dear therealme, i too live in England and am newish to this site. i don't watch big brother or read newspapers but i don't consider myself an idiot either just because i don't do what others do. YOU are NOT a scrounger or a faker any more than i am and i have been disabled for a long time. it has taken 28 years for my psychiatrists to finally discover my 3 illness, all linked to each other and at the moment i am in the deepest throes of bipolar depression. DON'T let what other people write or think touch your heart. You can only do what is right in your own conscience and when you say you are depressed, then i for one believe you. No- one would want to suffer depression for the fun of it and you can't help what is happenening to you. No mental illness is worth pretending to have for any amount of money and maybe those who think play acting the part in order to get benefits, may find that suddenly they have more problems than the ones they first invented for themselves. Keep trucking therealme and live for yourself. i am fighting with my sanity to keep from seriously self harming and at current risk of being Sectioned, ( something you may know about living in UK). My main prob is bipolar illness and so a trip to the depths can just as soon become a flight to a place beyond all reason with barely time to draw breath. Give no excuses to anyone for who or why you are, I certainly don't feel that i owe anyone an explanation or a justification for being ill and neither do YOU! You have my support therealme and i wish you well in all ways.