your responses. - what do you think helped the most for your application? - what was something that slowed the process for you or even was the reason for your denial? - does SSA accept and evaluate any personal statements? Whether from the applicant or family?

Formally, I was diagnosed ADHD, Depression, and Insomnia around 2020 a little late halfway through me fucking up my undergrad and causing me to lose my full ride and honors college for reasons I didn’t understand until now. I gracefully finished school by nonchalantly kissing my dreams goodbye and switching to the easiest major I could think of just to get it all out of the way. I’d like to note that when I started seeing the psychiatrist who dx me ADHD, they told me to see an ENT as they noticed a whistle when I breathed and explained that poor breathing can cause cognitive impairment and even mood disturbances among other health conditions similar to ADHD and others. The longest job I worked for 5 years was my first job fresh out of high school, I was essentially let go because of my vision impairment. Over a year passed before I even started looking for another job. My second job I quit within less than a year. Another year passed before I got my most recent job which I just let them fire me by just ignoring all contact. 5 years have passed since I - rather, my conditions - cheated me out of a better future. I still have an unresolved deviated septum. Im struggling on and off with substance abuse and cycles of batshit out of character behavior spending my entire savings and quitting any and all commitments: work, personal, social. I literally cannot breathe right and have been mouth breathing for idk how long. I don’t know to what extent the lack of proper oxygen flow has affected my brain but I’ve started to feel funny business around my heart last year. I’m 100% manic and psychotic. I’m actually taking advantage of this relatively quiet moment of lucidity to write this before I “forget” my psychosis and start believing my delusions that my family is conspiring with any and everyone, yes even you reading this, to kill me because I am Jesus and must die for all your sins once more. Im so freaking skinny and out of shape. It’s like im constantly lost in my own head. I’m really really sick, you guys. This isn’t who I am. I fear not getting the help I need. Is there anything I should know or can do that might help? Be it for the application process or just advice.