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Just awarded full esa (support group) with no interveiw - This may help others
dream.life
Posts: 10 Forumite
Hello, I have just completed my application proccess for ESA. It was a new claim, not a transfer from Incapacity. I have been awarded £166.80pw and put in the support group. I didn't have to go for an interview, I just filled in the form they sent. I used this forum a lot for help with the form so thought I should come back and write down what I wrote in my form in case others find it helpful.
I did take scan pictures of my form but can't find them so I will just copy and paste what I wrote on word before I copied it onto my form. I don't know exactly what I did right but it obviously was enough for the job centre to leave me alone, hopefully it will help others.
OPENING STATEMENT (page 2?)
Because of my uncontrollable rage, if I was found fit for work I would likely hurt either myself or others around me ie job centre staff or potential workmates. Stress and worry causes me to blow up and I cannot function when this happens. This form has caused me severe distress and anger, because of this I have had daily outbursts while trying to deal with it.
Graves' disease - diagnosed in 2009 - Although I am receiving treatment for the hyperthyroidism (caused by graves'), the graves' itself has no cure. It is possible I am having adrenal problems as well which my endocrinologist is looking into. I am currently taking 10mg Carbimazole daily to limit the effects of the hyperthyroidism and also Bisoprolol for my high heart rate.
Complex trauma / PTSD brought on by my mother being murdered by my brother in 2009. Moderate mental health problems existed before this, namely depression and anxiety. My mother was an abusive alcoholic and my feelings towards her are very complicated, as are the feelings I have towards my brother.
The problems I have with uncontrollable anger, concentration, attention and memory could be due to either of my illnesses. My mental health problems could also be being made worse by the disruptive nature of graves' disease on the brain. My psychologist and endocrinologist are trying to figure out what symptoms are caused by what illness. Because they both started around the same time this is a very difficult process and will take quite a long time to work out.
I cannot think straight, my mind is constantly racing with thoughts about my mothers death, other peoples' behavior, my own behavior, thoughts of revenge and guilt. My mind is a constant whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, these feelings and thoughts constantly change and are often conflicting, resulting in more confusion, frustration and anger.
I cannot hold a conversation as I don't remember anything that has been said to me or think clearly enough to construct a coherent sentence. I cannot leave the house alone in case I loose my temper and fly into a fit of rage. I cannot do household chores for the same reason, I have broken several things around the house because I simply couldn't cope with what needed doing. I frequently cannot sleep at night resulting in a disturbed sleeping pattern, this results in me not being able to get up at a standard time. My condition has significantly deteriorated over the last 2 years and has dramatically impacted my quality of life to the point where I can barely function.
ALL THE SEPERATE QUESTIONS THAT RELATED TO ME
6. Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing or other means normally used; unaided by another person
I find it almost impossible to communicate with others. My heart is always pumping very quickly and I am extremely agitated 24/7. My thoughts are constantly racing and I can't pin down exactly what needs to be said. My thoughts jump to different subjects so remembering what needs to be said is a big problem. I frequently begin speaking then forget what I was saying. Because of this people treat me very badly and are usually very rude. They also speak to me like I'm stupid. This angers me to the point of uncontrollable rage. When in an uncontrollable rage my mind goes completely blank and it is pure anger. At this point I cannot think at all.
7. Understanding communication by both verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) and non-verbal means (such as reading 16 point print) using any aid if reasonably used; unaided by another person
I find it almost impossible to understand others. My heart is always pumping very quickly and I am extremely agitated 24/7. My thoughts are constantly racing and I can't focus on what is being said. My thoughts jump to different subjects so I simply don't remember what has been said/read 2 minutes before. I frequently begin speaking then forget what was asked, completely losing track of any conversation. When in this state I can usually only pick up a few key words and try to form them into a question in my mind. After I think I know what they are asking I will try to answer. Because I sometimes get this wrong and people are very rude I will then be sent into an uncontrollable rage. When in an uncontrollable rage I can not understand anything that is said/read to me (even key words), my mind goes completely blank and it is pure anger. If my husband is with me I can sometimes stay calm enough to get out of the situation, however this isn't always possible.
8. Navigation and maintaining safety, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used.
I need my husband with me when I leave the house. People are very rude and unpleasant, he helps me cope until I get home. My mind is always too preoccupied with other things to think about safety. If he wasn't there I would not be able to cross the road safely, this is due to significant problems with concentration, memory and attention.
10. Consciousness during waking moments
I have problems with concentration, memory and attention 24/7, this alone is enough to significantly disrupt my day to day activities. When in an uncontrollable rage I am not aware of anything. There is no human emotion or organized thought, it is pure anger. This will happen several times a day if I have to deal with others, be put in a stressful situation or remember something traumatic. This is currently happening once/twice per week with limited stress.
11. Learning tasks
Because of my 24/7 problems with concentration, memory and attention I struggle to learn simple things. Anything more complicated than a few steps I wouldn't be able to do. If I have managed to do something I will not remember how to do it the following day. Even setting an alarm clock becomes impossible when I am in a fit of rage.
12. Awareness of everyday hazards (such as boiling water or sharp objects)
When in a fit of rage I am not aware of hazards. I will throw a pan of boiling water at someone if it is to hand. I have punched a mirror previously and cut my hand pretty badly. This is currently happening once/twice per week but will happen several times a day if I had to deal with others, be put in a stressful situation or remember something traumatic.
13. Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organization, problem solving, prioritizing or switching tasks)
Because of my problems with concentration, memory and attention I cannot do anything without being prompted. This includes eating, washing and taking my tablets. I need my husband to tell me to do them in the first place. Sometimes I need prompting 3 or more times to do basic things. After that I will stop half way through and need prompting again. I also often get angry when being prompted, this sometimes results in an uncontrollable rage.
14. Coping with change
Any changes will get me very angry and stressed, in this situation I could very easily go into an uncontrollable rage. Because I never remember anything, appointments etc, everything is an unplanned change to my routine. Being reminded several times of an appointment will not help as I will not remember when it is time to go.
15. Getting about
I need my husband with me when I leave the house. People are very rude and unpleasant, he helps me cope until I get home. My mind is always too preoccupied with other things to think about safety. If he wasn't there I would not be able to cross the road safely. This is the same for unfamiliar and familiar places.
16. Coping with social engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Communication with others is nearly impossible. My heart is always pumping very quickly and I am extremely agitated 24/7. My thoughts are constantly racing and I can't work out what has been said. My thoughts jump to different subjects constantly. Because of this people treat me very badly and are usually very rude, they also speak to me like I'm stupid. This angers me to the point of uncontrollable rage. When in an uncontrollable rage my mind goes completely blank and it is pure anger. At this point I cannot think at all.
17. Appropriateness of behavior with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Uncontrollable rage that would be unsafe for anyone present. This currently happens once/twice per week, however it is made considerably worse by people/social interaction and stress. If I was forced into a work environment this would happen several times a day. When I'm not in an uncontrollable rage I am still very angry, anxious and stressed, this results in lots of slamming, stamping, shouting and growling, this is 24/7.
I did take scan pictures of my form but can't find them so I will just copy and paste what I wrote on word before I copied it onto my form. I don't know exactly what I did right but it obviously was enough for the job centre to leave me alone, hopefully it will help others.
OPENING STATEMENT (page 2?)
Because of my uncontrollable rage, if I was found fit for work I would likely hurt either myself or others around me ie job centre staff or potential workmates. Stress and worry causes me to blow up and I cannot function when this happens. This form has caused me severe distress and anger, because of this I have had daily outbursts while trying to deal with it.
Graves' disease - diagnosed in 2009 - Although I am receiving treatment for the hyperthyroidism (caused by graves'), the graves' itself has no cure. It is possible I am having adrenal problems as well which my endocrinologist is looking into. I am currently taking 10mg Carbimazole daily to limit the effects of the hyperthyroidism and also Bisoprolol for my high heart rate.
Complex trauma / PTSD brought on by my mother being murdered by my brother in 2009. Moderate mental health problems existed before this, namely depression and anxiety. My mother was an abusive alcoholic and my feelings towards her are very complicated, as are the feelings I have towards my brother.
The problems I have with uncontrollable anger, concentration, attention and memory could be due to either of my illnesses. My mental health problems could also be being made worse by the disruptive nature of graves' disease on the brain. My psychologist and endocrinologist are trying to figure out what symptoms are caused by what illness. Because they both started around the same time this is a very difficult process and will take quite a long time to work out.
I cannot think straight, my mind is constantly racing with thoughts about my mothers death, other peoples' behavior, my own behavior, thoughts of revenge and guilt. My mind is a constant whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, these feelings and thoughts constantly change and are often conflicting, resulting in more confusion, frustration and anger.
I cannot hold a conversation as I don't remember anything that has been said to me or think clearly enough to construct a coherent sentence. I cannot leave the house alone in case I loose my temper and fly into a fit of rage. I cannot do household chores for the same reason, I have broken several things around the house because I simply couldn't cope with what needed doing. I frequently cannot sleep at night resulting in a disturbed sleeping pattern, this results in me not being able to get up at a standard time. My condition has significantly deteriorated over the last 2 years and has dramatically impacted my quality of life to the point where I can barely function.
ALL THE SEPERATE QUESTIONS THAT RELATED TO ME
6. Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing or other means normally used; unaided by another person
I find it almost impossible to communicate with others. My heart is always pumping very quickly and I am extremely agitated 24/7. My thoughts are constantly racing and I can't pin down exactly what needs to be said. My thoughts jump to different subjects so remembering what needs to be said is a big problem. I frequently begin speaking then forget what I was saying. Because of this people treat me very badly and are usually very rude. They also speak to me like I'm stupid. This angers me to the point of uncontrollable rage. When in an uncontrollable rage my mind goes completely blank and it is pure anger. At this point I cannot think at all.
7. Understanding communication by both verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) and non-verbal means (such as reading 16 point print) using any aid if reasonably used; unaided by another person
I find it almost impossible to understand others. My heart is always pumping very quickly and I am extremely agitated 24/7. My thoughts are constantly racing and I can't focus on what is being said. My thoughts jump to different subjects so I simply don't remember what has been said/read 2 minutes before. I frequently begin speaking then forget what was asked, completely losing track of any conversation. When in this state I can usually only pick up a few key words and try to form them into a question in my mind. After I think I know what they are asking I will try to answer. Because I sometimes get this wrong and people are very rude I will then be sent into an uncontrollable rage. When in an uncontrollable rage I can not understand anything that is said/read to me (even key words), my mind goes completely blank and it is pure anger. If my husband is with me I can sometimes stay calm enough to get out of the situation, however this isn't always possible.
8. Navigation and maintaining safety, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used.
I need my husband with me when I leave the house. People are very rude and unpleasant, he helps me cope until I get home. My mind is always too preoccupied with other things to think about safety. If he wasn't there I would not be able to cross the road safely, this is due to significant problems with concentration, memory and attention.
10. Consciousness during waking moments
I have problems with concentration, memory and attention 24/7, this alone is enough to significantly disrupt my day to day activities. When in an uncontrollable rage I am not aware of anything. There is no human emotion or organized thought, it is pure anger. This will happen several times a day if I have to deal with others, be put in a stressful situation or remember something traumatic. This is currently happening once/twice per week with limited stress.
11. Learning tasks
Because of my 24/7 problems with concentration, memory and attention I struggle to learn simple things. Anything more complicated than a few steps I wouldn't be able to do. If I have managed to do something I will not remember how to do it the following day. Even setting an alarm clock becomes impossible when I am in a fit of rage.
12. Awareness of everyday hazards (such as boiling water or sharp objects)
When in a fit of rage I am not aware of hazards. I will throw a pan of boiling water at someone if it is to hand. I have punched a mirror previously and cut my hand pretty badly. This is currently happening once/twice per week but will happen several times a day if I had to deal with others, be put in a stressful situation or remember something traumatic.
13. Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organization, problem solving, prioritizing or switching tasks)
Because of my problems with concentration, memory and attention I cannot do anything without being prompted. This includes eating, washing and taking my tablets. I need my husband to tell me to do them in the first place. Sometimes I need prompting 3 or more times to do basic things. After that I will stop half way through and need prompting again. I also often get angry when being prompted, this sometimes results in an uncontrollable rage.
14. Coping with change
Any changes will get me very angry and stressed, in this situation I could very easily go into an uncontrollable rage. Because I never remember anything, appointments etc, everything is an unplanned change to my routine. Being reminded several times of an appointment will not help as I will not remember when it is time to go.
15. Getting about
I need my husband with me when I leave the house. People are very rude and unpleasant, he helps me cope until I get home. My mind is always too preoccupied with other things to think about safety. If he wasn't there I would not be able to cross the road safely. This is the same for unfamiliar and familiar places.
16. Coping with social engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Communication with others is nearly impossible. My heart is always pumping very quickly and I am extremely agitated 24/7. My thoughts are constantly racing and I can't work out what has been said. My thoughts jump to different subjects constantly. Because of this people treat me very badly and are usually very rude, they also speak to me like I'm stupid. This angers me to the point of uncontrollable rage. When in an uncontrollable rage my mind goes completely blank and it is pure anger. At this point I cannot think at all.
17. Appropriateness of behavior with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Uncontrollable rage that would be unsafe for anyone present. This currently happens once/twice per week, however it is made considerably worse by people/social interaction and stress. If I was forced into a work environment this would happen several times a day. When I'm not in an uncontrollable rage I am still very angry, anxious and stressed, this results in lots of slamming, stamping, shouting and growling, this is 24/7.
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Comments
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Did you submit evidence from your health care team or did they take your word?0
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I didn't send any proof in but I put the address and phone number of both my psychologist and endocrinologist on there. It's possible they contacted them for more information, I'm not sure. The only sick note I sent was filled in by my GP 2 weeks before.0
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I felt like I had invaded your privacy reading that. It is very personal information, and though you believe you are helping others fill out a form, in my opinion the information you gave is relevant to your case and condition only.
I worry false claims and information could come from the very personal information you provided, as a genuine cases would write their genuine case and not use yours as a template.
Sorry to hear what you have been through and going through on a daily basis, I wish you all the best for the future
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I think you picked up the wrong form and have just got yourself a job at ATOS :eek:“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” --Upton Sinclair0
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Well you got your result anyway. Not much more to say really, as even with the same cut and paste others wouldn't.
Glad you got what you wanted.Tomorrow is the most important thing in life0
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