unspoken
24-08-10, 22:18
Hi everyone
I haven't been around here for a little while. Here's a brief outline of my situation:
- I have suffered with GAD for a number of years, it got particularly bad about 3 years ago
- I'm 22 years old and graduated from university just over a year ago.
- I was working full time and had a long commute but I had a breakdown last November/December - anxiety and severe depression.
- I left my job and my GP put me on anti-depressants in December 2009
- I did nothing for a few months except felt awful. I've been gradually recovering. In March 2010 I began volunteering in a charity shop.
- I've been volunteering since, but I can only manage 3 afternoons a week - about 12-15 hours. I have also started to learn to drive.
- I get tired very easily. I have anxiety, depression, insomnia, IBS and GORD (acid reflux). I am on 4 medications plus sleeping pills as needed.
- I am scared of heights and get anxious in many modern office buildings. I also get very anxious making telephone calls and commuting.
- I had 3 sessions of CBT on the NHS, which I had to wait 6 months for.
I'm better than I was and I'd like to consider taking on some part time work. I feel that I'd benefit from some help and advice, such as on how much to disclose about why I've not been working for the past 9 months and how much to disclose about my mental health problems. Also I feel I lack confidence and have no idea what kind of job I might like to do. I'd like to work though for my own self esteem, to prove to myself that I can do it.
I'm not currently claiming any benefits. I live with my parents and have some savings which I have been living on.
Does anyone have any advice about where to go for help, bearing in mind that I'm not on jobseekers and haven't applied for DSA or incapacity benefit? Would the Job Centre help me? Should I put in a claim for a benefit in order to get help? I'd appreciate any advice or experiences anyone has about it.
I haven't been around here for a little while. Here's a brief outline of my situation:
- I have suffered with GAD for a number of years, it got particularly bad about 3 years ago
- I'm 22 years old and graduated from university just over a year ago.
- I was working full time and had a long commute but I had a breakdown last November/December - anxiety and severe depression.
- I left my job and my GP put me on anti-depressants in December 2009
- I did nothing for a few months except felt awful. I've been gradually recovering. In March 2010 I began volunteering in a charity shop.
- I've been volunteering since, but I can only manage 3 afternoons a week - about 12-15 hours. I have also started to learn to drive.
- I get tired very easily. I have anxiety, depression, insomnia, IBS and GORD (acid reflux). I am on 4 medications plus sleeping pills as needed.
- I am scared of heights and get anxious in many modern office buildings. I also get very anxious making telephone calls and commuting.
- I had 3 sessions of CBT on the NHS, which I had to wait 6 months for.
I'm better than I was and I'd like to consider taking on some part time work. I feel that I'd benefit from some help and advice, such as on how much to disclose about why I've not been working for the past 9 months and how much to disclose about my mental health problems. Also I feel I lack confidence and have no idea what kind of job I might like to do. I'd like to work though for my own self esteem, to prove to myself that I can do it.
I'm not currently claiming any benefits. I live with my parents and have some savings which I have been living on.
Does anyone have any advice about where to go for help, bearing in mind that I'm not on jobseekers and haven't applied for DSA or incapacity benefit? Would the Job Centre help me? Should I put in a claim for a benefit in order to get help? I'd appreciate any advice or experiences anyone has about it.