Back on the ESA merry-go-round

DepressedInsomniac

Face1992 wrote: »

Mental note to myself and others: never give any advice to someone who has posted on the internet incase it's the wrong advice and the person cuts themselves with a stanley blade and blames it all on you.

Oh my goodness!!!

Oh dear, you really do need to brush up on those reading skills of yours. Perhaps you missed the bit where I said "they would never have the satisfaction of knowing" so how could you be blamed?

Muttleythefrog

Face1992 wrote: »

I suffer from mental health issues as well.

I read that... I also think you are extremely under informed about them... hence my examples given to shed some light. The Op doesn't need to justify their medical problems here.

Face1992

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

I read that... I also think you are extremely under informed about them.

Hmmm, maybe, maybe not. But after 28 years of living with them, they sure are real.

Muttleythefrog

Face1992 wrote: »

Hmmm, maybe, maybe not. But after 28 years of living with them, they sure are real.

And for me too. But if you cannot understand the concept of situation playing role in symptoms then you don't understand something as simple as anxiety... disorders for which tend to be defined in terms of the situation that gives rise to the anxiety... agoraphobia for example. So trying to compare travelling on train with a medical assessment is rather pointless... that'll play out at a highly individual level. Rather like if someone said I don't see how you can garden in the front garden and not the rear... for most people and probably most people with MH problems it'd make not iota of difference... explanation can only be found with some rather deep investigation.

xylophone

But I wasn't seeking advice on benefit entitlements. As you've pointed out, I already know what my entitlements are.

So the point of your first post

I don't know what to do now

was...?

Face1992

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

And for me too. But if you cannot understand the concept of situation playing role in symptoms then you don't understand something as simple as anxiety... disorders for which tend to be defined in terms of the situation that gives rise to the anxiety... agoraphobia for example. So trying to compare travelling on train with a medical assessment is rather pointless... that'll play out at a highly individual level.

All depends on what they were awarded the money for in the first place. If for instance it was stated they can't stand to be in public places or be near people etc, then going on a train would be just as bad.
If someone has said they are unable to leave their house because they don't want to come into contact with people, how easy would be getting to and taking part in University be for them? And the benefits agency would rightly want to investigate how if someone can travel on a train to get to University (both full of people), wouldn't they?

Face1992

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

And for me too. But if you cannot understand the concept of situation playing role in symptoms then you don't understand something as simple as anxiety... disorders for which tend to be defined in terms of the situation that gives rise to the anxiety... agoraphobia for example. So trying to compare travelling on train with a medical assessment is rather pointless... that'll play out at a highly individual level. Rather like if someone said I don't see how you can garden in the front garden and not the rear... for most people and probably most people with MH problems it'd make not iota of difference... explanation can only be found with some rather deep investigation.

Now for me it's the other way round, I cannot garden in the front garden because I don't want people looking at me from other houses, or the road, or people passing. Back garden is easier because it is enclosed.

FBaby

The problem with mental health is that it is near impossible to categories people affected who try really hard to get better but are limited because of their illness and those who hide behind their label to justify being able to cope with some activities but not others.

Before I'm accused of not understanding, I have studying mental health as part of my undergraduate studies and worked in the field, directly counselling patients for over 5 years, so do have experience. I have experienced many cases of patients working very hard to get back into normal stream of life, to be knocked out suddenly when one event became too much and having to start all over again, which is heartbreaking, but I have also experienced a number of patients being very selective about what they could and couldn't do. Those patients with agoraphobia who refused to walk even accompany to benefits interview because of stress, but could cope very well going with family to a concert. The ones who couldn't cope calling creditors to sort out some debts with support, asking staff to do it, but had no problem calling strangers to order take aways. Those are only examples either way.

Unfortunately those who are really prepared to go through stages to get better, even the stages that are not pleasant and desired can find themselves given a real hard time because of the others.

I have no idea which category the OP falls under and there is no way to know from the information provided, but I really hope she falls under the first category and that her MH will continue to improve so she can fulfill her wish to gain a degree AND get proper remunerative employment afterwards.

DepressedInsomniac

xylophone wrote: »

So the point of your first post was...?

It was partial panic at having to go through it all again just as I was starting to get back on my feet and also invoked some chilling memories of the terrible crisis I was in at the latter end of last year.

I don't think I was seeking any specific advice in my original post, more reaching out for moral support and reassurance that everything would be ok. I also hoped somebody might have been through similar and be able to advise how they dealt with it.

Muttleythefrog

Face1992 wrote: »

All depends on what they were awarded the money for in the first place. If for instance it was stated they can't stand to be in public places or be near people etc, then going on a train would be just as bad.
If someone has said they are unable to leave their house because they don't want to come into contact with people, how easy would be getting to and taking part in University be for them? And the benefits agency would rightly want to investigate how if someone can travel on a train to get to University (both full of people), wouldn't they?

I really don't think we have sufficient detail here to be determining if the Op is a benefit fraudster or not. It seems to me you just want to interrogate them for some reason that only you can confirm. The Op should be aware... if not in the thread or prior to it.. then by me now in saying that DLA and ESA are awarded based on day to day difficulties.. and that if those difficulties claimed contradicted the circumstances of going to Uni then they may have an issue. But one must be careful to make oversimplistic judgements especially without full facts. I get LRM and have problems using public transport... doesn't stop me using public transport.. and the actual reason I get LRM is because I require supervision rather than for the difficulties I claim to have. I have no real difficulties with medical appointments... in fact as noted by one psychiatrist I seem to enjoy playing my role at them... but the ATOS one caused me serious difficulty...so much so I am getting ESA for a reason I'm not entirely convinced is true.