I have been very ill in the past and still occasionally get very obsessive thoughts about various conspiracies theories but overall I am managing better. I overly worry about losing my benefits and my support staff. Before I was ill I was so lonely with no friends. I worry about if I’m seen as well I will lose my benefits and become homeless.
My pdoc says I have catastrophic thinking.
My dream is to travel to India again on my own but I’m worried if I do I will be seen as too well and I will be refused benefits.
My care team and pdoc are enthusiastic about me travelling and think it will do me good. I have a meeting on the 31st May to discuss going to India in December. My pdoc says not to worry, there is going to be lots of safeguards in place and the benefit people can’t stop my benefits because I have a fluctuating condition and I have worked towards it for some years and I should just go and enjoy myself.
I think my team are supportive about me going to India because they know how much I want it and have willing had my depot without fuss and only missed it occasionally by accident.
I’m sorry that this is taking away from what sounds like a very wonderful experience. If it helps, I think most doctors understand the difference between stable and cured. Even if you are doing well it doesn’t mean you stop needing the support structure. It doesn’t’ mean you stop being a sz. And I hope those around you know that.
Have you mentioned this fear to your therapist? What did he or she say?
This is true. However it is the government which dictates via the DWP whether people are ill enough to deserve disability benefits. When it comes to that they will take an inch of doing better to push the position that people are well enough to come off benefits. The reality for honest and intelligent people is that there is a gulf between doing better and being fit enough not to need benefits and social support. The worry that being seen to be doing better will be used against you is a very real fear for many of us. Witness @anon20613941 fear on another thread re socialising with a friend and the possibility of losing benefits because of it.
The government has an active policy via the DWP of trying to find the slightest excuse for denying benefits to disabled people.
It used to be that doctors and medical professionals had a big say in how disabled a person was seen to be for the purpose of benefits, but those days have long gone.
Whilst they can provide evidence of disability it is DWP people who usually know little about disability and its effects that get to decide whether someone is a genuine case or not .
I am completely stable and have beeen for years…I still get reviewed and I tell them my concentration won’t allow me to work and it’s true so they leave me alone…just because you’re stable doesn’t mean they will take your benefits away…please stay on your meds.