ESA Form - Mental aspects of Physical Questions

mogwai

Am a bit confused with the ESA form regarding the distinction between physical and mental.

For picking up things I am fairly clear but for walking I am finding it difficult getting my head around it.

I will illustrate by describing my morning walk.

I got out the house but because someone was broadcasting on their mobile phone I covered my ears, slowed down, and then adjusted my route.

I was apprehensive in the short walk to the park and took longer than normal due to hesitancy and being worried about the sound of dogs, metal clinking, drilling, and people. This is fairly usual for me, and exhausting.

When I got to the park a personal trainer had a sound system playing. I couldn't block it out and asked him to stop. I started walking away then had a meltdown in the middle of the park. This is less usual. I fell to the ground screaming which lasted for about 5-10 minutes and within another 5 minutes was able to recover and walk extremely slowly to a bench. My legs were operational but I was exhausted due to the meltdown and feeling very disorientated.

I was subsequently able to slowly walk to an empty café and buy a hot drink and some food, which I believed would help me to recover. However I was unable to do the shopping I had planned to do due to my state of exhaustion and fear of having another meltdown.

By the time I got home my neighbour had their sound system broadcasting into communal parts and I had another 5 minute meltdown as a result which calmed more swiftly with the support of my partner. My partner made lunch and went to the shops instead of me as a result. I am absolutely exhausted. During my meltdowns my heart rate tends to go to around 140. It is unlikely I will be able to go to the shops for another few days.

Where I get confused is to me a lot of this feels very physical, and additionally it affects my mobility because it took me easily double the time to do that walk, I didn't feel safe at any point, and was unable to do a key task I had planned for the day. But my legs were operational.

EDIT: I've somehow posted this in the Welcomes and Introductions group but meant to post in the ESA group or a more relevant area. Can't find how to move this and would be grateful for some help. Thanks!

Ross_Alumni

Hello @mogwai and welcome to the community, how are you? 

We have many members who have asked something similar in the past, it can be difficult to understand how to answer the questions when you are claiming for mental health reasons, so you certainly aren't alone there. 

You might wish to browse our ESA category, which I have moved your discussion to as you wanted.

I hope other members will be able to advise on your ESA, but I just wanted to ask if you receive all the support you need for your mental health from your GP or a mental health support worker?

woodbine

hi @mogwai warm welcome to scope I have put a link to the ESA descriptors if you haven't already seen it;

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/ESA_criteria

mogwai

Thanks Ross. Appreciated. Am a bit wiped out today. Been a particularly bad day, but it happens.

Hope you are ok.

I had a great big conversation on the Scope helpline yesterday which was really really helpful, and gave my morale a boost.

My GP has done me a Fit Note and is prepared for communication with the DWP when the time comes.

I've got a triage IAPT appointment in the next few weeks to discuss next steps for Mental Health treatment including possible PTSD assessment with specialist services, or re-referral to specialist Misophonia services. There will be a long waiting list for either of these but am prepared for that.

Also a meeting with an NHS link worker next week which I am a bit apprehensive about.

I got some on/off support privately which is coming to an end soon as money is running out.

I think I'll be able to judge in the next month or so whether the support I need is likely to happen, but at the moment I feel like I'm being supported in the right direction. I will take a look around the site though for more resources, and if there is anything off the top of your head that you wanted to let me know about then please do.

mogwai

Thanks for the link to the descriptors @woodbine. I have seen a similar list before and it is these descriptors that I still find it difficult to get my head around.

So as an example Activity 1:
"mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion;"

So from my point of view:
I stop or change routes to avoid significant discomfort caused by sensory issues. As a result of sensory issues, I experience significant discomfort when I walk, but this is not do do with my legs. I am susceptible to meltdowns in public places although this is infrequent but this overshadows practically every activity I do in public spaces practically all of the time, and is exhausting.

Also when a lot of the activities on the form (both physical and mental) are measured against the qualitative criteria of "safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as you need to, and in a reasonable length of time" then having significant sensory issues and meltdowns means that many things the form is asking about will not be possible, but for these reasons, and not for the reasons each question is appearing to emphasise.

I think I'm trying to get a steer from someone who has been through this process and whose overriding challenge has been some sort of disruptive reaction (e.g. meltdowns, PTSD episodes) that they have had not a lot of control over and how they apply this to the physical questions in particular.

chiarieds

I could be wrong @mogwai - but my instinct is that perhaps you should be concentrating on the 'Getting about' section. Altho the issues you have can cause physical problems, I don't feel they neatly fit into how far you can physically walk as described in Activity 1. I would describe, exactly as how you have done here, the problems your mental health cause you in Activity 15.

Unfortunately non of us probably fit into a neat pigeon hole as far as completing benefit claims, so all a person can do is describe how we are. In your case I would say try describing your mental health issues, & not look into trying to apply/get these to fit with 'physical' questions.

mogwai

Thanks @chiarieds. The ESA form says in order to say "Yes", the activity is something that needs to be doable Safely, To an acceptable standard, as often as you need to, In a reasonable time.

I am currently exhausted, with a bruised hip and sore head from my falls. I will not be going to the shops tomorrow because of this. I don't think my walk today met the criteria for being able to say "Yes".

Appreciate that one of my areas of focus should be Activity 15 - Getting About. I'm worried about this one because for many activities going with someone else makes things worse, because this means more movement and noise, and less ability to easily escape.

I appreciate your steer towards the mental health questions but given I experience meltdowns I wouldn't feel I was being honest if I didn't explain the impact on me physically. I'm hoping to find someone who has really horrific meltdowns and has been through this process. I'm not sure it is possible to appreciate the physical effects of having these without having had them.

mogwai

Have reviewed Activity 15 again @chiarieds and this definitely seems to be the best area to focus on. I'm certainly focusing on the mental health section, but if I'm being honest I need to include the meltdowns in the physical section somewhere as although they happen to varying degrees they do happen frequently and have a big impact.

mogwai

Thanks Mike.