ESA and Avoidant Personality Disorder?

groke

Hi everybody,

I'm a long-time sufferer of Avoidant Personality Disorder:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidant_personality_disorder

I spent most of my childhood as a recluse and I'm still very reclusive to this day. I find it hard to be around people and I'm constantly worrying about people picking fault with me (my appearance, my abilities, everything really)

I can't leave the house without wearing a hat and layer upon layer of thick, baggy clothing.

So while I'm not disabled, I'm very limited in the jobs I can do. I can't work in an office, I can't work in a laboratory (I have a first class physics degree), I can't work in a shop, I can't work anywhere that won't let me dress how I like (and where I don't stand out like an idiot for dressing the way I do)

I've been in counselling (private) for almost 2 years, but I recently had to stop because I just couldn't afford it any more. I've also recently been prescribed anti-depressants by my doctor (even though the depression is only secondary to the anxiety)

It affects my personal life too. I hardly ever go out, hardly have any friends, never had a boyfriend...

I've been on JSA for most of my adult life, but you can only stay on it for so long before they put you on one of those back to work courses (I've been on the 2 week one before, but I couldn't survive any longer - some of the people on those courses are just horrible and I find it hard to be around people as it is)

So is there any chance I could claim ESA? I know that they'll probably consider me fit for work when it comes to the medical, but it's my understanding that you get for 8 weeks regardless - is this right?

How would I go about filling in the form? I'm doing it online, but the form only seems to cater to the truly disabled.

Mobility, physical co-ordination, continence, ability to lift, hearing or eyesight, memory or comprehension or concentration, perception of the risk of physcial danger?????

So what do I pick? The disability field is mandatory.

mum-of-3

Would your doctor sign you off sick?

groke

I don't know. I'm not working at the moment anyway, so I don't know what he'd be signing me off as sick from.

And it's not a new development, really. It's the way I've been for nearly 20 years. I suppose all that's changed is, now I know that I have a problem.

I used to just think 'Oh, I can't leave the house without wearing a hat. That's a bit weird'

MrsManda

If you think you cannot work due to illness you need to speak to your doctor to see if he is willing to sign you off sick. If he is then you can attempt to claim ESA instead of JSA as you are incapable of working.

It sounds like you need help and support to get into work as signing off sick will further decrease your contact with the outside world as I presume at the moment you have to visit the job centre fortnightly?
Has your therapist suggested any ways of improving your confidence? Have you improved at all in the two years you've been seeing her?

ESA is designed to provide more support than JSA in order to help you get back into work so it may be what you need but I'd definitely speak to your therapist and doctor about it.

Why do you feel you cannot work in a laboratory or an office? In order to get a first class physics degree surely you had to spend a lot of time at university and in a lab? Has your condition worsen since then?

(I apologise if I've misunderstood your post as I don't have much knowledge about your condition).

As for what your doctor would be signing you off sick from, this is simply JSA - you'd need a fit note to say you were unable to work due to illness in order to come off JSA and go on to ESA. Have you spoken to your JSA advisor about your issues?

groke

Hi, thanks for the reply

I've actually signed off the dole as well. I don't have any income at the moment. My adviser was completely horrible - a real Thatcherite. I wouldn't have been able to talk about this with her.

I got by okay when I was at university because I could wear a hat in the lab (which I did all the time - still felt like an idiot sometimes, though), but I don't think a proper laboratory would be so accommodating. And if they were, I'd feel as if they were making an exception and I'd stand out like a sore thumb. I suppose it's different when you're a student.

I feel like I have improved slightly with counselling. I'm able to be a little bit more open about things now. But there's still a lot I need to get over. I still have to spend a lot of time by myself, and I still find it hard to let people see that I'm human.

I wouldn't mind at all being put in the work-focussed group on ESA. There are some jobs I could maybe do. Christmas is coming and they'll be needing some temporary posties. I'd like to be a postie. The only other job I can think of is gardening. But even that I wouldn't be able to do in the summer - it would be too hot and I could never go outside just wearing a t-shirt.

But I just don't think JSA is right for me. There's too much focus on applying for jobs. I actually stopped applying a while ago because I'd get through to the interview stage and I'd chicken out at the last minute. I thought, if I don't stop applying for jobs and not turning up I'm going to get my name blacklisted.

passatrider

Pm sent!

dmg24

passatrider wrote: »

Pm sent!

Why? Your post could have helped someone else, as well as the OP.

groke, I could have written your posts myself! I have had various diagnoses over the years, including bipolar, BPD, and APD. Though my official diagnosis at the time was bipolar, I qualified for IB (the predecessor to ESA) with the symptoms you describe.

Your condition is pretty complex, have you asked for a psychiatric referral? You should not have to pay for treatment yourself. It would also be worth reading through the ESA descriptors, to see if you would qualify.

tbourner

I was going to say join up to nomorepanic forums but on a quick search I see you already have! They helped me out with my anxiety and panic attacks so hopefully you can get some help with the disorder there as well as some official finance help here.

passatrider

dmg24 wrote: »

Why? Your post could have helped someone else, as well as the OP.

groke, I could have written your posts myself! I have had various diagnoses over the years, including bipolar, BPD, and APD. Though my official diagnosis at the time was bipolar, I qualified for IB (the predecessor to ESA) with the symptoms you describe.

Your condition is pretty complex, have you asked for a psychiatric referral? You should not have to pay for treatment yourself. It would also be worth reading through the ESA descriptors, to see if you would qualify.

It's nothing to do with the MSE forums - personal

groke

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I have the sicknote now. Only for 2 weeks, though.

What should I do with it?

Also, I'm still having trouble filling in the online claim form:

img600.imageshack.us/img600/1527/esaform1.jpg (copy it into the address bar - I can't post links)

The disability section is mandatory, but I don't have anything on that list. Nothing even close, really. And there's no "other" option!?!?!?!?!?

I really don't know what to do???

tbourner

I'd go with 'cumulative effect of all of the above' and wait until you speak to someone about the claim to tell them your situation.