DLA with OCD?

bestpud

Do you use a computer in bed?

Maybe you'd get up if you removed your 'entertainment'...?

Dognobs

caela wrote: »

Thank-you for being one of the only people who understands that, it's a relief.
:T

Here we go again, Not getting involved with this one here have a pat on the back and the forum kiss it better.

Dognobs

Here's a thought instead of walking into the doctors and saying I need DLA/Benefits how about saying I think I have something wrong with me I need help to get better.

passatrider

Dognobs wrote: »

Here's a thought instead of walking into the doctors and saying I need DLA/Benefits how about saying I think I have something wrong with me I need help to get better.

What a pr*ck!:(

Dognobs

caela wrote: »

Hiya guys,

I was hoping I might get some help on here. Basically, I applied for DLA for mental health problems, including OCD, PTSD and depression and also mentioned my chronic knee and back problems which limit my mobility.

My claim was initially unsuccessful, despite being as thorough as possible when filling it out and now I am awaiting a tribunal. This whole thing has taken nearly two years I think it must be now.

Anyway, I went to see my GP today (for the first time about my MH problems really, cos I have given up with them tbh) and told her I'm really struggling and mentioned the DLA thing and she basically said I was absolutely fine (without asking me too many questions) and this really was an assumption. I have lived with OCD for my whole life and am constantly infuriated by GP's snidely asking me why I think I have it, despite being diagnosed with it over ten years ago and after two hospital stays which are on their records if they ever bother looking. She said I wouldn't be entitled to DLA, although I wonder how she knows this without knowing anything about me (she admitted she would have to look at my notes) and said I was fine. She went on to say she doubts I am depressed, even though I went in saying I'd had enough of life and was thinking of driving my car into a wall. Anyway, she'll be having a look at my notes for the first time and seeing me again in two weeks.

It really made me think though, what do people class as a disability and are people just largely deluded when it comes to mental health? I have a severe sleep disorder which no-one has ever seemed to understand (apart from a couple of friends I know who have it) and it's so annoying trying to explain to people that I simply cannot keep to conventional times. They all say the same thing... just set an alarm :mad: Does my head in.

So, does anyone have experience of claiming with OCD and genuinely, what are people's opinions on this kind of thing. I will try to stay calm :cool: lol even though I can get quite heated if I think someone is being ignorant. I think it's time I heard the other side of the story.

TBF Is she seeing the doctor for her illness or for benefit advice?

LadyMorticia

bestpud wrote: »

You have a job though, so you can get out of bed etc when you need to.

Have you considered CBT or some other therapy to help you find coping strategies?

It will do you more good in the long run than placing yourself in a position of needing someone else 'take over' your life.

Don't take this the wrong way, but there is times we'd all like someone to help us deal with the more mundane aspects of life! That doesn't mean it's the answer to our problems!

I agree with the CBT thing. I know the OP has said that they have tried it before but sometimes two rounds is needed to benefit from it, and it depends how long ago they had it and if they were in the right frame of mind for it at the time. I had CBT when I was a teenager and I wasn't in the right frame of mind at the time so my CPN has said that now I'm older it might have an effect this time. I'm also on the waiting list for exposure therapy for my OCD and severe anxiety (which I'm not looking forward to :eek: but I want to get better so I'll try anything).

Also, CAT therapy might be a possibility too.

wottonby

bestpud wrote: »

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean about saying what they want to hear!

I had a massive struggle to get shot of psych services, as I didn't think it was helping me in the long run, but I haven't managed to get shot of my GP!

I get called once a year for a review with them and they keep ringing until I go in.

I've been 'well' for several years now...!

When you say 'well' do you actually mean 'cured'?

There are many that I have come across over the years, that think they are better, but what actually happens is that you 'believe' you are better.

I do like your comment about dumping the psych services. That is such a common thing to do. Yet when you mention it to those that have never suffered, they immediately react and say that no one would do that if they were 'really' ill!! Consequently you are a scrounger.

The knock on to that is because you refuse anymore treatment, your benefits drop off.

I lost all of my DLA and IIDB because I refused to have anything more to do with the MH services. Looking at the DWP files I have copies of, one quack from ATOS (IIDB) decided in 2004 that as I wasn't seeing anybody anymore from MH Services, refusing to see my GP, that the medication that I was still taking (originally prescribed by the psych) was not normally given for MH problems (800 Lithium) and that I was dressed OK (by my wife), then whatever was wrong with me had absolutely nothing to do with the Industrial accident and as such - claim refused. Yet for years beforehand (when I was co-operating) I was on 80% because of the accident!

Same went for the DLA.

People just do not understand what goes on in a Mental Health sufferer's head.
What I honestly believe is that those that co-operate fully, go to every appointment etc and claim and receive DLA and other benefits, are at the better end of being a sufferer. Those at the bottom end (unless they have someone that looks after them) suffer in silence and do not receive any or very little financial help from the state, mainly because they themselves refuse to accept that there is anything wrong with them!

Just a little addendum: I am being 'forced' by my daughter to go to an assessment this afternoon at the local CMHT because my anger and violence I display to the general public has got out of hand again. Now I can play it and convince them that my daughter is talking rubbish and I will get away with it, or do I sit down, open up, tell it as it is and end up back on the same medication and more visits to the psychs?

I haven't decided yet, I don't want to upset my daughter, yet I certainly do not want to get caught up in the web of MH services all over again. Do I need help, maybe, but I can't see it can I? Not like others do.

wottonby

Dognobs wrote: »

Here's a thought instead of walking into the doctors and saying I need DLA/Benefits how about saying I think I have something wrong with me I need help to get better.

People with serious MH conditions just don't do that! They find any and every reason to avoid seeing medics to ask for help. They don't see themselves as being ill, it's everyone else around them that keeps saying that they are!

Muttleythefrog

Dognobs wrote: »

Here's a thought instead of walking into the doctors and saying I need DLA/Benefits how about saying I think I have something wrong with me I need help to get better.

I've done that for 2 years and it is getting me nowhere. The only realistic option I have to improve my situation is to get DLA and therefore get care support - but to get that 'the system' expects you to be getting medical attention and support. As pointed out by others... we're talking about the very sort of people probably least likely to seek help and most likely to struggle to fight for it.

To the op - the poster I've seen be deeply inappropriate in 3 of 3 threads I've seen his posts on. My advice ignore him since you'll not get any constructive advice. Just be thankful you're in a job otherwise he'd be telling you that's what you need to do to get better.

bestpud

caela wrote: »

My job is evenings so I can do it with a sleep disorder, I can't get up during the day. I have tried CBT it doesn't work with me, talking about my OCD made it worse. I don't want someone to take over my life, just to help me now while I need it by motivating me so I can get back on track and catch up.

What did you do with your DLA award before?

Did you have a carer then?