Mental Health and Lock Down

TheChimp spot on most people think its a trend

TheChimp I suffer server anxiety and depression but don’t claim any benefits, I have zoom meeting with my counsellor and on medication from my doctor. I haven’t left my house since the first lockdown. I’m so lucky I’ve got a loving and thoughtful husband.

I would try and claim some help but get an anxiety attack about the thought of paper work .

But as you say I hate people using it as an excuse because it’s an awful condition and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

hrdaniels1980 Fortunately you are getting help and support, unfortunately there are many who are suffering mental health problems who get neither and are derided by some who think because they can't see it it doesn't exist, or think those who do claim to have problems are doing it for benefits, they don't even realise that it is very difficult to hoodwink the medically qualified practioners who diagnose it.

Incidentally the inability to cope with paper work is a reasonably common symptom, it might help if you don't worry too much about slight errors, nobody really cares if you don't get things perfect, I feel sure your counsellor will agree if you discuss it.

Best wishes

TheChimp Totally agree. In recent years it's become easier and more acceptable to discuss mental health, which is fantastic, but sadly that has led to people who don't suffer from these things claiming they do, either for benefits as you say or just for attention, sympathy, etc.

angelik Mental health issues weren't a thing back in the day and you were just seen as weak.

The problem now is that a lot of people who can't address real life issues are suddenly depressed and have anxiety problems when it's just the norm.

TheChimp each successive generation has had it better than the one before. Because of this they cannot cope when hardship comes. We have wrapped our kids in cotton wool and they find it hard to deal with even mild problems. This will get worse with future generations until we teach our kids resilience. I am not dismissing genuine mental health concerns and things like schizophrenia, bi polar etc just those who indulge in pity parties and the poor old me syndrome. Often, caring for others ahead of yourself and appreciating what you have can work wonders.

Lynibis And another thing is that people who really have deep depression won't tell anyone, so that is a problem. They just don't want to stress anyone else out.

It's all well and good telling people to talk about it, but when you're in the darkest places, that's the last thing you want to do because talking about it takes you back there.

TheChimp this annoys me too. I have bipolar and my aunts been claiming she has had it for years, she never worked a day in her life ànd has a history of claiming she has everything wrong with her in order to gt everything and I cant get a single thing.

chelseaturpin Some people just know how to work the system.

Someone in my family flat out lied saying that he had dyslexia and (maybe) autism. He got full PIP without the DWP getting any proper evidence from experts. The bloke took a written exam in carpentry with no problem when he was in college, so how is he suddenly dyslexic?

I heard about the crap that he put on his claim form, but he got away with it.

And then there's people like yourself who are totally overlooked because they do everything above the board.