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Frustrated with my psychiatrist re: how does it affect my claim
- Anxious Anonymous
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2 years 1 month ago #275714 by Anxious Anonymous
Frustrated with my psychiatrist re: how does it affect my claim was created by Anxious Anonymous
I am frustrated with my ADHD psychiatrist who has potentially destroyed the level of help I get from my GP practice and I’ve had this discussion with one of my own GP’s.
He wrote on my letter: “Denies persistent low mood, anhedonia and poor energy levels. He does not extreme changes in mood.”
I told my GP that for the past two years my mood has been severely low, anxiety has been extremely high. I get non epileptic seizures panic attacks and don’t want to leave the house often. I have no motivation to do any cleaning, cooking or looking after myself. I told my GP my energy levels are poor and suffer with fatigue and pain.
And yet the psychiatrist wrote that!!! I never denied any of those questions. They simply weren’t asked.
He then wrote: “He admits to self harming twice this month. And recurrent suicidal thoughts.”
Then the psychiatrist after the letter, when I sent him a message to question, why he doesn’t think I’m in an episode of depression, despite self harming and having thoughts of death and suicide. Then decide to tell me what I wasn’t experiencing wasn’t actually depression?
Anyway how this relates to my claims is that my claims for ESA/PIP are about depression, anxiety and low mood. I know it isn’t based on a diagnosis as such. But all of my difficulties for which I was awarded are still there.
My psychiatrist did go on to say. If you feel you’re having another episode of depression, please get in touch with your GP. And I thought, well they aren’t going to listen to me now, thanks to your letter which is complete lies and I have tried to address this situation with the help of my partner with the psychiatrist and he isn’t budging.
It has got me severely worried and is affecting my mental state. I can’t work, I can’t do a lot of things and I’m genuinely concerned why a healthcare professional would so damagingly dismiss a patients difficulties.
He has seen me on ONE zoom meeting. He doesn’t see me regularly. My mental health team saw me back in June and my private counsellor sees me every week and she is absolutely astonished.
Anyway, what do I do? Do I have anything to worry about?
He wrote on my letter: “Denies persistent low mood, anhedonia and poor energy levels. He does not extreme changes in mood.”
I told my GP that for the past two years my mood has been severely low, anxiety has been extremely high. I get non epileptic seizures panic attacks and don’t want to leave the house often. I have no motivation to do any cleaning, cooking or looking after myself. I told my GP my energy levels are poor and suffer with fatigue and pain.
And yet the psychiatrist wrote that!!! I never denied any of those questions. They simply weren’t asked.
He then wrote: “He admits to self harming twice this month. And recurrent suicidal thoughts.”
Then the psychiatrist after the letter, when I sent him a message to question, why he doesn’t think I’m in an episode of depression, despite self harming and having thoughts of death and suicide. Then decide to tell me what I wasn’t experiencing wasn’t actually depression?
Anyway how this relates to my claims is that my claims for ESA/PIP are about depression, anxiety and low mood. I know it isn’t based on a diagnosis as such. But all of my difficulties for which I was awarded are still there.
My psychiatrist did go on to say. If you feel you’re having another episode of depression, please get in touch with your GP. And I thought, well they aren’t going to listen to me now, thanks to your letter which is complete lies and I have tried to address this situation with the help of my partner with the psychiatrist and he isn’t budging.
It has got me severely worried and is affecting my mental state. I can’t work, I can’t do a lot of things and I’m genuinely concerned why a healthcare professional would so damagingly dismiss a patients difficulties.
He has seen me on ONE zoom meeting. He doesn’t see me regularly. My mental health team saw me back in June and my private counsellor sees me every week and she is absolutely astonished.
Anyway, what do I do? Do I have anything to worry about?
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- BIS
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2 years 1 month ago #275723 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Frustrated with my psychiatrist re: how does it affect my claim
Hi AnxiousAnonymous
I can't tell you whether you should be worried or not. I haven't seen the whole letter (and I'm not an expert), but it is up to a claimant to decide which letters they submit to the DWP. If a claimant's symptoms have improved, they are duty-bound to inform the DWP. You say yours haven't - so there is nothing to say currently. When you have a review, you can choose which letters to submit. Remember, the psychiatrist is one professional offering an opinion. It doesn't mean that he is right. You can always ask to be referred elsewhere. (Not suggesting that is easy or a quick process, but it can be done).
BIS
I can't tell you whether you should be worried or not. I haven't seen the whole letter (and I'm not an expert), but it is up to a claimant to decide which letters they submit to the DWP. If a claimant's symptoms have improved, they are duty-bound to inform the DWP. You say yours haven't - so there is nothing to say currently. When you have a review, you can choose which letters to submit. Remember, the psychiatrist is one professional offering an opinion. It doesn't mean that he is right. You can always ask to be referred elsewhere. (Not suggesting that is easy or a quick process, but it can be done).
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Anxious Anonymous
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2 years 1 month ago #275730 by Anxious Anonymous
Replied by Anxious Anonymous on topic Frustrated with my psychiatrist re: how does it affect my claim
Thank you for your reply.
No, my symptoms haven’t improved nor have my avoidance behaviours due to anxiety.
If anything, I now have another diagnosis in the form of ADHD to explain the mental mess I’m in. Unfortunately, despite sharing my difficulties with the said psychiatrist, he can’t offer general mental health care for depression and anxiety. But said if I feel my episode of depression is coming on or is still there to inform my GP. But as I’ve said, such a letter would make my GP unsure of what is going on.
In any case, there is moderate risk of self harm and suicidal thoughts. How do I explain that to the DWP in terms of risk for support group status? I was originally given can’t complete two personal actions sequential. I guess that is probably explained by the ADHD now. In terms of planning and organisation.
My review was meant to be December 2022 for ESA support group. As for PIP, as long as you’re affected more than 50% that’s what counts for mental health, right?
Please do help the best you can. Also ESA isn’t based on a diagnosis is it?
No, my symptoms haven’t improved nor have my avoidance behaviours due to anxiety.
If anything, I now have another diagnosis in the form of ADHD to explain the mental mess I’m in. Unfortunately, despite sharing my difficulties with the said psychiatrist, he can’t offer general mental health care for depression and anxiety. But said if I feel my episode of depression is coming on or is still there to inform my GP. But as I’ve said, such a letter would make my GP unsure of what is going on.
In any case, there is moderate risk of self harm and suicidal thoughts. How do I explain that to the DWP in terms of risk for support group status? I was originally given can’t complete two personal actions sequential. I guess that is probably explained by the ADHD now. In terms of planning and organisation.
My review was meant to be December 2022 for ESA support group. As for PIP, as long as you’re affected more than 50% that’s what counts for mental health, right?
Please do help the best you can. Also ESA isn’t based on a diagnosis is it?
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- Gary
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2 years 1 month ago #275736 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic Frustrated with my psychiatrist re: how does it affect my claim
Hi AnxiousAnonymous
We cannot tell you have to complete either PIP or WCA forms, PIP is about how your condition affects you whereas WCA is about how your condition affects you working.
For PIP you have to be awarded 8 points in either daily living /mobility or both; benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip
There are two parts to the work capability assessment :-
The first part looks at whether you have 'limited capability for work' (LCW)
The second part looks at whether you have a 'limited capability for work related activity' (LCWRA)
1) Limited Capability for Work
Assessment to help determine benefit entitlement based on the extent to which a claimant’s health condition or disability affects their capability for work
2) Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity
Assessment to help determine whether the claimant can be placed in the Support Group because the effect of their condition is so severe that it would be unreasonable to expect them to engage in work-related activity.
You will be found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity if:
* at least one of the LCWRA descriptors applies to you for the majority of the time or on the majority of the occasions that you try to carry out the activity;
* your capability for work and work-related activity is limited; and
* it is not reasonable for you to carry out the activity.
To be assessed as having a limited capability for work, you need to score 15 points or more. Add together the highest score from each activity that applies to you.
The following criterion can only be considered once it has been determined that the claimant has not scored fifteen or more points against the schedule 2 descriptors (limited capability for work), and/or they have not scored against one or more of the schedule 3 descriptors (limited capability for work and work-related activity).
* if, because of a specific health condition or disability, the physical or mental health of the claimant or anybody else would be at risk if they were not found to have limited capability for work-related activity .
In order to qualify for the Support/LCWRA Group you need to;
* meet one or more of the relevant descriptors, or
* meet one of the associated Exceptional Circumstances rules.
The Support/LCWRA Group descriptors and the Exceptional Circumstances are listed in the Claiming ESA guides in the members area.
Gary
We cannot tell you have to complete either PIP or WCA forms, PIP is about how your condition affects you whereas WCA is about how your condition affects you working.
For PIP you have to be awarded 8 points in either daily living /mobility or both; benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip
There are two parts to the work capability assessment :-
The first part looks at whether you have 'limited capability for work' (LCW)
The second part looks at whether you have a 'limited capability for work related activity' (LCWRA)
1) Limited Capability for Work
Assessment to help determine benefit entitlement based on the extent to which a claimant’s health condition or disability affects their capability for work
2) Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity
Assessment to help determine whether the claimant can be placed in the Support Group because the effect of their condition is so severe that it would be unreasonable to expect them to engage in work-related activity.
You will be found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity if:
* at least one of the LCWRA descriptors applies to you for the majority of the time or on the majority of the occasions that you try to carry out the activity;
* your capability for work and work-related activity is limited; and
* it is not reasonable for you to carry out the activity.
To be assessed as having a limited capability for work, you need to score 15 points or more. Add together the highest score from each activity that applies to you.
The following criterion can only be considered once it has been determined that the claimant has not scored fifteen or more points against the schedule 2 descriptors (limited capability for work), and/or they have not scored against one or more of the schedule 3 descriptors (limited capability for work and work-related activity).
* if, because of a specific health condition or disability, the physical or mental health of the claimant or anybody else would be at risk if they were not found to have limited capability for work-related activity .
In order to qualify for the Support/LCWRA Group you need to;
* meet one or more of the relevant descriptors, or
* meet one of the associated Exceptional Circumstances rules.
The Support/LCWRA Group descriptors and the Exceptional Circumstances are listed in the Claiming ESA guides in the members area.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Anxious Anonymous
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2 years 1 month ago #275767 by Anxious Anonymous
Replied by Anxious Anonymous on topic Frustrated with my psychiatrist re: how does it affect my claim
Thank you.
The psychiatrist actually said to me if I am suffering an episode of depression (AGAIN!) to speak to the GP. But I don’t think I’ve even recovered from my depression and from what I’ve read recovery is only sustained after 4 months. The only other thing I can think of is paying for a private consultant.
The psychiatrist actually said to me if I am suffering an episode of depression (AGAIN!) to speak to the GP. But I don’t think I’ve even recovered from my depression and from what I’ve read recovery is only sustained after 4 months. The only other thing I can think of is paying for a private consultant.
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- BennyFit
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2 years 1 month ago #275859 by BennyFit
Replied by BennyFit on topic Frustrated with my psychiatrist re: how does it affect my claim
Hi
Have you informed your psychiatrist that you have applied for PIP?
Have you informed your psychiatrist that you have applied for PIP?
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