Bipolar SOA

suburbanwifey

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

I'm glad that you can afford it. That's more than a weeks grocery bill for a family of four. Plus I work and do not receive any state benefits except for child allowance.

It may be harsh and I will get flamed, but you cannot (or rather the tax payer) afford to keep such an expensive pet.

They are allowed to (and so it should be the case!) to pay out for what they choose to with their benefits, regardless of them being tax payer funded. I am a tax payer and I didn't balk when I read this thread. A lot of people on benefits waste a lot of their money on drink, fags and drugs, I don't see it being any form of waste looking after properly a pet that brings the OP a lot of love and companionship when their life sounds hard enough as it is.

So yeah, I'm flaming you and in my opinion you deserve it. Go read another thread if that's the best comment you can make!

inmypocketnottheirs

suburbanwifey wrote: »

They are allowed to (and so it should be the case!) to pay out for what they choose to with their benefits, regardless of them being tax payer funded.

If it can be afforded out of the benefits, then yes. But when it is being supported by debts- then I do have an issue.

Quite why it is such an anathema to people to work for what they want or if they can't to live within the benefits the state provides I really don't know. Oh yes, I remember know, everyone is entitled to iPhones, plasma screen TV's and expensive to maintain pets.

conivity

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

If it can be afforded out of the benefits, then yes. But when it is being supported by debts- then I do have an issue.

Quite why it is such an anathema to people to work for what they want or if they can't to live within the benefits the state provides I really don't know. Oh yes, I remember know, everyone is entitled to iPhones, plasma screen TV's and expensive to maintain pets.

I am not going to flame you as I understand your sentiment. Certainly when I was a tax payer and had a good career I often felt the same about benefits.

What I would ask you is to read the whole thread. The majority of my income goes towards attending help groups and communication so that I may get back to work.

I have clearly stated this.

I did not choose to have a mental illness. I did not choose to be on benefits. The reason I have such a large overdraft is that I resisted being on benefits because of the stigma attached to them and to my illness.

One thing this illness has taught me is to deal with things with equanimity. This illness isolates me because bipolar people are not pleasant to be around, moreover they are chaotic.

My dog offers me unconditional love because he does not see my illness. I mentioned he was an FT dog, I will expand: chosen because he helps me with my illness.

This morning following a seizure, he had put me in the recovery position and I awoke to him cleaning the vomit from my face. This is value for money for £62 pcm.

He alerts me when he detects triggers in my illness long before I am conscious of them.

Should you take offense at this expenditure then you will be horrified to hear that the medications that keep my life in the spectrum of barely tolerable to god kill me now cost the tax payer £800.00 a month.

I have no problem being on benefits at this moment because it is a safety net that I have paid for throughout my working career. I am taking much less out of the pot than I have put in.

Many people would say to you "Try walking in my shoes". I will not, because I would not wish this illness and life on anyone.

I hope this has helped explain things to you.

conivity

room512 wrote: »

Have you tried MIND to help you fill in the DLA forms? I filled them in for my husband a long time ago and found a pack on the internet by MIND (i think) that really helped me to fill it in x

Many thanks, I shall look into this in the morning.

Anselm

Do you have a support worker? I can't offer much in the way of budget advice, but I didn't want to read and run. My dad suffers from bi polar as well, and after seeing how debilitating it is, not only to the sufferer but to the family as well, I just wanted to leave my sympathies and hope you get into the position where you're not totally in the grips of your illness. (I would have said get well soon, however I'm sure you agree that may be unlikely)

*zippy*

Hi conivity

I don't know if it's any use, but I've seen recommendations on the pet board here for Skinners dog food, they do a working dog food, Field and Trial which is said to be good quality at a reasonable price, not sure how it compares to what you are paying now, prices seem to be from about £17 for 15kg

http://www.skinnerspetfoods.co.uk/products/Field---Trial-Products/

conivity

Anselm wrote: »

Do you have a support worker? I can't offer much in the way of budget advice, but I didn't want to read and run. My dad suffers from bi polar as well, and after seeing how debilitating it is, not only to the sufferer but to the family as well, I just wanted to leave my sympathies and hope you get into the position where you're not totally in the grips of your illness. (I would have said get well soon, however I'm sure you agree that may be unlikely)

I agree. This illness is a marathon not a sprint. It doesn't get better but with time, medication & a sprinkle of luck we learn to manage it. And then just when we think we have beaten it the circus begins again. It is like being on the waltzer, where the guy who likes the look of your girlfriend gives you a few extra spins.

The collateral damage to your family and those close to you is the worst. The behaviour is bad enough without the insane spending on the next great thing or business venture. Spending without control, there is no gratification, nothing scratches the itch.

Bipolar = Debt I am sure I there are a few of us on this forum. Tried freezing your credit cards in a block of ice? Time for that impulsive purchase of a top model hairdryer to do the job properly.

I think the explosion of Bipolar Debt maps to the adoption curve of the internet. Many people have made drunken purchases on eBay. Roll on Amazon one click for the bipolar shopper, I still have bags of sticky backed Googly Eyes only these were not bought drunk, just an uncontrollable necessity to spend.

UK Hot Deals? Catnip for the Bipolar at the best of times, crack cocaine when the mania kicks in.

I know how terrible it must be for the child of a bipolar person. At least I think I do. But the illness is bipolar and between the crests and troughs of the waves there are midpoints. And I hope you get to enjoy these points with your dad, no matter have many or few there are.

conivity

*zippy* wrote: »

Hi conivity

I don't know if it's any use, but I've seen recommendations on the pet board here for Skinners dog food, they do a working dog food, Field and Trial which is said to be good quality at a reasonable price, not sure how it compares to what you are paying now, prices seem to be from about £17 for 15kg

Thanks for that. It may be an option. I shall try mixing it in.

conivity

Pennywise2012 wrote: »

I know this isn't the usual MSE advice, but I'd be tempted to default on the iphone contract. IMHO a bad credit rating can sometimes be a blessing in disguise for a person with bipolar, as it can limit the damage done during a manic episode. HTH x

This is very sound advice thank you. I can't think of a single instance where credit would help me and not make the problem worse.

When I spoke to the CCCS yesterday, their first advice was to default on this contract and PAY MY RENT ARREARS, (What you guys have been telling me.)