Now that our boy Bo is going into his dotage all of a sudden he has started to take notice of the TV especially if there are any dogs on. He has never paid the slightest attention to it before. Perhaps because his sight is failing he can make things out now. If he spies a dog he goes quite mad and tries to climb into the set.
Well that’s the pleasantries over and I’m going to have a rant, so those of you of a nervous disposition turn off now. I told you a while ago that I had to have a medical assessment for my clinical depression and that they subsequently stopped my benefit. Well I made a written appeal and was turned down again. They wrote on 16th March telling me, and that it will now go to tribunal and that they would be in touch. Having heard nothing I’ve just telephoned. Due to reorganisation all tribunal business has been transferred to South Devon. I could be waiting for 6 months just to get a date. She’s checking and ringing me back. I don’t find this very satisfactory. I’m stressing quite badly about it all. As you know I’m back on the Prozac and sleeping tablets and it’s always somewhere nagging away at the back of my mind. I’ve contacted the charity ‘Mind’ twice – no reply, I’ve contacted my MP – no reply. I’m still submitting sicknotes and copies of my prescriptions, and to the best of my knowledge they have never contacted my GP for any history. I could bang on about having paid tax and national insurance all my working life, yadda yadda, but what good will that do? The good news is this site is taking my mind off things for a bit every day so please bear with me if you think I’m overdoing it. I’m treating it as therapy.
Well that’s the pleasantries over and I’m going to have a rant, so those of you of a nervous disposition turn off now. I told you a while ago that I had to have a medical assessment for my clinical depression and that they subsequently stopped my benefit. Well I made a written appeal and was turned down again. They wrote on 16th March telling me, and that it will now go to tribunal and that they would be in touch. Having heard nothing I’ve just telephoned. Due to reorganisation all tribunal business has been transferred to South Devon. I could be waiting for 6 months just to get a date. She’s checking and ringing me back. I don’t find this very satisfactory. I’m stressing quite badly about it all. As you know I’m back on the Prozac and sleeping tablets and it’s always somewhere nagging away at the back of my mind. I’ve contacted the charity ‘Mind’ twice – no reply, I’ve contacted my MP – no reply. I’m still submitting sicknotes and copies of my prescriptions, and to the best of my knowledge they have never contacted my GP for any history. I could bang on about having paid tax and national insurance all my working life, yadda yadda, but what good will that do? The good news is this site is taking my mind off things for a bit every day so please bear with me if you think I’m overdoing it. I’m treating it as therapy.
20 comments:
Don't worry Toady, when Madame Grognonne comes back from Carcassonne sorting Sally'sChateauy out I shall send her over to South Devon, I'd like to see them mess with her so don't fret. Meanwhile, gets some bachs rescue remedy and eat plenty of foods high in Faty acids and fish oil (see http://www.depression-help-for-you.com/diet-for-depression.html)
Chin up we are here for you, you can count on us..promise.
Oh Toady, I do feel for you caught up in the mindless spin of beaurocracy. Can't believe Mind haven't got back to you. We give them money every month - we're not donating to let them ignore people in need I hope. Good luck and keep the pressure up with the council, MPs etc, it's awful that you have to become a nuisance in order for anything to be done, but you do. xxx
Hi toady - like you I started this for therapy - well physio actually on mangled arm - and here I am some 4 months into sick leave waiting for an operation and I think I have time to write an epic! Wont take up space with the mess so far but between us we could put the world to rights I'm sure. Keep 0n blogging - it really is good for you....honest!
Glad the blogging is helping. I feel very cross on your behalf. Especially can't believe that MIND haven't got back to you. If it helps at all, remember in the dark hours of the night that there is a little (well quite a big) gang of people all rooting for you and trying to banish those lurking demons for you.
Good grief, that's enough to make you depressed if you weren't already. Benefits lot Pah!!
Great photo of dogs watching TV, beth does occasionally take interest too, if a dog barks on TV
What a blow for you. I have been there Toady!! Why do we feel we have to jump through hoops?? What makes me cross is when you go out into any supermarket/shopping centre carparks disabled bay and see the malingerers getting out of their cars, THATS what makes me cross!!
Don't really know what to suggest except keep trying Mind and badgering benefits dept!!
Hang in there and you blog when you need to. We have all been there on blogging for therapy. And we are there for you now and whenever you need us...
warmest wishes
xx
hello toady its dreadfull they never seem to understand do they im here any time for chat i do like the photo my mums dog tries to chase cats on the tv and stands there barking at them take care my friend x jep
You rant and blog away as much as you like girl! What a disgraceful and shabby state of affairs, you have clearly been very badly let down by the system. We are all behind you here. I think you should bang on about having paid tax and NI your whole life, it might help to relieve some of the stress to get it off your chest - I really feel for you, and the last thing you need is more stress!
It is good to let off steam somewhere, like you say it makes no difference to the bloody beaurocrats that make these descisions from their nice comfy offices and homes, but you need to do it. 6 months is a rediculous time to wait and I would love to say it suprises me but unfortunately what's new.
We're here for you Toady, never fear. Re., approaching your local MP; my friend had a somewhat similar problem and banged on doors, wrote letters. She eventually wrote to her MP at his parliamentary office, not his constituency, and got a reply. She is now successfully sorted. Mind you there are a lot of geese with featherless wings around here, the price of quills went up 25%. So, try writing to your local MP in London...might just do the trick.
I'm horrified that you aren't getting any support, toady. really horrified. How very dare they (to coin a phrase used somewhere around here?!!).
OK, now you probably know all this anyhow but I found this interesting.......
Dr Kathleen DesMoins, addictive nutrition expert and author of The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Programme (Simon & Schuster, £10) claims that many people with depression are, in fact, sugar sensitive. In other words, their body chemistry reacts in extreme ways to sugar, alcohol and refined carbohydrates such as pasta and white bread. These common comfort foods directly alter the balance of two key brain chemicals, serotonin and beta-endorphin. The key, she says, is to reduce or eliminate all sugars (including alcohol - ah, now there's the problem!!!) from your diet. In addition, you need to move your diet towards one that is made up of complex carbohydrate (vegetables, pulses, “brown” rice etc) and protein (lean meat, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts, seeds). There is, as yet, little clinical research to prove this hypothesis but, as the guidelines suggested are sensible and healthy, it might be well worth trying.
Supplements
There is increasing evidence to show that many cases of depression may be linked with deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, usually the B vitamins, selenium and magnesium.
Another deficiency can occur with amino acids, the building blocks that make up protein. Key amino acids include methionine, tryptophan and phenylalanine. 5-HTP, a supplement containing a form of tryptophan has been shown to be as effective as many antidepressants. SAMe (a form of methionine) has also been affective in alleviating depression in some people. But, as Un peu says, perhaps the most exciting development is that of the role played by the Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular EPA (ethyl-eicosapentaenoate). Population studies have shown that the less Omega-3 is eaten, the higher the prevalence of depression. A study in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that depression was reduced significantly when volunteers took fish oil supplements containing a gram of EPA for 12 weeks.
God, sorry, went off on one there.... Just wish your GP was more helpful and supportive. You really need someone who will knuckle down and ferret out the root causes - which, as all the above shows, are not necessarily psychological at all. Grrrrr, it makes me SOOOOO cross.
But, as the others have said, we are all here.....and I am not even that far away.....SO if you need to talk, email me and I can easily pick up a phone or dash over....
jxxxxxxxxx
Poor you Toady - i have flown over with your angel card and I hope it will help. Thinking of you, and choosing it at 22.08 2/5 and it is 'openness'. Hmm, the longer explanation says 'Let go of predetermined outcomes and guarded responses. Move with receptivity and readiness to change'.
Take care Toady, thinking of you tonight.
so sorry to hear of all your trouble. we have had depression in our family and know how it overwhelms. dont know if you have already tried this but Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) seemed one of the few things that really helped.
blogging is easy and free so also great scheme! can see how much you know about gardening and always find gardening wonderfully therapeutic although as i am not a depression sufferer that might not mean much. most important thing seems to be looking after yourself and making sure you do the things that make you feel good!
We are here to talk and listen. Keep up the battle Toady, I have helped several people to get their dues - its all in the wording - you must stress what you cant do, and not what you can. You have everyone's support here I feel sure. love mousie
Hi Toady - I read your blog earlier and went away to have a think - I was going to suggest contacting your local citizens advice and writing to your local MP. Very surprised at Mind.
Writing letters and standing up for yourself is probably the last thing you feel like doing when you are down.
Jane has a very good point with the suger. Friend of mine fought off depression with Vit B complex.
Let us know how you get on - on a daily basis. Hopefully one of us will come up with something that will help.
Your Doctor should be able to help you with some sort of counselling.
We are all thinking of you.
Isn't the purple room a soothing place to be at times ?I'm sorry your local GP does not seem much help and although I know you must be feeling terribly fed up keep badgering your local MP with regards to your benefit,keep on writing Toady ! x
Hello Toady - so glad that this place feels safe and supportive to you too. What a frustrating thing the whole bureaucratic mess must be for you. I hope that there is some sort of further appeal.
I am so glad the blooging help, my mind is so full of my friend Lesley at the moment she is so very ill and I can't stop thinking about her, when I am messing about at Purplecoombe I find an hour has gone without worrying about what I can't change.
Love Blossom
Hi Toady,
I've only just seen this. If good wishes could help you'd be better in no time. Hope you get what you need soon.
This makes me wild Toady. Honestly, ask the sick, the disabled about New Labour's ten years in power and yu get a pretty bleak picture. the politics are horrednous.
Labour is determined to get as many people off benefits as possible , following on from the Tories, who originally brought in the giant American multi-national medical Insurance firm, UnumProvident, that now virtually runs the Department of Work and Pensions, having been given extraordinary free reign under Blair.
This corporate take over of society is beginning to raise more than a few concerns - but still goes mostly unnoticed.Except when you are down here and are so grossly affected by it. The good news is that most appeals are successful.
Absolutely you keep fighting. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with you.
Solidarity.
Post a Comment