Job centre/work coach weirdness
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😞 so sorry to hear this, Porterhouse.
I don't understand how easily people have forgotten the immense harm Bojo and Han**** caused families, and the billions squandered, not that long ago...
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Thanks for the condolences @WhatThe Luckily she was very old and had had a happy life. Some of the staff from her nursing home were there which was a nice touch and I wasn’t really surprised because she was awesome.
COVID was a really weird time wasn’t it. I’m acutely aware of how incompetent Boris was but I think a lockdown of some sort was needed and am also very aware how they used it to feather their own pockets in extremely non legal ways. What with ‘eat out to help out’ and Barnard Castle it all might have been hilarious if so many people hadn’t died.
Mentioning the condolences, if you have a chance read through @wecandothis ‘s messages on this thread, he has had significantly worse tragedy in recent times than me. I’m very impressed at his perseverance and I’m sure he would appreciate similar condolences. Thank you for your continued contributions to this important thread. Andrew.
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that is dreadful, it sounds like solitary confinement with an intention of coercion in an SS-style interrogation. It would not surprise me if they were watching how you coped
I knew they were! The first time I'd been in floods of tears after being yelled at by a stranger who didn't even introduce himself, just demanded to know three jobs I'd worked. He had no answers to my questions.
There are cameras throughout job centres and more security staff then 'customers'.
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As well as you all said about being watched, interrogation rooms etc. I find at least at my job centre, they cram a crazy amount of desks and people into a frankly inadequate space so you are never more than two metres away from a human on all sides who are either stressed out fellow claimants or indifferent at best but more likely hostile employees. The utter umbrage and resultant hostility from the front desk lady activated my fight or flight and I couldn’t choose flight so fight it was, so I was fully fighting the urge to blow my top while I was speaking to the manager feet from the work coach who had caused the problem, sat at the next desk. You’d hope that seeing me in that state might make them take my Bipolar seriously, she knew nothing about it and I think their average coach has no training or insight into any health condition a claimant in the LCW has, which is frankly dangerous, especially with the new heavy handed tactics. I tried the local mental health and got nowhere, so think I’ll try my GP like @wecandothis did.
@WhatThe Sorry to hear about that incident that sounded horrible. Can I ask how is the mental health treatment where you are?
Forgive your quote coming after my response, I’m still getting to grips with the site 😜
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Forgot to say, how did everyone cope with the clocks going forward? I love the days getting longer but it really messes with my head and already bonkers circadian rhythm on the Sunday.
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@Porterhouse hi, just read this thread, I hope you're OK 👍. I am miffed losing an hours sleep but as I sleep a lot (long Covid) I'm sure I'll make it up but it messes my head up.
I don't have meetings with work coaches (on pip and LCWRA) and housebound but when I did (and I've no doubt theyll come back 🙄), on the phone, I always started with asking how long is the call scheduled for they say, for instance, 10 mins or 20 mins, or whatever it was. I'd then say right I need to tell you before we talk about anything, my diagnoses. So I did, all 22 of them. I do also go off on a tangent. I think they gave up the will to live. Join the club !! My point being that I don't give a rats behind if they want to know, or not.
I'm not purposely trying to he a time waster to them or be uncooperative. But my diagnoses and way of living is pretty shocking and is of major concern to me. If I've got to live with this nonsense that is my life then so can they.
They pretty much gave me a wide berth but when it all starts back up again then I will take exactly the same stance. No amount of trying to get me back 'on track' will work for me. I shan't be bullied or cajoled/coaxed or anything. As until someone actually fixes my health problems then these will remain my priority.
Sorry if u sound aggressive with them and they're just trying to do a job. But I see it as my health and wellbeing is as much my priority and them trying to do their job us theirs. As so be it.
🤣 you only asked about the clocks sorry. I did say I go off on a tangent 🤣🙄.
Take care and I hope you have a good day 🙏.
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Sorry meant to say if I sound aggressive with then! Not you lol.
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@WhatThe Sorry to hear about that incident that sounded horrible. Can I ask how is the mental health treatment where you are?
Probably the same as anywhere else. I've been under treatment since my teens and noone ever identified my autism. JCP actually recorded this diagnosis before I'd been given one in order to change my circumstances for me and make yet another referral to the Work Programme!
Like Santosha, I rebuff the ignorance I encounter there and stick to the facts I know and they know about my medical history and benefits claims.
Our job centre is a huge open-plan lounge but there is always an agent sitting at the next desk looking busy but listening in.
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Hello @Santosha12 welcome to the thread and thank you for the positive words. I’m more depressed than I’d like to be, I really need to go to my GP. You go on all the tangents you want, I do that when I’m hypomanic/manic so I understand completely. Sounds to me like you are handling your claim really well and there is no judgement here over you sticking up for yourself. I knew what you meant at the end, so no need for an apology. All the best, take care, hope you have a good day yourself 😎
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Thanks for responding @WhatThe I’m glad you are getting some proper help. Unfortunately that is much better than my area where I haven’t been under treatment for a long, long, time. Bipolar seems to be one thing they don’t even try to treat medication apart obviously. Even though I don’t work, I really hate Mondays still. Wonder if anyone else here feels the same way?
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@wecandothis Hope your buggering on Soldier. Check in when you’re ready let us know you’re ok 😎
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Porterhouse, only anti-depressants which are doing their job. I wouldn't manage without them.
I needed psychiatric support until I got the correct diagnosis!
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Gosh, it's been busy on here. Hello everyone.
So many similarities @Porterhouse it is bloody dreadful. Indeed, do visit your GP rather than suffer in silence. And KBO. Yup, it's weird about Monday’s maybe it goes as far back as school days. Nighttime I tend to struggle the brain tends to enjoy going through the worst scenarios.
@Santosha12 you are being assertive and respecting yourself in the face of adversity, top going!
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I hear you, thanks for clarifying, glad the anti depressants are working for you, that’s really great. Funnily enough although I’ve almost certainly been Bipolar since I was very young, it wasn’t until I was put on Citalopram (which sent me sky high) that I was diagnosed with Bipolar. Like you life got much more manageable once I was diagnosed and I was doing well managing on my own until the recent shift to hyper aggressive tactics at JC. I’m sure the same is true for everyone on this thread.
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Hello again soldier. Yeah I expect everyone in the LCW groups mental health has taken a nosedive unfortunately .
I know right lol When I first did the thread only two of the official scope people replied, which was obviously nice of them but I wanted to hear from real claimants because only they are qualified to speak on the dramatic shift in treatment and tactics by the JC. Couldn’t have imagined it would attract so many fellow sufferers. Glad we all have a place to share our experiences now.
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Only just figured out that the like/awesome buttons are binary. Therefor please be assured that I like, and think all your posts are awesome my fellow sufferers.
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@Porterhouse indeed, many, many have. Since my JC visit, I had been searching online to see if anyone else had issues with the WCs. Well done for putting on this thread, it was a relief to discover that I wasn't alone. You have a great way with people, too.
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Thanks other Andy, that was nice of you to say. I was always the leader on my sports teams which I told you were very successful ( had great teammates, a really great year group) so that’s where I learned how to interact with and motivate my peers.
Have to say I’m better online than I am in person because I’ve had a lot of jealousy related bullying throughout my life, so expect negative treatment a lot of the time. Tried joining an electronic music group nearby and got no support despite explaining beforehand that I was Bipolar and a novice, made my mental health much worse than before. Truthfully that’s one of the major reasons I can’t work. I’m way over qualified for anything I realistically could do. Can I ask? From the sound of it your GP didn’t involve the mental health team, which is what I need. Tried the team in January and got absolutely no help.
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wecandothis, I didn't want others to hear about Mum dying in January, my partner in July and then in November my brother died
I want to apologise for skipping past this in my rush to moan about JCP
😔
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@WhatThe aww, don’t worry, you’re certainly going through a tough time and with a good attitude.
@Porterhouse that must be frustrating, you want to get back into what you do best yet held back by the BP. Though your mental health is what needs to be prioritised. Wise move keeping clear of toxic people I guess that's where the old term “other people are hell” comes from. I imagine that if you were able you wouldn't want or need what the JC can offer, you’d be out there like a shot going for the career you want.
I had a social prescriber and CBT. The CBT lady was pathetic, her mind was elsewhere, she never listened. The SP was brilliant yet they made the SPs redundant just before Christmas.
Maybe you could ask your GP as to what are your options and tell him that the MHT we useless but you require support.0
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