[TwinButterfly]

I apologise if this is in the wrong category...yet again.

I have been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder. I am now taking Propranolol 40mg. A few weeks after taking them, I was having hallucinations. They included seeing things and hearing things vividly. I was then given Zopiclone for a week by my doctor.

While I was at my trainee-ship working, I have had episodes of panic and anxiety a number of times. Nearly on every episode, it stopped me from doing daily tasks. I had to be absent, because I couldn't handle the thought of working. There was a lot of pressure put on me there, and I couldn't cope.

I know some might say, "Well, deal with it!" Ha, if only it was that simple. It's easy to say that, but when an episode hits, it's different.

I am now on a two month waiting list for cognitive behavioural therapy.

My question is, would I be able to apply for PIP (Personal independence payment, used to be known as DLA) if I have an anxiety disorder?

I don't fully understand PIP although I have recently started an application for it. I'm hoping someone here has more of an idea than me so they can give advice. Personally I would try applying for it, the worst that can happen is you don't gt it but you're not gonna know unless you apply.

[Lost_in_the_woods]

I am unfamiliar with the term PIP... from what it sounds like in my area may be like SSDI/ SSI....I don't know the criteria in your area re: mental health issues that would qualify for short or long term disability..you should ask someone in your area who works for that dept...or advocates for these cases. I have been on Propranolol for anxiety in past..no worsen of symptoms or hallucinations but didn't do anything for my anxiety/panic attacks and since it is a beta blocker and I tend to have low blood pressure to begin w/..it made me very dizzy, nauseous, and fatigued... so I was switched to a Benzo which I have been on now for yrs... is very helpful for both maintenance and as a PRN...but it is starting to reek havoc on my already eradicate cognitive functioning and withdrawals if I were to go off of it are extremely painful and VERY dangerous... I have been on a snail paced taper for a couple of yrs now, which have been stopped at current dsg...until a full neuro imaging work up can be completed bc I've started to show warning signs for possible underlying seizure disorder and this med may arm be the only thing keeping them at bay....so sorry I got a bit off track...my brain just ain't what she used to be

[Marylin]

Hello Twinbutterfly.When you get the PIP claim form you need to answer all the questions about whether you can perform physical tasks like,cooking your meals or washing or getting dressed from the point of view of how difficult your anxiety disorder makes it for you to do these tasks.

So for example you might say ,'in the kitchen I am so anxious when i try to cook that I drop food on the floor which is a hazard and I burn food and myself so cannot cook myself a meal on a regular basis ,safely ,repeatedly and without difficulties.'

Don't just tick the box saying you are unable to do it,write a sentence or two explaining how and why you can't do it.That way they will see how your condition affects your daily life.

Do this writing of a sentence or two explanation for every question you are asked on the form as well as ticking the boxes.

When they read your explanation they are more likely to believe you need those points and qualify for them.Good luck!

In the link below is an example of the forms used and questions asked, relate them all to how the anxiety stops you doing these tasks if it does affect your ability to do them.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/per...-points-system