Depression Support Thread

beachbeth

Im clock watching this morning. Got to go to the Jobcentre plus to apply for Jobseekers. Im appealing against the decision to stop my Incapacity Benefit and they have told me to apply for Jobseekers in the meantime and that it won't affect my appeal. It just seems mad to me to apply for a benefit that you can only get if you are looking for a job and yet they know Im not!

I really don't want to go and just hope I cope alright on my own. Im still upset about my dear dog who died Friday and could do with a day on my own, not having to go anywhere. Finding it hard to get motivated at the moment.

absolutebounder

beachbeth wrote: »

Im clock watching this morning. Got to go to the Jobcentre plus to apply for Jobseekers. Im appealing against the decision to stop my Incapacity Benefit and they have told me to apply for Jobseekers in the meantime and that it won't affect my appeal. It just seems mad to me to apply for a benefit that you can only get if you are looking for a job and yet they know Im not!

I really don't want to go and just hope I cope alright on my own. Im still upset about my dear dog who died Friday and could do with a day on my own, not having to go anywhere. Finding it hard to get motivated at the moment.

Nothing has really changed since I worked for the DSS many years ago. the government often actually does the right things but at the wrong time. i have no doubt that signing people off work indefinitely with depression is not really a very good idea. Sitting at home with a bored mind free to think negative thoughts cannot be good for anyone. having said that, equally sending people off to look for work during a recession is likely to have a negative impact as people are far more likely to be rejected which can further cripple self esteem.
one thing people may not know is that with your doctors support you can do things like voluntary work and remain on benefits as long as doctor writes that it is aiding your recovery. This gets you out of the house and back into the community plus gives you a sense of value.
i fear Beachbeths situation is going to become much more common as the government seeks to reduce its benefits bill

whitevanwoman

Of course you are still upset about your dog, I had a cry about losing mine last night and its 7 weeks ago now.

I really hope it goes ok at the JC, the whole system is mad. The govts drive to push people off incapacity benefit and onto JSA simply means that a sick note written by your GP is totally meaningless as far as the benefits people are concerned and it is outrageous that a doctor can pass judgement on your fitness for work based on a half hour interview overruling your own GPs assessment which is based on long term knowledge of you and your illness, especially with regards to mental health, when pushing you back into work before you are fully recovered could mean a major relapse in your condition.

Do you have a Disability Employment Advisor allocated to you at the JC, because you should have if you are signed off sick? It might be worth trying to see if there are any local organisations which can support you such as Mind who were brilliant with me, and will come to the JC with you, and speak on your behalf etc. Where I live there is a Sheltered Employment support worker who works for Adult Social Care (Social Services) and he helps support me at work, comes to meetings with my employers etc and can help explain how the symptoms affect me and make suggestions about how the employer can make reasonable adjustments to help. He's been really helpful and has come to the JC with me in the past when I've been so stressed and worried that I would not be able to say the right things etc. Your GP or community mental health team should be able to refer you to the supported employment scheme.

I've just had a phone call to say I've got an interview for the job with Mind that I applied for - I'd given up hope as they said that they would let people know on Monday so I'm chuffed to bits but trying not to get my hopes up too much. The interview is 11.45 on Friday.

Sssssss

absolutebounder wrote: »

Something that raises seratonin levels quite well is sex. very good for you in fact but men often snore after that too so is it a case of shes in the spare room before which is bad or after which is good as you get the whole bed to yourself:D

Edit to say this was an answer to Ssssss post about snoring that has vanished

thanks AB

to whoever deleted my post maybe you'd like to PM me to explain which rule I broke this time in your opinion!

Those who didn't see my post it was simply to say has anyone else found depression + meds has caused them to start snoring?

So come on whoever did this have the b4lls to come forward, otherwise I'm done here. Thanks for ruining my day.

beachbeth

Sssssss wrote: »

thanks AB

to whoever deleted my post maybe you'd like to PM me to explain which rule I broke this time in your opinion!

Those who didn't see my post it was simply to say has anyone else found depression + meds has caused them to start snoring?

So come on whoever did this have the b4lls to come forward, otherwise I'm done here. Thanks for ruining my day.

Well its obvious to me why your post was deleted! Talking about snoring indeed! Whatever next!!!;)

Someone is definitely trigger happy with the delete button on this thread!

beachbeth

whitevanwoman wrote: »

I really hope it goes ok at the JC, the whole system is mad. The govts drive to push people off incapacity benefit and onto JSA simply means that a sick note written by your GP is totally meaningless as far as the benefits people are concerned and it is outrageous that a doctor can pass judgement on your fitness for work based on a half hour interview overruling your own GPs assessment which is based on long term knowledge of you and your illness, especially with regards to mental health, when pushing you back into work before you are fully recovered could mean a major relapse in your condition.

You are right. The system is completely mad! I have just sat at the Jobcentre Plus in floods of tears because I find that sort of thing difficult and the lady asked me if I was looking for work because otherwise I wouldn't qualify for Jobseekers allowance. I said that I didn't think I could say I was looking work when I really wasn't. She was really nice though and proceeded to talk to me and then persuaded me to say I was looking for 2 hours per day Mon-Fri! I was told that I could apply but that I wouldn't actually qualify for Jobseekers allowance because I have been on Incapacity Benefit for too long. Why send me for the appointment then?

beachbeth

whitevanwoman wrote: »

Of course you are still upset about your dog, I had a cry about losing mine last night and its 7 weeks ago now.

My younger daughter went off to college today for the first time since it happened and didn't want to go. I said to her that you had to try and carry on as normal as possible because it was all you could do and it makes the day easier if you aren't sitting around thinking about it constantly. Its just been so upsetting, as you know. Hopefully, your dog and mine have met up together and can make friends! They can perhaps even compare notes about walks/food etc!

PS Good luck with your interview on Friday!

whitevanwoman

Sssssss wrote: »

thanks AB

to whoever deleted my post maybe you'd like to PM me to explain which rule I broke this time in your opinion!

Those who didn't see my post it was simply to say has anyone else found depression + meds has caused them to start snoring?

So come on whoever did this have the b4lls to come forward, otherwise I'm done here. Thanks for ruining my day.

don't go, and don't let someone else ruin your day. The mods are only human too, as flawed and judgemental as the rest of us, and you never know maybe they hit the delete button by mistake.

It's really hard sometimes to post on this thread and I always have to think very carefully about what I write in case I break the rules and if I do, its not deliberate. Its so frustrating not to be able to discuss whether someone else is experiencing the same side effects of meds as you or to discuss whether a certain drug or therapy is proving helpful or not but if that's the way it's got to be for the thread to continue, then I just have to accept that. I go to a weekly support group where I do get the opportunity to discuss this sort of thing with other people so at least I've got that. I used to ask my CPN about stuff like that but she just used to say to speak to my GP which meant that every time I saw my GP I had a long list of minor queries to ask about so now I try to find answers on other internet sites.

I guess that MSE has to protect itself in these days of liability and litigation from someone claiming that as a result of taking advice from this thread they or someone they know ended up with a serious downturn in their condition, or worse. It would be helpful though if, when a post is removed, if the mods could PM the poster to explain why, as it may not always be obvious where or why the rule breach occured.

With regards to the sex and serotonin and snoring thing, I'd be happy to run some clinical trials - any offers? :rotfl:

whitevanwoman

beachbeth wrote: »

My younger daughter went off to college today for the first time since it happened and didn't want to go. I said to her that you had to try and carry on as normal as possible because it was all you could do and it makes the day easier if you aren't sitting around thinking about it constantly. Its just been so upsetting, as you know. Hopefully, your dog and mine have met up together and can make friends! They can perhaps even compare notes about walks/food etc!

PS Good luck with your interview on Friday!

My old fella was a border collie and I have a mental (scuse the pun!) image of him chasing angelic sheep and barking at devilish burglars - I found having this image in my head really helped - I see him in his prime, not as the arthritic worn out tired old dog he had become when he went. Maybe your little cavvie is egging him on, and chasing after him, trying to keep up and together they are causing all kinds of heavenly mayhem!;)

absolutebounder

whitevanwoman wrote: »

With regards to the sex and serotonin and snoring thing, I'd be happy to run some clinical trials - any offers? :rotfl:

No thanks. nothing against you but I dont like the headache afterwards
lady bounder is very accurate the frying pan:rotfl: