Awarded PIP at last

Thank you for all the help in the guides and forum. I have been awarded PIP today at standard rate for both elements. It was a long time coming . I first applied via phone filling in the PIP 1 form on the 1 st of March 2024. It took 20 weeks to send out my PIP 2 form needed large print as visually impaired. Then a further 10 weeks wait for the assessment and got a text today saying awarded. So close to 35 weeks in total. I live in the South East so perhaps they are busier than other regions? It wasn’t a very good process filling in the form made me feel really bad seeing all the stuff I can’t do now in black and white. I’m grateful for the extra money as it will make a huge difference but getting it seems so hard and my mental health suffered during the process. I get contribution based ESA as well so with the PIP award I will be able to access therapy and treatment that I was waiting 12+ months for on the NHS at present. They go on about why so many people are sick these days compared to pre pandemic but to me it’s obvious. The health service is on its knees and also many are physically and me damaged via Covid19. Anyway thanks again for the help.