Hidden Disabilities Time To Fight Back

Ames

It is normal for them to carry out a reconsideration prior to an appeal, they always do it. It's why it's advised to go straight to appeal rather than asking for a reconsideration, because they do one anyway.

I had the opposite problem with my DLA doctor, he was great on my mental health problems, but totally disregarded the ME!

I'd second what someone said about getting representation, I'm sure I wouldn't have my award without the help of DIAL, they're brilliant.

Savvy_Sue

Ames wrote: »

It is normal for them to carry out a reconsideration prior to an appeal, they always do it. It's why it's advised to go straight to appeal rather than asking for a reconsideration, because they do one anyway.

That's it Ames, I knew someone would know what I was on about, just couldn't find a handy thread with that info in it!

fedupconsumer

Ames wrote: »

It is normal for them to carry out a reconsideration prior to an appeal, they always do it. It's why it's advised to go straight to appeal rather than asking for a reconsideration, because they do one anyway.

I had the opposite problem with my DLA doctor, he was great on my mental health problems, but totally disregarded the ME!

I'd second what someone said about getting representation, I'm sure I wouldn't have my award without the help of DIAL, they're brilliant.

They should never disregard ME at all , i certainly would be looking to complain about the Doctor that came to see you thats apauling sounds like your assesor did not do his job properly

pleiades_2

I am so glad to see this thread and hear peoples' experiences with their hidden disabilities.

I have bipolar disorder, and because it is episodic in nature, there are many times where I am "normal" and it is impossible to see that I have a disability.

The main problems I have encountered with having a mental illness is in hospitals, particularly A&E. I have taken several overdoses in the past and have also had problems with self harm. When I've ended up in hospital I get treated so awefully. The last time was in september this year - after ending up in A&E following an overdose, the A&E doctor said "have you taken overdoses before?", I replied "Yes, several times", to which he said (in a very horrible way) "What, and you haven't succeeded yet?".

The time before that I overdosed on a medication that completely knocked me out for a few days. I can't really remember anything from being in hospital but I do remember a nurse shouting at me because she was trying to do an EEG but because of another med I'd overdosed on, I was having really bad heart palpitations and couldn't keep still. At some point during my stay, I remember a doctor shouting at me "you're just taking the !!!! because I've seen you up and about". I think he managed to wake me up for all of 30 seconds to say that. When I finally surfaced 3 days later, I noticed they had put me in NHS pyjamas. However, I was on my period and had a sanitary towel on when I entered the hospital, but they didn;t replace it so I bled everywhere. That was so humiliating.

You would think doctors and nurses would be more considerate but they haven't got a clue when it comes to mental health. If they can't see it or fix it with a pill or plaster then they think there's nothing wrong with you and literally tell you that you're wasting their time.

Other problems I've had with people tend to be my friends or so-called "friends". I understand that it must be difficult for them sometimes when my mood and behaviour is different, but I always tell people about my disability and how it affects me, thinking that they'll understand and be more considerate.

When I was living in a shared house at uni, I got bullied out of the house following a severe depression. My "friends" said I was rude because I was ignoring them and that I was being really lazy because I wasn;t cleaning. They also decided to blame me for everything else going on the house like missing money. When I tried to explain to them that I was sorry and I didn;t mean to appear rude, I was just really ill, one girl screamed at me saying that there was nothing wrong with me and that I didn;t know what mental illness was. They'd all been talking behing my back for months about how I was just an attention-seeker, rude, aloof, lazy etc.

I always got nasty comments at university regarding the fact that I sometimes needed extentions when I was ill. One of my closest friends at the time said to my best friend "Aren't you jealous that she got a 2.1 because she had all those extentions and help?".

I realise I'm ranting a bit but it feels good to get this off my chest. There's so much more but I just hate reliving it all. |At the moment I'm doing an MSc in Psychology, hoping to become a Clinical Psychologist. I've already had people telling me that I shouldn;t do certain jobs (like a Clinical Psychologist) because it's unfair on people if I can't work when I'm ill.

I'm finding every step of the way difficult because of peoples' attitudes and ignorance but I certainly won't give up trying to lead the life I want to.

And don't get me started on the media................

covlass

tiannaleigh wrote: »

Im sick of everywere I turn,people not understanding my daughters autism,I wrote an earlier thread about her not being allowed in the chemist anymore as she is so loud,but I struggle with her in all shops,so upto now I could only relax in my own home.I cant even do that anymore though as she often awakes many times through the night,shouting mummy and all sorts of babble, and can take hours to settle her back down,My next door neighbour has took to screaming "shut the f*** up" to her through the wall.There is actually nothing I can do,I cant gag her, and I try my best to keep her quite,but he even shouted it when I had took her down stairs early this morning as he must have been still able to hear her.I love looking after my daughter but I really dont know what it is im supposed to be doing to avoid all this conflict each an every day, if I am out ,or at home I cant get away from it

My daughter has Autism, alonh with challenging bahaviour sever learning difficulties sensory intergration issues & hydrocephlus. She looks like any other 12 year old child, but she is quite the opposite, I have now learnt not to rise to pepole who stare and tut when i am out with my daughter. I have made cards which state my daughters conditions which I without a doubt I would hand to someone who comments on my daughters behaviour. It takes a long time but dont let people get to you, they are just ignorant when it comes down to it.

I have had people asking me if I could "control that child" to "she shouldnt be allowed"

My daughter is a human being who has te right to go out hopping if she wishes, just because she has hidden disabilities does not make her worthless and it does not make me a bad parent. I thank god every day for my daughter and i would not change a thing because without her disabilities she would not be the child that she is today. She doesnot need to change society does

I am going to appeal with DLA at present even though she tick all the boxes they have lowered her claim but thats another story.


Take your daughter out with pride you are a special mum blessed with a special child

yorkiegal

pleides, i hear what you're saying about a&e. i have bpd with psychosis and they seem to think that means i am also deaf. you hear them on the other side of the curtain laughing about my paracetomal levels or saying how there's another bloody borderline in tonight. if i am upset and crying they are sympathetic. but if i am numb and dissociating they think i am a time waster.
i also get mucky looks from bus drivers when i show my pass. i feel like putting on a limp to make them feel better.

lexilondon21

This is so true i'm 21 and have epilepsy, I have a freedom pass.. and constantly whether getting on the bus or tube I always have to show the driver or guard my photocard as they assume I have mugged an old lady!! I find it embarrassing as I don't really like telling people unless I know them.. and I can always feel these people looking me up and down thinking 'what's wrong with her then' : (

Also what some people don't realise is when you have a h/d sometimes the medication can knock you out and any changes in medication can floor you for days.. my previous college were not so understanding of this.

PasturesNew

It's a long thread, not read it all, so sorry if it's been mentioned before, but Essex have some card for people with autism, including Aspergers, to be used if they are involved in any incident that might require police/ambulance. Because of some of the traits involved with ASD, you can be perceived by those not in the know to be potentially dangerous, when actually you're the scared one and are just behaving erratically. The idea is you hand the card out and they realise you aren't a scarey nutter, but somebody who needs everybody to step away and give you space. The invasion of space when maybe you've been knocked over/whatever and everybody's rushing/crowding around asking if you're OK can really make you appear to be mental/drunk/dangerous when all you want is to be left alone and for the bright lights and noise to stop.

Link: http://www.aspergers.org.uk/index.php/news/item/new_autism_alert_cards_in_association_with_essex_police/


The Card: http://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/downloads/alert_card_leaflet.pdf

sheeps68

I'm really pleased to see this thread as its an area I struggle with on a regular basis. My hidden issue is severe asthma as such there are all sorts of complications. I've been attacked by a man with his stick for sitting in a disabled seat on a bus, refused a seat on a tube all too many times. As for disabled parking bays well dont get me started beyond I will say its pure bad manners by people who misuse them.

sheeps68

Just a quick moan to get it out of my system. Respiratory issues are so hidden. At my local supermarket they have the staff smoking shelter in disabled parking area. In fact its the trolley shelter too so guess what I have to go the long route to get a trolley & return it. I spoke to staff and even they agreed how silly it is and I must state this is not an anti smoking rant but lack of understanding that so many disabilities are hidden.