Bank taking your Benefit? Quote this -

Oldernotwiser

Simon_P wrote: »

Since when did Social Workers or Mental Health Nurses do weekly shops & run errands for thier patients?

Sorry,I didn't mean that. They can often arrange this sort of help from within other community groups.

Trialia

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Do you not have a social worker or community mental nurse?

I had a care assessment yesterday, now that I finally have a diagnosis. All they can do for me is refer me to a private company that does a service similar to Meals on Wheels (but more expensive) - I have short-term memory sequencing problems that make cooking very dangerous, for one thing - and get me pushed a little way up the housing list for medical priority (I need to be in a single-level flat or bungalow, as I struggle with stairs). That doesn't really help me get out of the house on a daily basis, what with all the anxiety issues and pain 24/7. Fibromyalgia's very difficult to treat.

I've been fighting for six years to get the mental health professionals to pin down my BPD, because I've known all along that that's what it is - rather than the unipolar depression my previous doctor was set on, which was blatantly wrong (and they should have known that when the ADs made me go into mixed episodes!). Things have improved since I've moved to the city, but I'm still waiting on a formal diagnosis (I have an informal one, from a psychologist, but need it from a psychiatrist before they'll really listen) before they can link me properly with a CMN and see what they might be able to do by way of medication for that.

dmg24

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But your mother must have been paying her utility bills for herself all her life, before DDs were invented. I bet she'd not be too thrilled to hear that she's not savvy enough to go to the Post Office and pay an electricity bill. Come on!

Not that it is any of your business, but my mum does not deal with any of their household bills. She is a very intelligent woman, she just doesn't deal with these things. She also sees it that, as long as I have legs, I can deal with things myself (irrespective of whether I can get those legs past the front door).

It is very easy to make assumptions on things like this. I come from a middle class background, and materially I have everything I could wish for, including a beautiful home. Taking your rather simplistic viewpoint, how could it be that anything could be wrong with my apparently perfect life?

dmg24

Trialia wrote: »

I had a care assessment yesterday, now that I finally have a diagnosis. All they can do for me is refer me to a private company that does a service similar to Meals on Wheels (but more expensive) - I have short-term memory sequencing problems that make cooking very dangerous, for one thing - and get me pushed a little way up the housing list for medical priority (I need to be in a single-level flat or bungalow, as I struggle with stairs). That doesn't really help me get out of the house on a daily basis, what with all the anxiety issues and pain 24/7. Fibromyalgia's very difficult to treat.

I've been fighting for six years to get the mental health professionals to pin down my BPD, because I've known all along that that's what it is - rather than the unipolar depression my previous doctor was set on, which was blatantly wrong (and they should have known that when the ADs made me go into mixed episodes!). Things have improved since I've moved to the city, but I'm still waiting on a formal diagnosis (I have an informal one, from a psychologist, but need it from a psychiatrist before they'll really listen) before they can link me properly with a CMN and see what they might be able to do by way of medication for that.

Hi Trialia,

Have you considered seeing a private psychiatrist? I had the same problem as you, and getting near an NHS psych seemed near enough impossible. I contacted a private psych, explained that I could not afford long term private treatment but was looking for a more definite diagnosis (it seemed this was quite a common request), and saw her just the once. It is not a cheap option, I think I paid around £270 for an hour long appt, but I came away with a firm diagnosis of BPD.

The private psych wrote to my GP with a proposed treatment plan (Lithium plus AD's), but the GP was not allowed to prescribe Lithium without the involvement of an NHS psych. However, because I had the diagnosis, the GP was able to get me an appt within a month with an NHS psych.

If you need any other info, feel free to PM me x

Trialia

dmg24 wrote: »

Hi Trialia,

Have you considered seeing a private psychiatrist? I had the same problem as you, and getting near an NHS psych seemed near enough impossible. I contacted a private psych, explained that I could not afford long term private treatment but was looking for a more definite diagnosis (it seemed this was quite a common request), and saw her just the once. It is not a cheap option, I think I paid around £270 for an hour long appt, but I came away with a firm diagnosis of BPD.

I appreciate the thought, but on my current level of benefits it would take me at least eight months to save up that much...

Oldernotwiser

dmg24 wrote: »

Not that it is any of your business, but my mum does not deal with any of their household bills. She is a very intelligent woman, she just doesn't deal with these things. She also sees it that, as long as I have legs, I can deal with things myself (irrespective of whether I can get those legs past the front door).

It is very easy to make assumptions on things like this. I come from a middle class background, and materially I have everything I could wish for, including a beautiful home. Taking your rather simplistic viewpoint, how could it be that anything could be wrong with my apparently perfect life?

There's obviously no reason why your mother, or anyone else should do anything like this for you but I just thought that it was a bit of an insult to say "she is not financially savvy enough to help me with paying bills ". That was all I was commenting on.

Oldernotwiser

Simon_P wrote: »

Why do you just assume that everyone has a social worker? Social workers don't just fall out of the sky you know. What if you DON'T HAVE a Social worker or a Mental health nurse? How naive are you for goodness sake? You only get a social worker if you are brought to thier attention.
.

There's a lot of help about if people ask for it. Unfortunately, if they don't ask, or have someone to ask on their behalf, they won't get it. There's not much point complaining about not having any help if you don't ask for it, is there?

Ames

Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a social worker or cpn? I begged social services for help but they just refused (they're not supposed to, but I wasn't in a position to fight). And in my experience cpn's are so few and far between there are only enough to go round people who are a danger to others, not just to themselves.

Oldernotwiser

Simon_P wrote: »

Talk about missing the point. You just don't get it do you? I am beginning to sense a certain irony in the 'Notwiser' part of your username. LOL :rolleyes: Not everyone has the mental capacity to be able to ask what help is available because some people fall through the net & are never detected as vulnerable.

I suppose I'm biased because I've worked with people who do get help, whether they or somebody else has asked for it, and in my area there is a pretty good community mental health team. I'm sure that may not be the same in all areas.

Don't you think that there are always going to be people who fall through the gaps in the system?

Ames

Will there always be? Yes. Should there always be? No.