DVLA and mental health

neilmcl

mollycat wrote: »

Where does the OP say she is suffering from SEVERE depression??

She fits into the first category which says driving need not cease, (even with suicidal thoughts present).

It doesn't say SEVERE depression and anxiety its say's MORE SEVERE depression or Anxiety, ie, anxiety and depression with suicidal thoughts is MORE severe than depression and anxiety without it, which I hope as a Mental Health professional you'd agree with.

mollycat

neilmcl wrote: »

It doesn't say SEVERE depression and anxiety its say's MORE SEVERE depression or Anxiety, ie, anxiety and depression with suicidal thoughts is MORE severe than depression and anxiety without it, which I hope as a Mental Health professional you'd agree with.

Neil,
Without getting into a long discussion with you, i respectfully say to you on that point...not always.

littlerat

Ok...

Well this has gotten argumentative! Mollycat don't worry I was asking for opinions but will of course talk to GP and ger hers!


Ok to clarify a few things... my depression was classified as moderate, my anxiety is severe but only in certain situations (social situations mainly, driving doesn't worry me at all). I've been suffering suicidal thoughts since the start, didn't disclose as I was an idiot and thought the meds would probably stop them, was a bit ashamed, realised it's not an option to pick and choose what I tell, not always easy to deal with.

The reason the thoughts are so distressing for me is that I have no intent to hurt myself, I'm in control of my actions, not so much my thoughts. I don't drive if I have even a hint I'm not up to it , sure as hell wouldn't if I felt like driving the wrong way up a motorway (which I think would more equal being a poor driver or having some sort of delusion, seems a strange way to kill yourself, but each to their own).

The reason I'm reluctant to tell DVLA is that the decision process as to whether I'm safe would take ages during which time I'm presumed unable to drive, I'm actually fairly confident theyd allow me to keep it after that. I don't get why the people I've known with physical disabilities have been presumed to be ok to drive until further notice, yet when it's mental it's presumed you can't. Someone who can't use the brake properly seems more dangerous to me, but hey.



As for whether I'm more serious... I can function still, I passed my driving test with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, I'd been driving 9 months before I got any help and never had a single problem, now I have support of family friends and healthcare I think I'm safe, unfortunately I guess a form can't tell them that much detail! And by the way, I had 1 car accident which was 100% NOT my fault a few weeks ago, otherwise no close calls or anything.


I do know plenty of people with mental health issues who have driving licenses though, not sure if any have informed though.

neilmcl

mollycat wrote: »

Neil,
Without getting into a long discussion with you, i respectfully say to you on that point...not always.

I bow to your prefessional expertise on this. But are you really saying that someone with anxiety and/or depression with suicidal thoughts is not a more severe state than someone with anxiety and/or depression without suicidal thoughts?

mollycat

neilmcl wrote: »

I bow to your prefessional expertise on this. But are you really saying that someone with anxiety and/or depression with suicidal thoughts is not a more severe state than someone with anxiety and/or depression without suicidal thoughts?

Neil,
Consider these 2 people who in theory i could be working with right now, .

PERSON 1.....suffers fleeting, intrusive, unwelcome suicidal thoughts, (or ideation as we would call it). He manages these by using distraction techniques and has no intention at all of acting on them. He has good insight into his condition, and does things he knows will lift his mood,(activity, excercise, spending time around friends). With difficulty he continues to attend work, and is able to care for himself. He is responding well to medication.

To all intents and purposes PERSON A is mildly depressed, despite the presence of suicidal ideation, but his prognosis looks good.

PERSON B.....has no suiicidal ideation. He stays in bed all day. He has lost motivation, interest in things, and cant be bothered seeing friends. He does not wash, has little appetite, and is uncommunicative to his family who are at their wits end. He has been tried on several different medications with no real improvement.

PERSON B is severely depressed; his prognosis does not look so good.


That can be the nature of depression Neil; it is level of functioning which dictates sevrity, and not simply the presence or absence of specific symptoms, (although suicidal INTENT significant).

Thats why i said, "not always".

neilmcl

But in terms of the requirements of the DVLA which seem to be more black & white and the admission from the OP that his anxiety is classed a severe I'd think it's safe to assume that he should not be driving.

mollycat

neilmcl wrote: »

But in terms of the requirements of the DVLA which seem to be more black & white and the admission from the OP that his anxiety is classed a severe I'd think it's safe to assume that he should not be driving.

I think your conclusion reveals a lack of understanding of mental illness, and thats not an attack on you, just you have made an assumption based on information you have no way of processing objectively.

"Severe anxiety" is no bar to driving.

Nor is BiPolar Disorder, ( a much more severe illness)...Stephen Fry,

Nor Schizophrenia.....Anihilator

Just as well the world isnt governed on assumptions ;)

neilmcl

mollycat wrote: »

I think your conclusion reveals a lack of understanding of mental illness, and thats not an attack on you, just you have made an assumption based on information you have no way of processing objectively.

I'm not sure I need to have a full understanding, I leave that to the professionals. I'm just going on what the DVLA guidelines lay out.

Conditions for ceasing driving immediately pending on a medical enquiry:

MORE SEVERE ANXIETY STATES OR DEPRESSIVE ILLNESSES

([FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]with [/FONT][/FONT]significant memory or concentration problems, agitation, behavioural disturbance or suicidal thoughts)

mollycat

neilmcl wrote: »

I'm not sure I need to have a full understanding, I leave that to the professionals. I'm just going on what the DVLA guidelines lay out.

Conditions for ceasing driving immediately pending on a medical enquiry:

Ah, sorry. I see it now.

You're one of these last word junkies whose always got to be right.

I'm awaqy to do something else now, why dont you go and discuss this with some bloke down the pub; he wont have a clue what he's talking about either.

neilmcl

mollycat wrote: »

Ah, sorry. I see it now.

You're one of these last word junkies whose always got to be right.

I'm awaqy to do something else now, why dont you go and discuss this with some bloke down the pub; he wont have a clue what he's talking about either.

I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm not trying to win any argument I honestly thought this was becoming an interesting discussion. You haven't seen me throw any insults your way throughout this, have you.