ESA and alcoholism

mumma_ib

bagqueen wrote: »

She really should go back to AA. I am a recovering alcoholic, am not religious and am also uneasy sharing. AA has helped me save my life. I will go to any lengths to stay sober. Tell her she will find her own higher power- God need not be involved. Once i was free of alcohol i realised life was actually good, i wasted many years being unhappy, i have other problems now, but i can cope. AA really is the only way.

bagqueen
how lovey to hear a person who has found the strength to overcome or deal with their problems, I know you have other problems but if you can use the principle of AA I'm sure you will come through them one by one, god bless x

alchera

danyjb123 wrote: »

You can claim ESA on the grounds of alcoholism, also illegal drug addiction.

Wholly wrong that the state should support a self-inflicted condition in my opinion though!

OMG! Have you any idea how many of the illnesses the NHS treats are self-inflicted? Most heart disease is self inflicted (wrong diet and work-induced stress), most lung diseases are self inflicted, any diseases caused by overeating are self inflicted, most diabetes is self inflicted, most muscular diseases are self inflicted...the vast majority of people treated by A&E are alcohol (but not alcoholic) related, and then there is stress related illness...

In fact, most of the illnesses the NHS has to treat are inflicted by lifestyle choices.

The lifestyle diseases are identified as heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Also, many autoimmune diseases are influenced by lifestyle.

Go on - tell me that you do not have a single self-inflicted illness.....

alchera

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Then her refusal to at least try the most popular (and successful) route is a matter of choice. Can she afford to let her views close off a potential escape route?

Would you got to a Witchdoctor for help? Or to any other source you do not have faith in? Of course you wouldn't. So why castigate another for not having faith in AA? This is like telling someone who refuses to smear every European cheese on their body to cure their alcoholism that they are closing off a potential escape route. Do you have any figures which show how many people did not find AA helpful?

WhiteHorse wrote: »

In any case, AA is not religion based. Perhaps her belief that it is (and her problem 'sharing'), is indicative of a more deeply rooted psychiatric problem? Perhaps look deeper than the alcoholism?

AA is, very definitely, religion based. I cannot believe that you would claim otherwise..but that it supports your oppositional point of view. In your view, the fact that I find AA to be religion-based (which no reasonable person would deny) means that I have a psychiatric illness...thank goodness you are wrong!

I am of the opinion that, addicts should try any and all available avenues, including AA, taking from it only what helps them and leaving the rest. But I do not believe in castigating people who refuse to use AA as "not wanting to recover". That is too easy.

sassy_one

Yet again, a simply question of advice turns into a debate and fire at those with problems.

People saying drug addicts and alcohol addicts do it themselves, you know nothing, but simply think you do.
How high is your horse?

hiney777

[QUOTE=alchera;37353594 AA is, very definitely, religion based. I cannot believe that you would claim otherwise..but that it supports your oppositional point of view. In your view, the fact that I find AA to be religion-based (which no reasonable person would deny) means that I have a psychiatric illness...thank goodness you are wrong!

I am of the opinion that, addicts should try any and all available avenues, including AA, taking from it only what helps them and leaving the rest. But I do not believe in castigating people who refuse to use AA as "not wanting to recover". That is too easy.[/QUOTE]

this wont help about the benefit question, but is about the AA debate.
AA has a higher power or god at its core, but it does not mean you have to believe to go to meetings, the only thing they ask is that you are an alcoholic who wants to recover. I've heard to many people say they are not religious so carry on drinking instead which is up to them, but for me I decided to grasp the help and support from the people in AA without the higher power element. 8 years later and I still have no higher power, and I also have not drunk since my first AA meeting. My advice to anyone trying to recover is to do what works for you, but dont put barriers up to things you dont like, and remember that as an addict the easy option is always to drink rather than put the hardwork into recovery. good luck to anyone trying to recover and the people trying to support them. to those who thing its all self inflicted, you could be right, but if someone is trying to recover give them a bit of support:T

TOBRUK

foggytown wrote: »

Does anyone know if alcoholism is accepted as "incapacity" when assessing applicants for ESA? (I'm talking about the deep-rooted, psychologically and emotionally induced type as opposed to the "party" type.)

She is currently unemployed and on JSA, but even if she finds another job her problems will probably end up with her losing or leaving it. (I think she has lost all confidence and is so intimidated by anything stressful that she reverts to the bottle.)

.....

Her father has told me that she was wondering about switching to ESA because she fears that if her difficulties in holding a job come to light then she will lose her JSA and her housing as well, and end up homeless. OTOH, if she applies for ESA and is rejected because her condition isn't deemed to qualify, she fears that that will spill over and affect the JSA as well.

Poor girl has a problem! Many thanks for any observations or helpful comments.

Going back to the original question, I don't know how the DWP judges it. It is a terrible illness (yes I believe it is an illness) and it does affect ability to work. How can someone work safely while under the influence? I don't know what the answer is but anyone who suffers this dreadful illness should be given help - any one of us could become an alcoholic with just one drink - I don't think it's only limited to people who drink in excess.

One thing I will say, something I only found out recently - that alcoholics are given £100 a week because of their needs! It is true, I couldn't believe it when I heard! I really think this is disgusting as it really doesn't help the person and it should be stopped. What's the idiotic idea of throwing money at an alcoholic?!

dmg24

This thread is from August!

healy

TOBRUK wrote: »

Going back to the original question, I don't know how the DWP judges it. It is a terrible illness (yes I believe it is an illness) and it does affect ability to work. How can someone work safely while under the influence? I don't know what the answer is but anyone who suffers this dreadful illness should be given help - any one of us could become an alcoholic with just one drink - I don't think it's only limited to people who drink in excess.

One thing I will say, something I only found out recently - that alcoholics are given £100 a week because of their needs! It is true, I couldn't believe it when I heard! I really think this is disgusting as it really doesn't help the person and it should be stopped. What's the idiotic idea of throwing money at an alcoholic?!

Alcoholics are not just given £100 a week for their needs.

They may be able to receive £100 or more in benefit but they would need to apply for this.

alchera

hiney777 wrote: »

this wont help about the benefit question, but is about the AA debate.
AA has a higher power or god at its core, but it does not mean you have to believe to go to meetings, the only thing they ask is that you are an alcoholic who wants to recover. I've heard to many people say they are not religious so carry on drinking instead which is up to them, but for me I decided to grasp the help and support from the people in AA without the higher power element. 8 years later and I still have no higher power, and I also have not drunk since my first AA meeting. My advice to anyone trying to recover is to do what works for you, but dont put barriers up to things you dont like, and remember that as an addict the easy option is always to drink rather than put the hardwork into recovery. good luck to anyone trying to recover and the people trying to support them. to those who thing its all self inflicted, you could be right, but if someone is trying to recover give them a bit of support:T

So, in other words, you agree with me.

alchera

TOBRUK wrote: »

One thing I will say, something I only found out recently - that alcoholics are given £100 a week because of their needs! It is true, I couldn't believe it when I heard! I really think this is disgusting as it really doesn't help the person and it should be stopped. What's the idiotic idea of throwing money at an alcoholic?!

This is simply not true.