Generalised anxiety disorder, turned down for PIP...is it worth MR and how do I get evidence??

alasia

Hi.  I was diagnosed in 2014 with generalised anxiety disorder, what prompted the visit to the GP was that I ended up basically harassing my then boyfriend and was arrested, he also got a restraining order against me, I then realised my reaction to being dumped wasn't 'normal', hence visiting my GP and then being referred to a Psychologist (Psychiatrist? Apologies, am unsure which is which) and obtaining my diagnosis.

I was put on Propanolol as I also get palpitations which may be related to either the anxiety, or the fact I also have a 'flappy' mitral valve, and also Citalopram.

The trouble is, I've never stayed on my meds for more than a few months at a time, because eventually once I run out of my tablets, part of me thinks "I can cope without" and also booking an appointment with the GP fills me with dread.  Eventually, after two months, three months, a year (the length of time varies), I force myself to make the appointment, go and get told off by the GP for not coming back sooner, get a month's worth of meds and am told to come back for a review after 6 weeks - then the whole cycle starts over again as I can't go back.

I've had one very short course of CBT and that's it with regards to mental health services.

I'm extremely socially anxious, don't work (I've run out of the last few jobs I had due to some minor thing happening and me being unable to cope), sit in the house all day feeling awful about myself and jump away from the window if my next door neighbour appears in her front garden. If I need to go outside to put the bins out, for example, I simply can't if anyone is outside (if I open the door and step outside, then see someone, I instinctively run back inside - it's like a flight or fight type feeling - and look through the window until they're gone and I can quickly go and put the bins out).
  
That's just a few of my issues, obviously there are loads more like I can't cook due to the stress of it, can't use public transport, scream at my children (accidentally!) if they go too close to a bin outside, anywhere I go basically that is out of the house, my partner has to go with me or I can't do it, and even then it's only for very short bursts and I'm always at risk of having a meltdown or panic attack and having to leave wherever we are. I feel pathetic.

Anyway,  I have no proof of any of the above, apart from my say-so.  I had a telephone pip assessment about 2 weeks ago and had what I can only describe as a panic attack for the first 2 minutes, it was completely unexpected and I couldn't catch my breath, but I forced myself to calm down and then continued the rest of the call.

I got my decision letter, which didn't mention the panic attack, said I was calm and collected, cheerful and demonstrated good cognitive and memory skills by being able to remember dates and going into a good level of detail about my experiences.
  Zero on everything.

I'm broken.  How can I challenge this?  Should I even bother??

I have no evidence of anything; even requesting my medical history apparently requires me to go into the GP surgery with photo ID, which I just can't do! I just about managed the phonecall to ask about my medical history, as it was!

Sorry this is getting so long, I guess I'm asking where on earth I start with challenging this - I can't even bring myself to phone for the copy of the report!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

alasia

Sorry, just wanted to say, the other reasons for being turned down were that I had no one with me during the assessment (I'd quite clearly told the assessor that my partner was downstairs, I had come upstairs as I can't speak on the phone with anyone around me) and that despite saying I have decision paralysis, can't manage money or make budgeting decisions, I CAN clearly manage money as I pay bills via direct debit.

I have the worst credit rating ever, have lost every house I've lived in prior to this one due to rent arrears and have always struggled with money...I'm £2200 in debt with my energy supplier as I haven't paid them for a long time - got in debt of £600 due to a billing mistake on their part and my brain just got paralysed wondering how to fix the problem, so I just do nothing and now I'm even more in debt!

JBS2022

Not having someone at assessment would only affect you if it conflicted with what you said in application, or at assessment. I used to have GAD I was never able to claim PIP either, because even though I had regular panic attacks I couldn't get enough points for an award. My hubby who has Schizophrenia does get PIP, mind you he's completely crackerjack ( no offense intended)and can't behave in a normal manner so no surprises there. All you can do is an MR but don't expect the decision to change because only about a quarter succeed.

rebel11

Yes it is worth doing a MR, go through the descriptors, give 'real word examples' of how your disorder effects you each day. Make sure you get Proof of Postage. 73% of Claimants succeed at Appeal stage.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/mandatory-reconsideration-pip/

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

I have a similar situation to yourself.  It is difficult to provide evidence in these circumstances, but definitely not impossible.  Requesting medical history is unlikely to help.  Providing evidence of your poor credit rating may be of some use.

The best way to provide evidence is to explain in great detail exactly what happened the last time you attempted a task for each descriptor.  For example, it's no good saying 'I can't cook because of the stress of it'...that's just a vague statement.  Explain exactly what happened, how it made you feel, did you complete the preparation or did you become confused/distracted, etc.  I know it's difficult to get your head around this way of explaining, took me a while to understand it initially.

Secondly, your partner (and possibly kids depending on their age) can provide a statement, basically confirming what they have witnessed from you attempting the same tasks, written with the same level of detail and functional ability as your own.

Lastly, don't take too much notice of the wording on the refusal, they're mostly just cut and pasted...everyone's refusal letters look pretty similar when you start to see more of them!  

Alex_Alumni

Hi there @alasia thanks for reaching out, I hope you've found the replies from other members helpful and reassuring.

Applying for PIP is a stressful process, so please do ask if you need a hand with anything, and we'll do what we can to support you. 

For more details on your next steps, and how to challenge a decision, I always feel like Turn2Us explains things nice and clearly. 

I'll be sending you an email a little later on today, so please let us know if you have trouble receiving it. If we've missed anything, just say