Being Mentally Ill In The UK Today

So, lately we've all seen the furore created by the callous government
cuts and it's got me wondering just how many people actually have
any idea just what it feels like to be faced with the prospect of these
cuts.
Just to be clear from the outset these views are mine based on my own
disability and in no way are they meant to diminish the effects the cuts
will have on those with different disabilities, whether physical or
mental. There are a great many individual points of view to be
considered and I can only present my own thoughts and feelings on
them. I'd encourage everyone to speak to as many people as possible
to gain insight into what's happening and the pressures being faced as
i'm not a spokesman for anyone except myself and consider everyone
else's views to hold as much importance as my own.
Now, my particular disability is called Schizoaffective disorder, which
is kind of like bipolar and schizophrenia all rolled up into one nasty
little bundle. I have social anxiety which severely limits my social
contact, to the point where shopping can be so traumatic for me that I
have to do my shopping at the quiet times, either first thing in the
morning or last thing at night. I have voices constantly, some times
worse than others, ranging from quiet to shouting in my ear, and in
my case they are NOT not giving any form of positive encouragement.
I often resort to rocking in a corner bawling my eyes out at my
inability to cope with the most basic everyday tasks that anyone else
takes for granted and because I have social anxiety I don't have the
luxury of finding a shoulder to cry on. I'm isolated, in some respects
i'm a prisoner, with an indefinite sentence and less protection than any
ward of the state.
Most days I see something disparaging in the news about those with
either physical or mental disabilities, especially when it comes to them
claiming benefits, and believe me, feeling like a second class citizen
because of an illness I never wanted has taken its toll on the minute
amount of confidence I had left. Contrary to what is reported I do not
enjoy huge benefits payments, I don't have a tax payer funded
mobility car, I don't own a 50 plasma screen TV and the one luxury I
afford myself is internet access, without which I would experience
virtually no social contact save for my children and the fortnightly
visits from my Community Psychiatric Nurse, which, whilst i'm

grateful for this, my only adult conversation in the real world is

essentially rented. This also means that my social contact isn't actually
social at all, but instead it is very clinical.
Now, first things first, the PIP cuts caused the biggest fuss. I don't
receive PIP, i'm still on DLA, but the prospect of what this
government were willing to take from the vulnerable should've been a
wake up call to our society. People who relied on PIP to preserve their
independence were basically being given a big middle finger by the
state. Some of these people would have been in this position because of
Military Service losing them limbs undertaking our countries
interests, some would have been born with their disabilities, some
would have been disabled through a deterioration of health over time
and some from accidents they may have been involved in. I won't
attempt to pretend there are more deserving cases of disability than
others because there isn't. Each and every one of us deserves to be
able to be as independent as possible, and that is what these payments
are for. So those in some of the toughest positions can maintain some
dignity and self esteem instead of being locked away out of sight and
out of mind. Can you imagine being told you no longer have the right
to expect a bath or get dressed or cook? Would you accept that? I
sincerely doubt many of you would. And so rightly the government
have made a U turn on it. George Osborne says it was a mistake, but
his only mistake has been showing what a shocking and callous
disregard he has for some of the most basic human values, but what
does anyone expect from a guy that often looks smashed out of his face
at work? I'll also point out I don't for one second believe Iain Duncan
Smith resigned over the morality of these cuts. I've watched him cheer
the gradual decline of the safety net for the most vulnerable year after
year. The guys a liar and that's all I have to say about him.
Now, the fuss over the PIP cuts was certainly deserved, I won't argue
for a second that it wasn't but it's overshadowed the cuts to ESA
which will also have a dramatic effect on those with disabilities.
The WRAG isn't fit for purpose. No target driven system that offers
no cure for a disability or therapy or engages with medical specialists
to address the extra challenges being faced will ever be fit for purpose.
People with fluctuating conditions are not catered for in the
employment market, and yet these people are being pressured to go
into employment that they know will be completely unsuitable. So they
will lose that 30 a week as a direct consequence of the governments

failure to acknowledge the true difficulties faced by the disabled. Bear

in mind that some of those that have voted for these cuts now want us
to believe they didn't understand what they were voting for!!!!!
Now if that doesn't shake your confidence in how we're being
governed then that's an even bigger cause for alarm.
Now, the knock on effect of not being able to meet the unrealistic
requirements of ESA WRAG are that not only will those with
disabilities lose that 30 a week is that also they'll get sanctioned. For
not having the ability to meet the requirements set by the state. Not for
not bothering. For NOT HAVING THE ABILITY!
Their rhetoric and spin tells the population that these people aren't
doing enough to help themselves into work. Truth is an inefficient,
selfish and overwhelmingly incompetent government isn't doing
enough to make employment practical for those with disabilities. And
it's all well and good pretending they don't have to, but really they do.
Everyone in this country goes on about Equal Rights but fact is while
the system treats people like this Equal Rights are about as realistic as
whatever Osborne keeps staring at during Prime Ministers Questions.
If we accept this then I am certain that is giving a green light for the
rights of any other people to be systematically eroded until eventually
we've been gradually downtrodden so much that we'll no longer
resemble the humanity that we once seemed to be so proud of. I
hope everyone will take a moment to think about that.