Support for people with Depression

beachbeth

Avoids carrying out routine activities because he is convinced they will prove too tiring or stressful. 1 point
To score a point for this descriptor you need to show not only that you avoid carrying out routine activities, but also that the reason you do so is that you are convinced they would be too tiring or too stressful rather than, for example, that they make you anxious or it just doesn’t occur to you to do them.
Sample answer:
“Most days I think about going to the shops or just walking in the park. But I get very stressed at the thought of meeting people that I might have to speak to, so I don’t go out.”

Is unable to cope with changes in daily routine. 1 point

If you have a routine that you stick to rigidly, what happens when something interferes with that routine?

Unable to cope

: there is no definition of this term, so give it what you consider to be its everyday meaning. It shouldn’t mean you find it impossible to cope with changes, but it may mean that you

become very anxious or distressed. It may mean that you can’t sleep and can’t eat if you know you have an appointment the next day and that you frequently miss appointments or take extra medication to try to cope. You may get very angry or tearful if your routine is interrupted. Even if you could cope with a single change in your routine, what would happen if you had to deal with several in a short space of time?

Sample answer:“I have panic attacks if I get a letter telling me I have to attend an appointment I have a certain order that I stick to every day for doing things and I get extremely panicky if I can’t stick to it. I often miss appointments for this reason.”

Frequently finds there are so many things to do that he gives up because of fatigue, apathy or disinterest. 1 point

Finds there are so many things to do: this suggest that you need to be thinking about all the things you feel you should be doing, such as: hoovering; cooking; washing clothes; contacting people; exercise; gardening; shopping, etc

Gives up

: you feel overwhelmed by all the things you consider you ought to get done and so are unable to do any of them. A commissioner has held that this descriptor relates to ‘a particular mental condition caused by “overload” of actual or perceived tasks pressing to be done, and is not

satisfied by a person who is simply lethargic and not feeling pressed or motivated to do anything.’

Fatigue, apathy or disinterest: the reason you give up has to be one or more of these three. If you give up because you get anxious or start to panic or for any other reason then you will not score a point.

Is scared or anxious that work would bring back or worsen his illness. 1 point

This is one of the more straightforward descriptors to provide evidence on. The ‘illness’ is in relation to mental rather than physical health.

Sample answer:“I would very much like to return to work but I am scared that I could not cope with the stress.”

Cannot look after himself without help from others. 2 points

Look after

: looking after yourself may include such things as: eating properly; taking medication at the correct time and in the correct amounts; not abusing alcohol or other substances; keeping your home reasonably tidy and safe; remembering to turn off taps and electrical appliances and lock doors and windows at night or when you go out; being appropriately dressed for the time of day and the weather; not behaving in unsafe ways with strangers. A commissioner has held that looking after yourself includes eating and personal hygiene but not shopping and paying bills.
Help: this may involve: actually doing things for you; reminding or encouraging you to do things preventing or discouraging you from doing things; giving you support and reassurance when you need it; being on hand in case of problems.
Others: the people who do these things may be friends, relatives, neighbours or paid support workers.
Sample answer:“If it wasn’t for my partner, I would not bother to eat properly or take my medication and I would not pay bills or do housework. I would not see anyone or keep appointments and I would probably
become very ill.”

Gets upset by ordinary events and it results in disruptive behavioural

problems. 2 points

Upset

: there is no definition of what counts as upset, it could mean angry, tearful or panicky, for example.

Ordinary events

: this suggest events that people would generally not find upsetting. For example, a child misbehaving, a cup getting broken, someone getting home a little late, the phone ringing, a brown envelope arriving in the post, a minor change in routine – whatever it is that upsets you but not other people.

Disruptive behavioural problems

: a commissioner has said that simply withdrawing from a situation does not count as disruptive behaviour, instead you have to ‘in some way upset if not indeed alarm’ people. It could, however, possibly include shouting at people; bursting into tears; having a panic attack; talking aloud to yourself in public places; taking an
overdose of drugs or self-harming in some other way.

Sample answer

“If my partner is late home I get very anxious and then when he gets home I get angry and shout at him.”

Mental problems impair ability to communicate with other people. 2 points

Impair ability

: this doesn’t have to mean it’s impossible to communicate with other people, just that because of your mental health you find it more difficult to do so. For example, you may be too anxious to go out or to answer the phone or the door, so you seldom get the opportunity to

communicate with other people. You may be so anxious when talking to other people that you can’t concentrate on what they are saying so it’s difficult for you to reply and keep a conversation going. Or you may be unable to concentrate because of intrusive thoughts, feelings or voices.

You may get panicky when people speak you and so have to get away from them as quickly as possible. You may say or do inappropriate things which make people end conversations abruptly. You may be unable to open letters and just put them away out of sight.
Communicate

: this can cover face-to-face conversations, telephone calls and written communications such as letters and emails.

Other people

: this doesn’t necessarily mean everyone. For example, you may be fine talking to close relatives or friends but get very anxious with strangers or acquaintances. You may be able to talk to women but not men or vice versa.

Sample answer:

“Since becoming ill I am terrified of bumping into people I used to work with or who knew me before. I feel ashamed of how I am now and dread having to talk to them. I have lost all my selfconfidence

and try to avoid making eye contact with people. Even a stranger at a bus stop commenting on how late the bus is can make me very anxious.”

Gets irritated by things that would not have bothered him before he became ill. 1 point

There are two issues to look at here: do you get irritated and would you have been irritated by the same things before you ‘became ill’. The only way to show this is to give actual examples from your everyday life. You may want to talk to family or friends about this as you may not be aware
of having become more irritable.
Sample answer“I very seldom see my four year old niece anymore because I get so cross when she misbehaves – before, I used to love seeing her and very seldom got irritated with her. My family say I am much

more tetchy and cross now and often snap at them for no real reason. I never used to be like this.

Prefers to be left alone for 6 hours or more each day. 1 point

Prefers: you do not need to show that you actually manage to be left alone 6 hours a day, only that this is what you prefer. Your living arrangements may make it very difficult for you to be alone

this much each day. For example, you may be able to be alone in the week but your family is home at weekends and you are unable to avoid their attention. If you live alone, you need to show that you avoid the company of other people for at least six hours a day by choice rather than
through circumstance.

Each day: the six hours does not include time when you are in bed.
Sample answer: “I get very irritable around my family and spend as much time as possible in my room. I usually only come out at mealtimes.”

Is too frightened to go out alone. 1 point

This is quite a strict test. You need to show that you either don’t go out alone at all or that you are not generally able to do so. It is probably not enough to show that you don’t go out alone at night or that you don’t go outside your own local area alone. If you have periods when you can do this and periods when you cannot then you will need to explain this in as much detail as possible.

Sample answer “I get too anxious to go out alone. If I need to go anywhere my daughter or neighbour usually come with me.”

I hope no one minds me posting all this for Miro and I hope it helps. The idea is to look through at the points that are relevant to you and see how you have to formulate your answers at medicals. It isn't meant as a guide to go and lie about your condition. Just choose the points that show how your condition affects you and then articulate your answers in the way shown above.

Miroslav

I'll reply individually to everyone later. Right now i'm very worried as it's only 45 mins til I leave (medical centre is 2 mins from me)

Thanks for all that info beachbeth. Most of that is me. I just hope it comes out and the doctor realises I am genuine.

Will respond further later

Tiff_2

Hi miro!

! Thanks beth!

How are you miro, hun? Probably tangled up in knots knowing you. Try and be as calm as you can hunnie. It'll be all over and done with in a couple of hours.

I'll try and be brief because of the time.
About the list angel, they shouldn't view it as you 'getting your story straight' because you need to use it for genuine reasons. If you prefer hunnie, you can always leave the list and say you can't remember the answers to certain questions when they're asked. That's fine too. We know you're not a story teller hun and I'm sure they'll see that too.

As far as taking notes yourself angel, you might prefer to do it at home straight afterwards instead so that any thoughts, feelings or questions you have over the medical are still fresh in your mind. This may help you to concentrate on the dr more during the medical. This could be useful if you do have to appeal.

I know they have to go by descriptors but I would have thought that you ought to be allowed to explain your situation hun. I think this is a good idea in the event that the set questions don't cover enough to give an accurate assessment of your mental ill health. If you prefer you can insert it into your answers.
For example -
Can you stand on your head? Before I lost my great aunt who ran away to join the circus I could but since then I find it really difficult.
Stupid example I know, but do you get my drift?

It's a common mistake that people think panic and anxiety attacks are covered by depression. They can come with or without it. If they apply, please tell them about it, angel. As with all things, it's better to actually spell every point out and not assume that they know this.

If you've been feeling a little 'paranoid' about whether someone has been or will watch you hunnie, please tell them about that too. Knowing the whole truth can only help your claim.
As far as whether they believe you because you go out shopping twice a week, tell them how you feel when you do this, whether you go and come back as quickly as possible for example. Why do you go shopping? Because there's no-one else to do it and you really struggle. Just be honest with them as to how things are affecting you and why.

Okay sweetie, that's the main points covered. Put your cup out ready with tea/coffee/sugar for when you get back. Put your feet up and grab a cat to cuddle - preferably one of your own! - and unwind. If you can, promise yourself a little treat for afterwards even if it's a bar of chocolate.
Write down about the medical and how you felt, hun while it's still fresh and then forget about it. We tend to torture ourselves with negative thoughts after these things, which may not be a very accurate view. It's hard for someone with depression to be objective and optimistic when under great stress. You'll have done all you can do at that point, miro and we'll take it from there depending what their response is.

Now just stand still for Tiffy while I shoot this little feather at you!
I'll try and get back later to see how it went hunnie. Thinking of you.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Miroslav

I shall try and get in as much as possible. I know I shall forget alot

Thanks for the advice.

Will let everyone know how I feel it went, later

geminilady

Sazbo wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl: poor mike - I guess he'll be there a while!

Wow gemini you were up late last night/this morning. Just wondered how you got on with the scan hun, last time I remember you were still waiting for an appointment? But not needing you to say on here, just sending you a hug sweetheart and hoping all is ok with you xxx

Miro - will be thinking of you today xx Me and katie will be ready with some extra smarties afterwards just for you:D :whistle:

Big hugs Tiffy hun I love you! And big hugs to everyone too. Hope you all have a good day, inspite of the weather:rolleyes:

Much love :wave:
Sazzy xxxxxxxxxx

Hi Sazzy:hello:
I have always been a night person and hopeless on a morning.Good job i work 2-8pm.Thanks for asking about the scan,i had it last week and everything was ok they also did an internal one.I won't go into detail lol but at least they had a good look around and did not find anything wrong.Sorry i did not give an update earlier but not very good at talking about myself and if i started it would turn into a book.I am off work this week booked a week off but am full of cold.I had planned to catch up on a few things but they will have to wait a bit longer.I am enjoying the break from work though the days are passing too fast.Have you planned a holiday this year?

Sazbo

geminilady wrote: »

Hi Sazzy:hello:
I have always been a night person and hopeless on a morning.Good job i work 2-8pm.Thanks for asking about the scan,i had it last week and everything was ok they also did an internal one.I won't go into detail lol but at least they had a good look around and did not find anything wrong.Sorry i did not give an update earlier but not very good at talking about myself and if i started it would turn into a book.I am off work this week booked a week off but am full of cold.I had planned to catch up on a few things but they will have to wait a bit longer.I am enjoying the break from work though the days are passing too fast.Have you planned a holiday this year?

No worries at all, I know you are a very private person and I did think twice about asking, but just wanted you to know you are cared about and I am glad to hear all was ok xxx I know exactly how you feel, Gem - I spend my life waiting for holidays to come round and then they pass in a flash :-/ maybe it's because I spend so long waiting for them that they go so quick? lol. Me and Gilly are off for a week in Dorset, the week after next, and I can't wait! :j

Hope you get rid of that cold soon hun. Get some rest, I expect you need it, the other stuff can wait

Sxxxxx

Miroslav

On initial reflection.....I haven't a chance

Will post in more detail shortly.

Miroslav

The GP was very well educated and was trying to trip me up alot.

He said I was probably the sanest client he's ever met and i'm as intelligent as they come. He didn't think I had a mental illness, however, he thinks I suffer from severe trauma and unless something is done about it soon, it may lead to either suicide or me being stuck the way I am now forever.

He was also rather surprised that I had no emotion when describing my trauma's. He said i'd suffered alot at an early age.

He felt my pulse to see how fast it was.

I can't see how i'll pass it. I just felt misbelieved alot of the time and lot's of 'really?' comments with a surprised tone.

I may have scored 16 points according to beachbeth's posts, but obviously cannot guarantee. No idea if that's enough.

beachbeth

I do hope you scored enough points, Miro. You only need 10 points if its just for mental health on its own. I wish they didn't keep you waiting so long to hear though - its awful isn't it.

I applied for DLA a couple of weeks ago and have had a letter saying that Im not eligible because I don't get panic attacks when Im out and about! I do get panic attacks but honestly can't remember what I wrote on the form. Im sure I put that I did get them. I need to appeal it really but Im all appealed out after my IB tribunal. I feel as though I'll start to feel low again if I start the process off. I'll speak to OH about it. Ive got a month to appeal before its too late.

beachbeth

Miroslav wrote: »

The GP was very well educated and was trying to trip me up alot.

He said I was probably the sanest client he's ever met and i'm as intelligent as they come.

I don't see what sanity has to do with it. Im completely sane too but I still suffer from anxiety and depression. I have also read in lots of different places that you are more likely to suffer with depression the more intelligent you are. So he can't base sanity and intelligence as reasons for not being depressed.