Chronic Anxiety & Depression - ESA?

ab.da54

LadyMorticia wrote: »

I have MH issues as well as physical ones and I wish I could do all the fun stuff. It would be nice to be able to go with DH if he meets up with friends or to gigs. Even on my physical okay days (which I don't have many of, unfortunately) my MH is still too screwed to allow me to go out and socialise.

These are the symptoms of MH that I understand. It is difficult to even contemplate doing fun stuff and so I cannot comprehend how so many fun activities can be enjoyed and yet, anything related to 'other' things causes panic attacks, breakdowns.

It is good I am not the only one to be unable to understand this phenomenon.

ab.da54

skibadee wrote: »

I have suffered from anxiety and depression for years too, when my children were small I had to push myself out of the house to take/collect them from school as I was suffering badly from panic attacks....there was no-one else to do it so I had to.
I have been on medication for anxiety and depression this time for 8years after being diagnosed with cancer, I have returned to work, a job I've had for 18years (on and off ) my illness stops me from going to a new job as my current one is my 'comfort zone' (even though its not the best paid job) even on really bad days I take a few more pills and 9 times out of 10 manage to go in.
If I have to attend a social event, especially one where there are people I do not know I become very anxious and again need to up my medication.
It does effect my life alot, but with medication and at one time, counselling I manage to 'function'.....its not easy, and I know there are varying levels of depression/anxiety for everyone, but I do believe with the right help/support you can live a 'normalish' life and hold down a job.

That is a very insightful post, skibadee. Thank you.

I do so hope you have more good days than bad and that you continue to get support.

I know it cannot be easy suffering with MH issues and there is perhaps a lot I don't understand.

Long may you continue to function, though

princessdon

I don't fully understand MH. I know we ALL have it, stress, bereavement, divorce, redundancy can affect us all to varying degrees. I was on a training course recently that talked of "resilience factors" and it made more sense. Eg someone going through bereavement with a close knit family and support is less affected than those whose sole contact was with the deceased.

But I have to admit from personal observation there are loads of "players". Those that have a phobia about public places but can go the pub or nightclubs for example. It is one area that you can neither prove or disprove without following them for 2 months (which isn't feasible). I feel very sorry for genuine sufferers because the none genuine taint this emotive subject.

we are all 1 step away from a stressful environment resulting on MH disorders - so no one should dismiss it, but with so many playing the system it can be hard to comprehend unless you and or a loved one are living it.

ab.da54

princessdon wrote: »

I don't fully understand MH. I know we ALL have it, stress, bereavement, divorce, redundancy can affect us all to varying degrees. I was on a training course recently that talked of "resilience factors" and it made more sense. Eg someone going through bereavement with a close knit family and support is less affected than those whose sole contact was with the deceased.

But I have to admit from personal observation there are loads of "players". Those that have a phobia about public places but can go the pub or nightclubs for example. It is one area that you can neither prove or disprove without following them for 2 months (which isn't feasible). I feel very sorry for genuine sufferers because the none genuine taint this emotive subject.

we are all 1 step away from a stressful environment resulting on MH disorders - so no one should dismiss it, but with so many playing the system it can be hard to comprehend unless you and or a loved one are living it.

Yes, stress can play awful on the mind and lead some to a breakdown.

It is true that those who play on it, make it much worse for others, but I think that is true of many an ailment at the moment. Those who play on it have caused the current situation with regards benefit changes, in my opinion.

I do not understand the panic attacks when leaving the house, but going to the seaside, or the unable to leave the house but a regular in Tesco, or the garden centre, but asked to go to the ESA medical and panic, panic, panic.

It is strange what can be observed when you sit quietly. You are right though, there is not the resources for the DWP to be physically checking every claim, so how do they dispute that x can actually do y?

ineed

princessdon wrote: »

I don't fully understand MH. I know we ALL have it, stress, bereavement, divorce, redundancy can affect us all to varying degrees. I was on a training course recently that talked of "resilience factors" and it made more sense. Eg someone going through bereavement with a close knit family and support is less affected than those whose sole contact was with the deceased.

But I have to admit from personal observation there are loads of "players". Those that have a phobia about public places but can go the pub or nightclubs for example. It is one area that you can neither prove or disprove without following them for 2 months (which isn't feasible). I feel very sorry for genuine sufferers because the none genuine taint this emotive subject.

we are all 1 step away from a stressful environment resulting on MH disorders - so no one should dismiss it, but with so many playing the system it can be hard to comprehend unless you and or a loved one are living it.

There's various levels of MH and no two cases are really the same. I've met many people with MH issues; one person I know with social phobia goes to work, on holiday abroad etc, another person I know with the same condition hasn't left her house except on very few occasions, since her early 20s, she's in her 40s now. Difference between the two; mainly the expirences that triggered the issues to come forward. Your right no one can understand fully until they've experienced it, you're also unfortunately right about a few (to be fair it is only a few compared to the number of genuine MH sufferers) people, shall we say pretending to have MH issues :mad:. I know of one such person.

LadyMorticia

ab.da54 wrote: »

These are the symptoms of MH that I understand. It is difficult to even contemplate doing fun stuff and so I cannot comprehend how so many fun activities can be enjoyed and yet, anything related to 'other' things causes panic attacks, breakdowns.

It is good I am not the only one to be unable to understand this phenomenon.

I think it can be difficult for some people to understand but just because I can't do it, it doesn't mean that I can't understand those who can, if that makes sense?

It could take someone years to build up to doing something fun but then it has such an effect on them afterwards that they can't do it for a while again. Of course, people just see them doing the fun thing and think that they're like that all the time.

Not to mention that doing the fun thing can also cause their MH to go all over the place and have an effect on them.

~Chameleon~

I think for some people it's a case of having "safe places" they feel able to go to, particularly if they are very familiar with the area/building etc and know where all the "escape routes" are. However, in this electronic age and with the advent of Google Streetview it is perfectly possible to familiarise yourself with an area never previously visited to help allay anxiety and indeed is a very useful tool for those of us with anxiety/panic issues. Frequent exposure also helps, assuming one has access to the right kinds of support to facilitate this.

Of course going for a medical, presumably in a strange place/building, is incredibly scary but there are steps that can be taken to reduce the fear/anxiety beforehand.

ab.da54

LadyMorticia wrote: »

I think it can be difficult for some people to understand but just because I can't do it, it doesn't mean that I can't understand those who can, if that makes sense?

It could take someone years to build up to doing something fun but then it has such an effect on them afterwards that they can't do it for a while again. Of course, people just see them doing the fun thing and think that they're like that all the time.

Not to mention that doing the fun thing can also cause their MH to go all over the place and have an effect on them.

I think, if it was an isolated incident - for example, one fun thing that took all of a person's strength, then, yes, it would make more sense.

When it is repeated fun stuff, time and time again, week in, week out, what then? All the fun stuff but panic attacks at the thought of having to go to work?

It is something that is very difficult to understand, then.

Many people with MH problems cannot do the fun stuff, full stop. You said the same, yourself. I don't for one moment think that everyone with MH issues will all act the same but I do fail to understand why someone can have so many fun things going on and no mention of issues until ATOS are in touch, or when challenged. At that point, the common response is that people don't understand, or don't see the other times when they aren't doing their fun activities.

It is a puzzle.

ab.da54

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I think for some people it's a case of having "safe places" they feel able to go to, particularly if they are very familiar with the area/building etc and know where all the "escape routes" are. However, in this electronic age and with the advent of Google Streetview it is perfectly possible to familiarise yourself with an area never previously visited to help allay anxiety and indeed is a very useful tool for those of us with anxiety/panic issues. Frequent exposure also helps, assuming one has access to the right kinds of support to facilitate this.

Of course going for a medical, presumably in a strange place/building, is incredibly scary but there are steps that can be taken to reduce the fear/anxiety beforehand.

That is an interesting aspect, Chameleon.

Yes, being able to familiarise oneself with an area, via google maps, can help someone who is anxious. It would be a useful coping tool.

LadyMorticia

ab.da54 wrote: »

I think, if it was an isolated incident - for example, one fun thing that took all of a person's strength, then, yes, it would make more sense.

When it is repeated fun stuff, time and time again, week in, week out, what then? All the fun stuff but panic attacks at the thought of having to go to work?

It is something that is very difficult to understand, then.

Many people with MH problems cannot do the fun stuff, full stop. You said the same, yourself. I don't for one moment think that everyone with MH issues will all act the same but I do fail to understand why someone can have so many fun things going on and no mention of issues until ATOS are in touch, or when challenged. At that point, the common response is that people don't understand, or don't see the other times when they aren't doing their fun activities.

It is a puzzle.

If someone has a condition like Bi-Polar, it could be very possible for them to be doing loads of "fun" things during their manic phase, but being manic is just as dangerous as being low when Bi-Polar.

I'm just trying to put a different perspective on it.