Depression Support Thread

goodlife

Hi everyone

As some of you will know, I'm a frequent lurker, occasional poster. Just wanted to post however, in response to the post by Ssssss. My experience was (is) almost identical. My GP signed me on the sick, I told him there was no way I could go home, I was far to busy to be off work (lol). My initial reaction was to bin my sick note, take my ADs and pretend to GP I was off work. (How crazy does that sound now). That was last June and I'm still on the sick. Been very lucky to have full pay for six months, that is now about to drop to half pay and they are now pushing really hard to dismiss me due to ill health. Really stressed about that and the financial implications obviously (I am the main breadwinner) but feel overwhelming relief as I come to terms with the fact that I will never be going back there). My GP said I would never be well whilst in that job. Scary thing is though - what the hell do I do now?

J xx

Elmostreet

all my good thoughts and prayers to you Tiff:A:A

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Tiff I'm sorry to hear about your Mum. You and your family are in my thoughts (((HUGS))) You obviously take after your Mum both incredible people. You've always been around for so many of us on this thread, offering a hug and wise words to get us through difficult times. Just remember that we are all here for you to 'cos Tiff is just as important

Thinking of you xxx

Amber_Sunshine

Tiff, I'll take over Tiffing duties temporarily.

There is no 'right' thing to say in these circumstances, no right thing to do. I can only wish your mum a peaceful journey, and you know that you have us when you need us.

Amber_Sunshine

alba37

Can't sleep and was catching up on the thread.

Tiff my thoughts are prayers are with you and your family at this terrible time.

A x x x

Sssssss

goodlife wrote: »

what the hell do I do now?

J xx

now you look after yourself and get better, one day at a time. The time will come when you are ready to find and re-start work. One thing I've learned is there is nothing more important then health for you and your family.

@Tiff - sry I haven't posted before, when I read your post yesterday I was nearly in tears and lost for words, still am but I wish you all the strenght and courage to get through this.

absolutebounder

Tiff. Sorry to hear about your mum. I know what its like as I went through the same thing with my father in christmas 2007. i think these things are harder on the family because although you know its happening it still comes as a shock.

beachbeth

goodlife wrote: »

Scary thing is though - what the hell do I do now?

J xx

Remember that once your sick pay runs out you are probably entitled to Incapacity Benefit. This happened to me. I was off ill for about 6-7 months until my sick pay ran out. I knew I couldn't go back to work there and handed my notice in then. Two years later I accidentally found out that I should have been claiming IB! Luckily they backdated it. It was such a relief knowing the pressure was off to try to get back to work because I was now bringing money into the house.

They have recently decided that Im fit for work (there's no way I am!) and have stopped my benefit. Im appealing but don't know if I will get my benefit back yet and so Im living in a state of limbo now not knowing what to do. I was trying to think of a way of earning money from home but don't think I could even take the pressure of that! Even if I could go back to work who would want to employ someone who had been on IB for the last 8 years?

The disgusting thing is that the benefits people sent me a letter saying that they are looking at my case again but in the meantime I can claim Jobseekers Allowance and doing so won't affect my claim! You can only claim Jobseekers Allowance if you are genuinely looking for a job which they know Im not! So they are in effect telling me to claim something Im not entitled to! I think its terrible that they tell people to do this - surely technically its fraud?

Well, Im not claiming Jobseekers. I couldn't face going and filling forms in for one thing and I certainly wasn't going to lie about looking for work either! The whole system is flawed and the government continually pick on the sections of society who are the most vulnerable in order to make savings, ie Incapacity Benefit or Pensions.:mad:

Off my soapbox now. Gonna have a nice cuppa and then do some cleaning.

Still thinking of you Tiff. Hugs for you and your family and I hope your mum is feeling comfortable. ((()))

98jdougl

doctor gave me a sick line for a week for my stomach bug and has asked me to come back on tuesday because he is concerned about the tiredness (i told him i'm feeling tired all the time and that i am usually a very energetic person which i am when i'm not feeling down) so he is going to run some blood tests for me but I am worried that because I am so used to having to put on a brave face and because he doesn't know me (this is the first time i've been to the doctors since i moved from scotland) he won't realise... he does seem really lovely though

hugs to everyone that needs them