Tourettes & Adhd

Wondered if anyone could help me?

I struggle really bad with adhd and tourrettes. Is Pip something i could look into applying for?

Thanks

Hi Catherine,

My Tourettes is very bad at time. I get such bad anxiety about actually ticking in public that i rarely go out and mix socially, or even get public transport. I drive to work to avoid any anxiety on the walk to work as i have been know to swing my arms out and hit other people on the path. My tourettes has also landed me in confrontations where people think i am trying to cause offence, a few of which has ended up in me being physically harmed. I was wondering what evidence would be good to submit for this as is a complex issues, i am going to be attending a drs appointment next week to see what i can get from them. Was also worry about the driving as i have heard many applicants who have been turned away due to having a driving licence. Thanks in advance. Roona

I would be reluctant to make to much emphasis on driving as I imagine a DM coming to the conclusion that if ticks were not so bad that they do not affect the ability to drive, then they can not be so bad to affect other areas of life. That's just my opinion, but others could take a different view.

I know someone who has Tourette's and his ticks make carrying out certain activities extremely difficult.
For example, when cooking, he will get the urge to throw the pan across the kitchen. This obviously affects his ability to carry out the task safely.
Also, he will take more than twice as long to carry out a task because of the ticks, it becomes so exhausting so instead, he will rely on convivence food, as this is safer and easier for hm to manage.

His ticks also cause uncontrollable outbursts which others find offensive and also cause him great anxiety therefore he does not leave the house unless he has social support from a family member or close friend in order to help him cope with the situation. He scores points for both engaging with others face to face and planning and following a journey, but like I said his ticks are really bad and he will grab a hold of your steering wheel when you are driving.

Do as Gary says and read through each descriptor you applying for and understand the question. Consider how you do this task and apply the safely reliably, repeatedly test.

Give examples of what happens when you carry out the activity, what support you need, or what happens if you do not have this support. I.e can not undertake the activity and have to resort to eating convenience food as ticks were so bad and become to unsafe and exhausted to continue.

Keep a diary for a week on how your Tourette's affects you and submit this as evidence also along with your application, This sometimes gives the assessor and the DM far more helpful information than what is in the claim form.

Good luck and let us know how you get in

Learning to drive with tourrettes was very difficult, it took my 4 years to before i was confident enough to do my test. Although I am able to suppress my ticks while I am concentrating on driving, this is something i am comfortable with where as dealing with sharp and hot objects in the kitchen is something i am really anxious about, i have tendency to cut/burn myself and the anxiety of past experiences make the tics worse. I often have to let my partner cook my food or eat processed ready meals from the microwave as this is much safer for me.

I feel the pain of your friend, this is something all too familiar to me. Explicit vocal tics often cause offence in public, people look at me and this is very distressing, making the tics worse. Once on a night out i was attacked when someone overheard what they thought was me provoking them, which in actual fact it was a tic. And this isn’t an isolated incident.

I am also concerned about the assessment. I’m times of such pressure, i am unable to even talk due to tics and anxiety, it would take me at least twice as long to speak one sentence.

For the adhd and depression, washing can be a struggle often forgetting before i leave for work, as is budgeting. I have been in debt all of my adult life and this upsets me but i am so impulsive i can’t help but buy something once I think of it.

I have the guides and looks like i will be able to score points. But as i have said, the fact i have held down a full time job and can drive i think will go against me.