What should one do if: Engineer until too sick, then "overqualified."<p>After employee stock options vested, net ~500K USD, resigned because had felt fatigued or burned out, progressively for 8 yrs, had had energy for only one of {work, social life, hobbies}. Now for time for the latter two and easier jobs; career change may cure malaise?<p>But over years, burned through the money, trying alt careers, experiments to reduce burn rate, volunteering, self-employment, hiking, camping. Manual labor possible before a spinal injury. During attempt at grad school, uni's "learning center" suggested an integrative MD, who diagnosed some alt diagnoses but didn't refer to conventional specialists, thus other doctors were dismissive. Latter didn't offer treatments that helped as alt med did. But payment for alt med = out of pocket => less affordable. Now after 15 yrs, broke & then some!<p>Now /conditionally/ able to work, w/ expensive uninsured treatments. Haven't done great work in software engg in many years, if ever. Lower-paying jobs will not pay for the meds I need to endure the stress of working. Applications do result in interviews, iff I apply for software engineer jobs, which now (esp. w/o adequate treatment) I feel quite unable to do well.<p>Perhaps am "Disabled." Relative works for large insurer, says I'm as disabled as most qualifying. But don't covet label "Disabled" & don't know how to sustain self during the (>=2yrs) for diagnosis and approval. Feel worse on cheaper food. Eat a lot; perhaps my gut doesn't absorb well. Have little medical documentation. Maybe should've been examined by a neurologist, but when I requested referral, got none. MDs pushed antidepressants, which hadn't helped during multiple academic years. Also, more than once, waited 4-6 months for appointment with specialist before latter informed me my insurer does not cover...