Denied PIP- will I lose ESA?

Mrs_Ryan

Just to 'clear something up' my doctor did not hand out Citalopram to me 'like sweeties' I was on Fluoextine first which the dose went up to 60mg and didn't work. I'm now on 40mg Citalopram and I have tried CBT twice which has failed twice. Just as a comparison- yes there are people with diagnosed severe depression on it- like my partner who has been on it long term for a diagnosed severe mental health condition for which he also takes antipsychotics. I must come across extraordinarily articulate then as it seems that everyone seems to think my mental health problems are perceived!! They aren't- and thankfully at least my GP believes me. Maybe I should start believing there isn't anything wrong with me..

tomtom256

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Just to 'clear something up' my doctor did not hand out Citalopram to me 'like sweeties' I was on Fluoextine first which the dose went up to 60mg and didn't work. I'm now on 40mg Citalopram and I have tried CBT twice which has failed twice. Just as a comparison- yes there are people with diagnosed severe depression on it- like my partner who has been on it long term for a diagnosed severe mental health condition for which he also takes antipsychotics. I must come across extraordinarily articulate then as it seems that everyone seems to think my mental health problems are perceived!! They aren't- and thankfully at least my GP believes me. Maybe I should start believing there isn't anything wrong with me..

You don't have to justify your medication or the reasons it is prescribed.

Don't rise to those that do not know you and your condition.

Alex_Shafner

Sadly on these (and all) forums some members get a God complex. People who have no idea about another persons condition, medication or needs should not voice opinion.

QuackQuackOops

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Just to 'clear something up' my doctor did not hand out Citalopram to me 'like sweeties' I was on Fluoextine first which the dose went up to 60mg and didn't work. I'm now on 40mg Citalopram and I have tried CBT twice which has failed twice. Just as a comparison- yes there are people with diagnosed severe depression on it- like my partner who has been on it long term for a diagnosed severe mental health condition for which he also takes antipsychotics. I must come across extraordinarily articulate then as it seems that everyone seems to think my mental health problems are perceived!! They aren't- and thankfully at least my GP believes me. Maybe I should start believing there isn't anything wrong with me..

I absolutely believe you. I have no reason not to. But drugs alone will not cure anyone.

I wrote the post above to clarify that being prescribed a particular anti-depressant, in this case citalapram- does not automatically equate to "Severe depression".
Some people taking it might have severe depression, some don't. It is not prescribed for "severe depression". It is prescribed for people with 'depression' and other things, whether it be mild or moderate and is a safe drug for doctors to hand out to placate patients. I do not suggest for one moment that this is what your doctor did, only that they can and do.

The thing to note about CBT is that it does not and can not "Fail to work". It is not a medicine or a cure-all. It is a way to help the person engaging to make changes in their lives to the way they do things and the way they might think about things.
In order for CBT to 'work', the person engaging needs to be receptive, want to help themselves and be open to change.

A bit like a text book.
CBT is the text book and contains all the information you need to pass an exam but passing the exam depends totally on how the person applies themselves.
One person might flick through it every day, read a few lines, jot down a few notes but come evening finds it more interesting to watch TV so fails the exam. They then say "The text book was useless".
Another person might realise that it is only down to their own application to how well they do and so reads in depth every day, takes down notes, does further reading and study at the library, sign up to a local club on the subject and choose to go through test questions in the evening rather than watch TV. They pass the exam and say "The text book provide me some great guidelines".

Yes, an extreme example, everyone has the right to sit and watch TV now and then, but the principle is the same.

Mrs_Ryan

Good God Quack- do you work for Capita?!
To give some background I am an ex mental health HCA with a foundation year mental health nurse training background so I know what antidepressants do. I know how SSRI's work and I also know that there it is suggested that they work in conjunction with other methods to help with various mental health conditions. And maybe I should have said that CBT didn't help, not that it didn't work. The therapist stated I needed specialist intervention from their therapist that was trained in PTSD as my underlying issues that caused this were not something she could deal with. However the funding is only for five sessions and it took me until about the third to even be able to engage with her.
I wasn't given antidepressants until about a month after first presenting with the symptoms. My doctor knows my dislike of medication but it became obvious to her that I needed something as at that point I was quite unwell and my symptoms have since fluctuated madly although since a sudden unexpected bereavement of a close and dear friend earlier this year my mood has plummeted again. It's not so much I didn't want to help myself which I think is a bit unfair to suggest- after all you have no idea of my circumstances :mad: it was a case of it wasn't right for me so it didn't help me.
I have said before I am not going to go into the circumstances of my PTSD as it's nobody's business- but the DWP have been provided with reams of documents relating to it and the circumstances of both events that lead to it. They have also been provided with the necessary evidence of my previous suicide attempts, self harm and the hospital admissions caused by my panic attacks that caused me to collapse and hit my head and the one caused by an attack developing into a seizure (which by the way were all witnessed)
This thread has taught me a lot of things- there's a lot of very judgemental people out there but one thing I do know is that it doesn't seem to have affected my ESA. MR is being requested with supporting documentation although I'm pretty sure that some of you think it will fail again!
Thanks to everyone who offered useful information.
MrsR

kittykat17

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Good God Quack- do you work for Capita?!
To give some background I am an ex mental health HCA with a foundation year mental health nurse training background so I know what antidepressants do. I know how SSRI's work and I also know that there it is suggested that they work in conjunction with other methods to help with various mental health conditions. And maybe I should have said that CBT didn't help, not that it didn't work. The therapist stated I needed specialist intervention from their therapist that was trained in PTSD as my underlying issues that caused this were not something she could deal with. However the funding is only for five sessions and it took me until about the third to even be able to engage with her.
I wasn't given antidepressants until about a month after first presenting with the symptoms. My doctor knows my dislike of medication but it became obvious to her that I needed something as at that point I was quite unwell and my symptoms have since fluctuated madly although since a sudden unexpected bereavement of a close and dear friend earlier this year my mood has plummeted again. It's not so much I didn't want to help myself which I think is a bit unfair to suggest- after all you have no idea of my circumstances :mad: it was a case of it wasn't right for me so it didn't help me.
I have said before I am not going to go into the circumstances of my PTSD as it's nobody's business- but the DWP have been provided with reams of documents relating to it and the circumstances of both events that lead to it. They have also been provided with the necessary evidence of my previous suicide attempts, self harm and the hospital admissions caused by my panic attacks that caused me to collapse and hit my head and the one caused by an attack developing into a seizure (which by the way were all witnessed)
This thread has taught me a lot of things- there's a lot of very judgemental people out there but one thing I do know is that it doesn't seem to have affected my ESA. MR is being requested with supporting documentation although I'm pretty sure that some of you think it will fail again!
Thanks to everyone who offered useful information.
MrsR

I was so sorry to hear that you had been turned down. It must be so difficult to suffer with mental health problems - particularly since so few people can understand what you have to go through on a daily basis. Being a hidden illness makes too many people even doubt its existence which is so wrong. I empathise with you and with others going through the same or similar - it is all so wrong and, imo, this whole system only seems to make existing problems / difficulties so much worse due to the additional stress, etc. Good luck with your MR and ignore the 'uneducated' ones on here, luckily the majority of people on this forum can empathise and are happy to help and advise. x

Indie_Kid

Are you keeping a diary of the needs you have?

Mrs_Ryan

Hi Indie- I'm writing down my good and bad days and comparing what I'm doing on both although there's more bad than good at the minute

Torry_Quine

Mrs_Ryan I have nothing to say but that I hope you have success in getting the help you need both financially and medically.