Advice needed regarding Mandatory work experience

Flyonthewall

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I think the voluntary organisation have found something that involves working at their office a few hours per week, so I've got that opportunity. They also say that whilst I'm there, they will not put pressure on me to do anything I don't feel up to doing.

That's good then. Sounds a great opportunity.

I'm not trying to make an excuse, as I explained to the advisor. I told him that social anxiety has always been the reason why I'm out of work.

Yeah, but while you understand how you feel and why it's a reason not just an excuse he probably doesn't see it the same way. However much you explain only you know how you feel. He can try and empathise, but he doesn't have the anxiety and so in the same situation he wouldn't be saying the same.

I'm hoping that doing voluntary work will help me because I'm trying to get back out there but it's really difficult. I was on medication for years and it didn't have a lot of effect, so I stopped taking them because I don't really want to have to rely on that.
It sounds like voluntary work has really helped you.

It is difficult, but worth it. I see. Well I totally understand not wanting to rely on it, but it might be an idea to go back to your GP and see if there's some other medication you can take as it sounds as though what you were on before wasn't really right for you.

Medication might help get you out there in the first place and then when you feel settled somewhere and realise you can do it and there's nothing to be anxious of you can (gradually) come off the medication.

If you don't already I'd suggest making sure you get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water and don't have too much sugar, alcohol or caffeine as that should help with the anxiety. Also exercise is good and lavendar is supposed to be calming so if you can find some lavendar things that may help too. Little things like that can make a big difference.

Overall, think positive. Don't worry about the advisor, just focus on getting a volunteering position. If you have another meeting with him before anything is confirmed with the volunteer position you mentioned try and make it sound like a sure thing and inform him that you'll be contacting them very soon to move forward with it (and make sure to actually follow through with that because you do want volunteer).

If he says anything on it only being a few hours state that it still looks good on your CV, it allows you to still have plenty of time to job search and it may lead to more hours, possibly paid, later on. Hopefully he'll drop the MWA thing then.

ineed

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I've been to see psychologists and counsellors regarding it and tried cbt and it hasn't worked at all. I don't think it does for everybody. That's the thing, I realise that I need to do something but going on the MWA after having been out of work for so long, is too much, especially if it's working in a shop, which is what I think he mentioned. Anyway, I explained to him about a month ago, that going on the MWA would be too much at the moment. I was on ESA but they refused it after the interview with ATOS. I am now on Job Seekers Allowance.

If you don't mind my asking, how long ago was your interview with ATOS? Did you appeal the decision at all?

Have you ever tried any medication to help with the anxiety symptoms? I'm not a doctor and can't recommend anything but medication really helps in my experience, or perhaps a more intensive CBT program. It might be worth having a talk with your GP.

Volunteer work is a great start, I wish you luck with it.

Edit: sorry I see you have tried some medication, I'd still say have a chat with your GP about how you feel and maybe he can suggest something better for you. There is also a phone number to a mental health charity I can give you if you'd like, they are someone to talk to when the anxiety is getting to you and staffed by fellow sufferers.

patman99

Op, to apease the advisor, accept a MWA placement. As long as you quit within the first week, the Jobcentre cannot legally sanction you as a High Court ruling stated that in order to comply, such schemes had to be voluntary for the first week.

Stay beyond this first week, and you can be sanctioned.

DKLS

Andrea2528 wrote: »

It seems to have worked well for you but I've tried cbt and it didn't work at all. I've been to see more than one counsellor and at least two psychologists.

All I can say is keep trying there are many kinds of psychotherapy and you need to discover which one is a fit for you, resources are constantly being developed and evaluated, techniques tweaked and improved. Ultimately its down to you to take control and not let your anxiety control you.

Try other psychologists, what branch of psychology where the two from?, perhaps its worth exploring other avenues of psychotherapy such as the Human Givens approach or Mindfulness. Have a look here for a guide to the different types.

Andrea2528

Flyonthewall wrote: »

That's good then. Sounds a great opportunity.



Yeah, but while you understand how you feel and why it's a reason not just an excuse he probably doesn't see it the same way. However much you explain only you know how you feel. He can try and empathise, but he doesn't have the anxiety and so in the same situation he wouldn't be saying the same.



It is difficult, but worth it. I see. Well I totally understand not wanting to rely on it, but it might be an idea to go back to your GP and see if there's some other medication you can take as it sounds as though what you were on before wasn't really right for you.

Medication might help get you out there in the first place and then when you feel settled somewhere and realise you can do it and there's nothing to be anxious of you can (gradually) come off the medication.

If you don't already I'd suggest making sure you get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water and don't have too much sugar, alcohol or caffeine as that should help with the anxiety. Also exercise is good and lavendar is supposed to be calming so if you can find some lavendar things that may help too. Little things like that can make a big difference.

Overall, think positive. Don't worry about the advisor, just focus on getting a volunteering position. If you have another meeting with him before anything is confirmed with the volunteer position you mentioned try and make it sound like a sure thing and inform him that you'll be contacting them very soon to move forward with it (and make sure to actually follow through with that because you do want volunteer).

If he says anything on it only being a few hours state that it still looks good on your CV, it allows you to still have plenty of time to job search and it may lead to more hours, possibly paid, later on. Hopefully he'll drop the MWA thing then.

I'll tell him that I've found a placement but I'm not sure he'll accept it because of his attitude at the previous meeting. Surely, the important thing is that I'm making an effort to alter my situation in all of this? Thanks, appreciate the advice.

Andrea2528

ineed wrote: »

If you don't mind my asking, how long ago was your interview with ATOS? Did you appeal the decision at all?

Have you ever tried any medication to help with the anxiety symptoms? I'm not a doctor and can't recommend anything but medication really helps in my experience, or perhaps a more intensive CBT program. It might be worth having a talk with your GP.

Volunteer work is a great start, I wish you luck with it.

Edit: sorry I see you have tried some medication, I'd still say have a chat with your GP about how you feel and maybe he can suggest something better for you. There is also a phone number to a mental health charity I can give you if you'd like, they are someone to talk to when the anxiety is getting to you and staffed by fellow sufferers.

The ATOS meeting was last year and I tried to appeal after that but was unsuccessful. I am in a situation where going to work feels too much but I realise that I have to do something about my situation though. Perhaps the phone number would be helpful also.

Andrea2528

patman99 wrote: »

Op, to apease the advisor, accept a MWA placement. As long as you quit within the first week, the Jobcentre cannot legally sanction you as a High Court ruling stated that in order to comply, such schemes had to be voluntary for the first week.

Stay beyond this first week, and you can be sanctioned.

Can you please explain more about this? It would be appreciated.

missbiggles1

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I need some advice regarding mandatory work activity. I've got a very unpleasant personal advisor who is threatening to place me on the MWA. I've been on ESA a while as a result of having social anxiety which makes it very difficult to work alongside other people. I explained this to the Personal advisor and he was trying to show that he understood but the when I next went to sign on, he seemed to have gone back to showing a lack of consideration.

I had previously explained to him that I would prefer to do voluntary work in preference to the Mandatory work experience because it might provide an opportunity for someone like me to try out various work environments without feeling the pressure to stay in one place. I told him that this would be the best approach for someone with my social anxiety condition. He seemed to agree with it as long as I started to sort things out. I rang the voluntary organisation in our area, who are trying to find something suitable. I told the personal advisor about this and then his attitude had completely changed from the previous fortnight when he seemed to be happy with me looking for a voluntary position. The first thing he said was that he was going to place me on the MWA. I couldn't believe what he was saying. The previous fortnight he seemed to agree to me doing voluntary work instead. Any advice about what I should do as this is really worrying me and I'm getting really agitated and very depressed about everything?

If it's been more than a couple of weeks and nothing's happening at your end, he probably thinks you're just stalling. Have you made any enquiries for yourself re volunteer placements or are you just leaving it all to the voluntary organisation?

Andrea2528

DKLS wrote: »

All I can say is keep trying there are many kinds of psychotherapy and you need to discover which one is a fit for you, resources are constantly being developed and evaluated, techniques tweaked and improved. Ultimately its down to you to take control and not let your anxiety control you.

Try other psychologists, what branch of psychology where the two from?, perhaps its worth exploring other avenues of psychotherapy such as the Human Givens approach or Mindfulness. Have a look here for a guide to the different types.

I've tried various psychologists on the NHS and they don't seem to understand how the problem affects me. Every one that I saw, weren't that knowledgeable about how social anxiety affects someone. It is a different to general anxiety.

ineed

Andrea2528 wrote: »

The ATOS meeting was last year and I tried to appeal after that but was unsuccessful. I am in a situation where going to work feels too much but I realise that I have to do something about my situation though. Perhaps the phone number would be helpful also.

I've heard many people have had problems with ATOS, I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'll PM you a link to the charity homepage I've found them very helpful in the past, the helpline number is at the top of the page.