Mental Health Tips While Waiting

Rin1472

Hi all,

I hope you’re not sick of me yet. 

- I applied for PIP 15th March
- Submitted the application 28th March
- Phone assessment on 16th June. This went to Audit. 

- DWP received the report 29th June. 

I fully realise it’s only one week since DWP received my report, and my timeline has been relatively quick, but I’m struggling with not thinking about this. I had a two hour long assessment yesterday for an area of my mental health, and realised I’ve been suffering from increasing intrusive thoughts about things like my kids dying or bad things happening. I struggle with anxiety, panic and feelings of impending doom in the evenings so struggle to sleep. I’m quite good at keeping my mind busy during the day.

I just wondered if anyone had any brilliant tips that help you keep your mind clear. I guess you could say I’m highly intolerant of the unknown, so not knowing the outcome of the PIP assessment just adds to my stress. It’s triggering. 

Also, was there a number you could call to find out if you’ve been awarded without talking to anyone, or did I dream that? 

Ross_Alumni

Hello @Rin1472

Thanks for posting, it's lovely to see you pop up on the community. 

Sorry to hear that you have been going through these thoughts lately, however it's good that you were able to have an assessment recently. Will you be getting any further support as a result of that?

Sharing tips that help to keep the mind clear will obviously vary from person to person, but for me it can just be as simple as doing something I enjoy. What are your hobbies? What could you do to relax?

With sleeping, it might be worth talking with your GP or medical team about the difficulties you are having in that area, perhaps they would be able to provide some suggestions. I know that calming exercises or relaxing sounds can help some people settle at night, but they may not work for you of course.

Rin1472

Ross_Scope said:

Hello @Rin1472

Thanks for posting, it's lovely to see you pop up on the community. 

Sorry to hear that you have been going through these thoughts lately, however it's good that you were able to have an assessment recently. Will you be getting any further support as a result of that?

Sharing tips that help to keep the mind clear will obviously vary from person to person, but for me it can just be as simple as doing something I enjoy. What are your hobbies? What could you do to relax?

With sleeping, it might be worth talking with your GP or medical team about the difficulties you are having in that area, perhaps they would be able to provide some suggestions. I know that calming exercises or relaxing sounds can help some people settle at night, but they may not work for you of course.

Thank you for your reply Ross. 

Yes, the assessment yesterday will be discussed on Tuesday at a multidisciplinary meeting and will lead to further support. I have another assessment next week to get support directly for the trauma/bereavement side of things.

 I’m hyper-alert to sounds at night thinking it’s a fire starting or someone breaking in, so I’m not sure if having relaxing sounds on would help that. Although maybe it would. Could be worth a try at least. 

ShirleyW

Have you tried yoga?
Even if you are not physically able to do it properly, it can still help.

It gives you something else to think about, especially if you try yoga meditation. 

Alternatively wellness meditation can help a lot.

Try googling both on the Internet and see what you can find about it in your area.

Kennym2022

Do you like music that's what gets me over my doom I'm constantly making or mixing music when I feel like that I have suicidal thoughts all day and night it's awful so to counter act this i bought a set of decks and a good laptop when I had money and started making music and this was a life saver.  Is there anything you love doing that can stop you from thinking at night