Hi, I'm applying for PIP for the first time. If I get it, it will be life-changing

burntorangepetal

Hello! My name is Eko and I am applying for PIP for the very first time, If I receive this benefit it will be life changing. I have joined scope to gain some insight and advice on how best to proceed.

I am so looking forward to joining in the discussions and finally being a part of a community that accepts me.

Lots of love 

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community Feel free to join in or ask any questions Do you have any questions about your PIP application 

leeCal

Hi and welcome to the community, best wishes ?

Ross_Alumni

Hello @burntorangepetal

Welcome to the community, good to see you join us  

What stage of the PIP claim process are you at? Is there anything in particular that you want information about?

burntorangepetal

Hello all!

I initially asked for an online form as that felt slightly easier.... turns out it was quite the opposite and I got flustered quite quickly, I spoke to a very nice person on the phone yesterday and requested a paper form...

I am awaiting an autism diagnosis (I already know I am part of the club) its more for official and family purposes.

My sensory overload is one of the main things I struggle with and would have to go into detail on how touch,smells,textures,sounds and lights affect me but that is only a small part of me describing how being nerodivergent makes life super sparkly and delightful but also incredibly draining and hard.... I need to go quite in depth but worried it may be too much as I have quite a few chronic illness and disorders to write about too 

Have a super day everyone !

Popdiva43

Good morning @burntorangepetal, applying for pip for the first time is very daunting, I know that feeling, but what I've learned from this community is it isn't the diagnosis if self, it's how it affects your day to day living. 

burntorangepetal

That is helpful- so I suppose a good example might be for sounds- When sounds are too loud or happening all at once, eg people talking, a bus driving past, birds tweeting, dogs barking, a police/ambulance siren going off will cause me to have a panic attack go into a almost hyper but numb stage just trying to make it through the day, it sometimes takes me hours to come back down to a calm sense of self...

The other day I got on the wrong bus to my partners house, had my first hot meal going cold on me, had to walk 15 minutes to the next bus stop, had to leave that bus stop shortly after I got there as a band of marching drummers walked past and I could not block out the heavy beating drums/whistling/bells and shouting, I decided to walk to my partners as that seemed the best option but they were heading the same way... I had a panic attack for 20 minutes whilst trying to walk to his house crying the whole way there, it was so distressing and If this were to happen to me often enough I think it would knock me down .

burntorangepetal

Hands definitley went over ears, not even the ear plugs I have to use daily to help reduce sound helped, I was at such a loss of what to do, It was a saturday, I usually work Saturdays so had forgotten what town can be like... turns out its awful! 

burntorangepetal

Thankyou Mike, incredibly helpful, just made a fresh cup of coffee  

burntorangepetal

would undiagnosed adhd and autism be okay to put down ( I know in myself) I have them but its not official, I am on waiting lists but those are two/three years off