Terror Gorilla
21-03-17, 11:36
I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Seán. I'm 41 and I've had severe anxiety for years. For the past five of them I've been housebound with agoraphobia. I'm presently being chewed up by the DWP system, who, after nearly a year of keeping me on the assessment rate of ESA, have now placed me into the WRAG. I only know this because this morning I have received a letter telling me to attend an appointment or be sanctioned.
My doctor suggested I join a forum (her words to me when I told her I needed more support than I was getting: "I'm a doctor not a social worker") to speak to other people in a similar situation. I'm on 100mg Sertraline daily and Diazepam as required. I've been referred from IAPT to my CMHT and they have referred me for psychiatric evaluation but, as this cannot be conducted at my home, I keep putting it back in the hope that a miracle will happen and I'll be able to go outside.
I'm in a real bind: I can't access the help I need but without the help I need I can't get outside. I'm also on the waiting list for counselling with Mind and I've approached the CAB for help from their advocacy service but in both situations I'm told it could take "weeks, if not months". Ideally I could do with somebody coming here a couple of times a week and helping me make the first steps outside. I did have a support worker through Shelter but now I'm no longer in danger of becoming homeless that stopped. Unfortunately I don't have any family (my mother is very elderly and lives in supported accomodation a long way away) and my small circle of friends disappeared long ago. What a mess.
Apart from that I'm happy to be here. Thanks for having me.
My doctor suggested I join a forum (her words to me when I told her I needed more support than I was getting: "I'm a doctor not a social worker") to speak to other people in a similar situation. I'm on 100mg Sertraline daily and Diazepam as required. I've been referred from IAPT to my CMHT and they have referred me for psychiatric evaluation but, as this cannot be conducted at my home, I keep putting it back in the hope that a miracle will happen and I'll be able to go outside.
I'm in a real bind: I can't access the help I need but without the help I need I can't get outside. I'm also on the waiting list for counselling with Mind and I've approached the CAB for help from their advocacy service but in both situations I'm told it could take "weeks, if not months". Ideally I could do with somebody coming here a couple of times a week and helping me make the first steps outside. I did have a support worker through Shelter but now I'm no longer in danger of becoming homeless that stopped. Unfortunately I don't have any family (my mother is very elderly and lives in supported accomodation a long way away) and my small circle of friends disappeared long ago. What a mess.
Apart from that I'm happy to be here. Thanks for having me.