SA and Disability

[fhoadv]

Hi everyone!

I would like to know if any of you claim (or are thinking of claiming) disability allowance or benefits due to your SA or depression. Was it difficult? If not, is it possible?

I'm giving up!

I'm getting tired of the struggle and the suffering I'm going through every day. I'm thinking of quitting university and accept that I can't function around people. (the past two weeks I have already missed half the lectures because SA).

Please live your comments.

Thanks.

[Zombie Sheep]

Originally Posted by fhoadv

Hi everyone!

I would like to know if any of you claim disability allowance or benefits due to your SA or depression. Was it difficult? If not, is it possible?

I'm giving up!

I'm getting tired of the struggle and the suffering I'm going through every day. I'm thinking of quitting university and accept that I can't function around people. (the past two weeks I have already missed half the lectures because SA).

Please live your comments and share your experiences.

Thanks.

Hi! I claimed disability for a few years - my social worker (I was being seen by the NHS mental health services in England) basically nagged them into giving me it. Over here you need a doctor's note at the very least, and that's still not always enough. Having a mental health professional backing you up helps a lot - because they can send off nagging letters and basically hassle the social into paying up. Ker-ching!

But I wouldn't encourage you to give up uni. Easy for me to say, but think about your future. I bailed out of uni for the same reasons, and I've regretted it ever since (currently unemployed and scrounging off the social). Of course, I don't know how bad your situation is - I'd just encourage you to take this decision VERY seriously, and not do anything hasty.

[fhoadv]

Thanks Zombie Sheep!

I might just take a year off or less until I can get some kind of help.

I recently started taking escitalopram and pregabaline and I will wait to see if they help.

I also live in England and I'm struggling with the NHS. I asked to see a psychiatrist because my GP has run out of options to help me. Every time I ask to see a psyc. they refer me to CBT (which I already did and doesn't help at all). So, I had to pay for a private one.

Anyway, thanks again for your reply.

[Zombie Sheep]

Originally Posted by fhoadv

Thanks Zombie Sheep!

I might just take a year off or less until I can get some kind of help.

I recently started taking escitalopram and pregabaline and I will wait to see if they help.

I also live in England and I'm struggling with the NHS. I asked to see a psychiatrist because my GP has run out of options to help me. Every time I ask to see a psyc. they refer me to CBT (which I already did and doesn't help at all). So, I had to pay for a private one.

Anyway, thanks again for your reply.

Taking a year off sounds like a good idea, if you can do that and still resume your course. If that's the case, then go for it! No reason you should have to suffer. I was just worried you'd give up on your education, that's all.

My experience of the NHS was that I'd see psychs and get meds, and I briefly had a social worker making sure I did my laundry, kept my nose clean etc. Never had CBT though.

I don't know about those meds you mentioned (I'm on venlafaxine, which is alright but not great) - but I hope they help.

Good luck!

[fhoadv]

Originally Posted by Zombie Sheep

Taking a year off sounds like a good idea, if you can do that and still resume your course. If that's the case, then go for it! No reason you should have to suffer. I was just worried you'd give up on your education, that's all.

My experience of the NHS was that I'd see psychs and get meds, and I briefly had a social worker making sure I did my laundry, kept my nose clean etc. Never had CBT though.

I don't know about those meds you mentioned (I'm on venlafaxine, which is alright but not great) - but I hope they help.

Good luck!

Did you claim disability just because your SA or do also suffer from something else that agravages your situation? If you don't mind me asking.

Thanks.

[Kush]

i plan on collecting disability when I move out, theres no way im working a most likely 9-10/hr job without having something else backing me up

[secretlyshecries]

If I depended on myself, I would probably be on some sort of disability allowance. Unfortunately my dad has some health problems that I know for a fact he dramatizes, so if I were to go on a similar allowance, the rest of my family would think I was lying just like him.

[Zombie Sheep]

Originally Posted by fhoadv

Did you claim disability just because your SA or do also suffer from something else that agravages your situation? If you don't mind me asking.

Thanks.

At the time - no! Nowadays I actually have a better claim, due to my diagnosis of major depression, but I want to look for a job (I'm on Jobseekers) because any time out of work will REALLY mess up your career. I had to do loads of voluntary work just to get back into the workplace. Employers are *not* understanding about gaps in a CV due to mental health, so I need to minimise the time I spend out of work - even though working last time caused me to constantly self-harm and seriously contemplate suicide.

If you suffer panic attacks - then SA will probably get you disability benefits. If not, then they might be harder to get. Like I say, being referred to the NHS mental health will help a *lot* as they will put in a word for you.

Hope all this helps!

[fhoadv]

Originally Posted by Zombie Sheep

At the time - no! Nowadays I actually have a better claim, due to my diagnosis of major depression, but I want to look for a job (I'm on Jobseekers) because any time out of work will REALLY mess up your career. I had to do loads of voluntary work just to get back into the workplace. Employers are *not* understanding about gaps in a CV due to mental health, so I need to minimise the time I spend out of work - even though working last time caused me to constantly self-harm and seriously contemplate suicide.

If you suffer panic attacks - then SA will probably get you disability benefits. If not, then they might be harder to get. Like I say, being referred to the NHS mental health will help a *lot* as they will put in a word for you.

Hope all this helps!

Sorry for being nosy, but how long have you been depressed? Are you taking any antidepressant? Do they help?

I'm asking because I met a guy who had been suffering with depression for nearly 10 years and couldn't work because of it. The main feature of his depression was severe anxiety. After running out of options to treat him his psyc. referred him to have Deep Brain Stimulation surgery as his depression was classed as treatment resistant. I'm not sure but I think that your depression doesn't have to be treatment resistant as long as it keeps coming back often. I'm telling you this because the guy who had it got his life back and said was the best think he has done.

I'm thinking about it myself in case my depression doesn't lift up.

Another alternative would be Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (this one you don't need surgery but the results are not as good as DBS)

Anyway, I know it's going to be hard to convince the NHS that something like this should be done by them (if they are doing it already) but you should try if you want to be able to enjoy life again. It might not help with your SA but will help a lot your depression and anxiety.

No one should go through this suffering.

I wish you all the best!

[meyaj]

It's been suggested to my by a psychiatrist I consulted with a few weeks ago. My parents are supporting me and all I feel is guilty because of it, and the household makes too much money to really get any help with all the prescriptions. If I were to personally go on disability, I'd get the additional benefit of having my medications covered for the most part, which is why he suggested it.

I'm not sure about the implications of going on disability, whether or not it can have a negative impact on your future, ability to find a job, etc. I meet with my social worker on Thursday and I figure of anyone, she'll be able to answer any questions I might have, so we'll see.

Even if I do go for it, I don't see it as a permanent solution. I'd like to get to the level where I can go back to school and succeed, but at this point I don't know how long that will be, if ever...

I don't really think it's healthy to be giving up and looking at disability as a viable alternative to the struggle of making it in the real world. Believe me, I know it's hard, I'm on my 2nd year of a "break" from school, but if you resign yourself to a life on disability and don't set any real goals for your treatment to improve your quality of life, you have almost zero chance of ever being a happy person.