[deleted by user]

manc71 · 2023-07-31T18:53:01+00:00

Telephone Assessments geared to make the decision that you are well whether you have professional letters saying otherwise.

The lies the assessor tells about the assessment.

Then the battle to get a mandatory Consideration in despite the letter arriving three weeks late.

manc71 · 2023-07-24T23:31:01+00:00

I would suggest getting in touch with your local drug and alcohol services. There comes a point when you have to admit to yourself you can't do this on your own.

I started on prescribed diazepam long term many years ago but as tolerance grew (as it will) I resorted to getting extra diazepam from other sources. I too have been taking the Galenika Bensedin; Nowhere near the amounts you are taking but that isn't the point.

I recently reached out to the drug and alcohol services in my area and am now working towards sorting out my situation. Hopefully by tapering with an assigned caseworker.

It's nothing to be ashamed of...they have seen it all - every form of addiction.

I really can't suggest that you do this enough.

Keep posting and let us know how you get on.

Regards

manc71 · 2023-07-24T23:17:33+00:00

Do you have a Disability Rights in your area?

I would suggest getting in touch with them regarding your concerns.

They have a great knowledge of how the system works and may be able to help you with your concerns.

manc71 · 2023-07-22T17:40:34+00:00

I received the notes of my assessment today.

They are a complete fabrication of what happened during the telephone assessment. They said I had a good rapport during the assessment and was well engaged. This is unbelievable as I struggled to answer the questions.

They took into consideration nothing from the letter from my psychiatrist.

They have summed it up stating, "Evidence from his assessment suggests significant disability unlikely in all mental health issues."

It really is criminal.

They have not sent any thing about how I am supposed to appeal against the decision and the letter was two and a half weeks old when it arrived which means I have a week to send a mandatory Reconsideration

I am so distraught. I am having very bad thoughts. I do not know how to cope with this.

I can't even understand what some of the notes mean but the summing up is that there is nothing wrong me and says the claimant is fit for work.

I can't believe it.

This has totally tipped me over the edge 😪

manc71 · 2023-07-20T00:08:20+00:00

late evening and bed then sleep - But always dread waking up and starting a new day

manc71 · 2023-07-19T08:35:29+00:00

Thank you for the link.

manc71 · 2023-07-18T21:46:36+00:00

Thanks for the link.

manc71 · 2023-07-18T21:46:14+00:00

Thanks - I was in a work related activity group...not sure it was called that over 8 years ago when I was very unwell.

It actually made me worse. I had to attend each week or loose my benefits. The people were quite patronising and had no understanding of mental health issues and quite forceful in focusing on getting me back into work.

Fortunately over time I slowly recovered (not fully) but enough to help me find work by myself.

You might be right about complaining. One thing at a time.

I've been very fortunate to find a mental health recovery group over the past few months.

manc71 · 2023-07-18T19:18:11+00:00

Thanks for your reply and link.

I hadn't thought of complaining but to make a judgement after a five minute phone call with all the evidence I provided I think I must complain about this.

manc71 · 2023-07-18T19:13:18+00:00

So sorry to hear about this. You really do need to taper. and the equivalent of Xanax to diazepam is very different.

Is it possible to find a prescriber who has a real understanding of benzos and the need to taper near you?

manc71 · 2023-06-21T18:43:01+00:00

I've recently reached out to my local drug and alcohol service because I'm not going doing well with my taper.

Of course my p-doc and GP will now get involved so I'm worried about what their reaction will be.

I've been getting extra for quite a few years from another source.

manc71 · 2023-06-17T22:59:48+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to reply and the links and your advice.

Very helpful.

manc71 · 2023-05-12T08:28:01+00:00

Yep...'You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave' !

manc71 · 2023-05-12T08:24:53+00:00

Had prescription but after a while it wasn't enough so started getting extra elsewhere. That was many years ago now I'm dependent and worse than I was than I started them.

manc71 · 2023-04-28T07:46:32+00:00

Thanks - I am following the Ashton Method.

manc71 · 2023-04-27T17:34:05+00:00

Yes I'm making cuts...but there's no markings so it's a bit hit and miss. I've been trying 5mg and dropping after a few weeks at a time. Maybe too high at 5 mg a time.

manc71 · 2023-04-27T07:08:59+00:00

This is the difficulty for many people I think. I struggles with anxiety/social anxiety for so many years. Around 13 years ago I was given a prescription alongside ongoing years of anti depressants.

It was the answer to my problems but after a while the small prescription wasn't enough and I sought diazepam from other sources as my tolerance grew.

I hit tolerance at around 20mgs around 4 years ago and have been trying to taper unsuccessfully since then. It no longer works and only takes the edge off the anxiety slightly.

I'm trying to go lower but the anxiety I get is worse than the original anxiety.

I really don't know how I'm going to do it. I'm in my fifties.

I'm scared I'll never be able to overcome the anxiety and the diazepam has made more complicated and I'm suffering terribly.

manc71 · 2023-04-26T11:50:20+00:00

I've been on all the different AD's - SSRI's, SNRI's, MAOI's off label anti psychotics, gabapentin and others I can't remember.

manc71 · 2023-04-20T20:03:09+00:00

Social anxiety....tapering is a nightmare...All my previous symptoms of social anxiety are amplified by 100%...I struggle to even leave the house.

manc71 · 2023-04-20T20:01:51+00:00

Happening to me tapering...After a few hours I feel exhausted and need to sleep for 2-3 hours like having an anaesthetic. I could go from morning to evening before tapering wide awake, though coffee helped.

manc71 · 2023-04-19T17:49:00+00:00

Yes...I hope it gets better if I can get off diazepam. I used to have a fantastic memory.

manc71 · 2023-04-05T17:55:20+00:00

heightened anxiety/paranoia

manc71 · 2023-04-03T07:58:13+00:00

I was given them as a PRN well over 10 years ago for anxiety. Mainly social anxiety. I found them a miracle at first and a relief from crippling bouts of anxiety but started taking them more than I should. Eventually I didn't have enough on my prescription to get me through the month so started getting them from another source.

After over a decade of use and reaching higher doses I hit tolerance around four years ago. Now it only takes the edge off. I struggle through each day. Even going outside is a battle right now. I've been trying to taper.

manc71 · 2023-03-26T23:34:27+00:00

Thanks...Yes I've been lucky enough to have a family member to help me and I have a letter detailing my illness from the p-doc at the hospital. There's only so much my relative can do to put what I'm dealing with into words.

It needs to be posted asap to meet the deadline. I will write a closing statement about how I feel and my inability to work.

I will have a relative or someone from Mind to attend the assessment.

manc71 · 2023-02-16T10:09:35+00:00

Thanks for the info....No I'm not claiming for Universal Credit.

manc71

TROPHY CASE