This week a policy head at Number 10 made a controversial statement that disability payments should go to the "really disabled" and not those with Anxiety. As someone with both a physical disability and mental health problems; my journey to get access to support has been filled with numerous consultations, appointments and meetings. All of which to help decide my diagnosis and treatment options. Obviously it is important to consider that medicine and the medical model to disability; which looks at curing and treating a person. But in my personal opinion mental health issues and the process of diagnosis someone with things such as anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), are something that although can be improved through the use of medication. But we should consider more holistic routes and not shy away from making mental health a public issue; as it becomes more prominent in society and not be afraid to talk about both Physical disabilities , mental health issues and how they impair and impact upon an individual. Going in and out of hospital's you get to meet many doctors, nurses and health professionals; some have been fantastic and supportive of my diagnosis of OCD and related anxiety, which can result in my becoming fixated on the worry that I will get ill and as a child that those around me may get ill from my actions. Alongside this I would have different rituals depending on that moment in time, such as washing my hands to the point skin breaks, eating things a particular way and seeking reassurance from my mum... which is still a big part of my life and cannot be without my phone in case I have to contact my mum; because I have become worried. This is normally worse when my physical health is worse or I am about to have a check up at the hospital. MRI's are normally the worse and for a good few weeks if not month before I am texting my mum for reassurance. I remember as a teenager there was a couple of months where my mental health was becoming increasingly bad and reached a point where I had thought about ending my life and would go on long walks just to be outside and away from everything. I would go and sit on the beach for hours on end. I will admit that some days are better than others and its important to try think less about tomorrow and what it will bring and rather see yourself on in the here and now. Which is a task in itself, I know; I have tried mindfulness and countless other talking therapies and treatments. All of which work and help me in different ways. But that is the beautiful thing about life and what the social model of disability argues. With this way of thinking in mind; it seeks to look at the person as individual and the world around them as an influence and barriers to their life. To talk about disability effectively you need both, but we cannot forget about the later and give our primary focus to just curing and treating a person. By saying that disability payments should only go those with 'real disabilities'; we are crossing a fine line in what it means to be disabled. The Oxford dictionary defines disability as: 1 A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities. Therefore, we should value each person as a person. In the words of Patch Adams " You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you'll win, no matter the outcome". Now, this applies to both physical and mental health illness and should be the same in how people are seen as when being assessed as disabled. In the past I have been told by medical professionals that I should just get on with it and my anxieties didn't matter. I fully acknowledge that mental heath problems can be hard to fully understand and support. But in a word where communication is easier than ever; we should be talking to people about the impact of their condition on them and look to support them. Yes, the media argue that a large number of people take advantage of this service the government offers. And I do not know the facts on but I would argue that you cannot marginalise and cut the majority of people's benefits because of some people reportedly misusing services and access to Personal Independent Payment's and other related benefits. That is not a health way to move forward and help people with disabilities and more thought needs to be given to disability and how it effects each person as no blanket term or treatment can be given to all disabled people, living with physical or mental health conditions. Every day is a struggle and sometimes waking up in the morning I can normally tell if it's going to be a good or a bad day with about 10 seconds. Normally if I haven't slept well I know ill go back to my bathroom sink at least 3/4 times to wash my hands and will check food before eating my breakfast. But luckily I have some amazing and open friends and family, who I feel I can open up to about my mental health illness and I know t wont be easy but my diagnosis of has led me to take a huge step and live independently away from my mum and study at university and know that yes ill have days when I want to do nothing but stay inside and other days when I was to get outside; but the reality is that mental health is a real thing and we are moving forward to better treatments for a huge variety of conditions of the mind, but we need to remember that mental health illness is, that an illness not a weakness. Love, Chandy :) If you would like more information and support for your own mental health please visit Mind The Mental Health Charity. There website is great and offers a range of advice , tools and guidance.
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AuthorBrain tumour survivor. Ambassador, campaigner and co-founder of #IFightFor Archives
January 2019
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