Hey people .

l've met people on all kinds of Centerlink disability things over the yrs but can you get onto something due to depression ?

But then as in the title , maybe it's actually healthier for you to actually be out there in life and working and functioning ? - bloody hate that word but it's the only description l could think of . So what does everyone do , and which do they find is better ?

At one stage through a really bad patch l just didn't feel l could work or cope. So l asked Centerlink they told me l'd have to see the gp , get referrals ,go and get assessments and all kinds of other things can't remember exact details , but it was a nightmare l'd worry that l'd spend wks or mths putting myself through and then maybe get nothing anyway. But ok l'll just start with the gp and see where that goes first. And they told me it could get me 3mths , what, 3mths, but then l'd have to do it all again to get an extension or another 3mths and then again , and again , or some rubbish can't remember the exact details but it sounded far worse than the alternative and just struggling on to me.

Well, what a useless stressing , draining effort that was , here's a grown man in the mess l was in felt like l just couldn't even go on let alone cope or do real life , work , pressures buttt, saw a gp yet all he said was l'll give you a certificate for 2 days off . Two days, wt - to keep it polite here, 2 days l needed 2 wks just from the stress of dealing with him that once , without adding in my real problems. He wouldn't even give me a referral for the next step. Acted like there was nothin wrong with me meanwhile l'm wondering if l wanted to go on l mean that's the state l was in.

Centerlink also wanted me to enroll with a job agency and so here l was having to tell some 19yr old girl with a button and computer and the power to send me packing with no damn clue how  l was or living , threatening to stop any payment if l didn't jump through their hoops too in the meantime, it was insanity .And all that took about 2 wks of stress driving sitting round waiting and explaining myself over and over and what little money l had at the time on petrol , it was a nightmare and left me in worse shape than l started.

rx

 

 

Random

what an interesting topi anda sad story.

Personally I have not had dealings with centre link over a disability pension but I know people who have. Your whole experience would out me off.

I was lucky to have my own business for 14 years and that helped me cope.

Thanks for starting this thread.

Thanks for starting this thread. Currently feeling lost and unsure what is best option for me and my health right now. I can’t keep calling in sick but I am scared dealing with Centrelink will make me feel worse

Hi Randomx. Thanks for sharing that. I went through something quite similar to what you've described about 10 years ago. It seems as though the system is set up to stop people getting the help they need while, at the same time, the message of "Go and get help" is continually shoved down people's throats. Like you, I found going through the process, the time, the insulting nature of it, the disgraceful waiting room conditions that are detrimental to people with MH conditions only led me to give up on this type of "help". Maybe things are a bit better now than they were back then, but I'm not game to test the system as, like you, the last time I tried, it only left me in a worse state than when I started.

Centrelink certainly doesn't have much empathy does it?

I lived with a housemate that had severe depression and anxiety and didn't work for about a year and a halfish. They wouldn't put her on the DSP, I believe she got newstart instead. Initially they made her go through all the hoops to prove why she wasn't working, doctors assessments etc. Thankfully she had a really good GP that she regularly saw and all he did was write up a letter every 3 months which satisfied centrelink. I believe though that only works for so long?

My partner is on jobseeker now and she has casual work as a disability support worker and she still has to report her income, my income AND she STILL has to apply to jobs to satisfy centrelinks criteria. Shes been threatened a few times for not reporting on time because they want to know things about MY income and she cant provide that until I get paid. Centrelink has caused her grief and make her feel so bad about herself.

Personally, I think its BETTER for your mental health to try and live life and function (as hard as it is) than try and navigate centrelinks toxic environment.

Hi everyone here.

I'm on the DSP, for my mental health. I was rejected the first time, but I tried again and my Psychiatrist wrote a letter for me, which helped me get it. You need as much evidence as possible, which I was lucky to have. I'm not trying to brag, just letting you all know that you can apply for the DSP for mental health issues. I haven't been hospitalised for my mental health (that's one of the questions) but I still get it.

You're right, Centrelink are a pain and have no empathy, I agree. But I hope you can all figure something out. I'm sorry I can't be of much help. And like I said, I wasn't bragging.

Hi quirk and thanks as always.

So would you rather bee working in your business and staying in life so to speak , do you think that's better for you ? l know you;'eve had a helluva run last yr but could we say apart from that ? l've had my business a long time too and really it's debatable for me bc working does really help me during ok times mentally, well many parts of it do anyway. My business is pretty straight forward and normally there's no much stress , but there have also been many a time over the yrs that on the other hand during worser times mentally l've just wanted to run away and never deal with anything ever again.

Thanks bw , yeah it's something been on my mind a lot past 7 - 8yrs and during that really bad patch , one of them , yeah l did try that once . Your right centerlink are bloody scary as hell , no telling wth they;ll expect you to do and they just look at you , they see nothing, nothing .

Hi Gambit and thanks very much for the info. God well , none of that surprises me at all and it's all the very stuff l can't cope with and the stresses me out into almost insanity . My ex is a nurse and works that damn hard but bc she only does 30hrs a wk she also has to deal with centerlink for different reasons . Can't believ that crap she's been through with them over the yrs , and on top of already working anyway and being the hard worker at that that she is. But it's like she's a criminal . You might be right you know , any stresses at work for me are nothing compared with jumping through their hoops and dealing with them , it's taken me mths to shake it off any time l;ve tried. Thanks a lot for the post.

Hiya mb and thanks so much also for your post and talking about it. Really glad for you you have something locked in for yourself , and nooooo , not taken as any brag in the least. You went through a lot over a long time to get all that fixed up for yourself and l'm just happy it's paid off for you now and you had the courage to keep going , good for you. But yeah some letters l'd imagine would help push things through. Sure won't be getting much help from the gp or any of the others l dealt with that time though. But at any rate , it's just something l've been thinking about again butttttt , well. Tak care of yourself eh.

Thanks all. rx , and if anyone else passes through with any thoughts or info , please jump in.

I'd say do as much as you can for as long as you can, so if there is a choice I'd pic work

Benefits are sometimes required but I think as much as we can for as long as we can

Everyone's situation is different and I dig it and I respect it , so to those on benefits cheers

and I hope your ok. happy inauguration day 2021

Thanks for that.

Maybe your right we've got 80 yr old farmers out in the rural areas round here still working and stronger than most 50yr olds they're amazing , really makes ya think.

Are you American ? it's an Aussie forum although mind you l do wish our pm would get himself inaulgurated, out the bloody door actually.

Hi all

It's really difficult to qualify for the DSP. Many years ago, it wasn't, but they implemented a lot of changes, to try and get people into work instead. It's an inflexible system, and that means that Centrelink staff can only apply the legislation that they are bound by. Of course, it can and should be done with empathy.

To qualify, you need to meet set criteria. You can look up impairment tables online to get an idea. This was one of the major changes implemented that tightened eligibility. When I applied, my application was rejected on the grounds I didn't meet the impairment criteria outlined. You also need to provide a lot of supporting evidence, so it helps if you've been seeing a MH specialist for a long time, and you have a good GP.

I agree it's a lengthy and harrowing process that can impact negatively on your MH, and may result in rejection anyway. I wish it was a more user friendly system that catered better for people with MH issues, but that's not the case.

While there are definite benefits to be derived from working, sometimes that's just not possible, and it should be easier to access the safety net when it's needed. That was what it was designed for, after all.

Katy

Hi katy and thanks for the thoughts.

Yeah about what l've suspected since the last time l tried, it'd be even more harrowing now. The other problem is l'm dyslexic so although l usually read and write fine l've written and corrected property contracts run my own business done taxes but at others l can't even count money dyslexia's a sort of block thing but no way l could cope with all that from Centerlink , throw depression.

Ah well , it's just something l've been thinking about . l do enjoy my job and hrs and free time but at can't even get out of bed times it gets a bit much . But hey , maybe it's better for me at those times that l have to and get moving anyway, l dunno. rx

Hi randomx and all,

I'm on Centrelink and I work. My job network provider that I see is very understanding. I'm on a lower tier which means I only have to work minimal hours and can still get Centrelink. Instead of looking for other work or working for the dole as part of my requirements for getting Centrelink I was able to see a psychologist for free every fortnight instead. I'm not on disability but they still can cater for you if on jobseeker/ Newstart and you have a mental health issue or physical limitations. Or was I just lucky? I saw this psychologist for about a year.

Coming from someone whose just been on Centrelink and worked/ been on Centrelink I think it's better to work within your capabilities. Casual or part- time is fine. I get a sense of satisfaction and feel happier after I've worked.

If I stay home, broke, and have depression/ anxiety I feel lethargic. The mind can also play games. If you're working you have something else to focus on and hopefully some social interaction.

I think you are more likely to overcome depression/ anxiety working within your capabilities rather than staying at home with it.

You have to be proactive, in my opinion, but if you've been working a lot and need that break, take it.

I am probably more like your 80 year old farmer than I am an American but hay their almost family and a celebration is always fun.

Hi rx
I've relentlessly contemplated this throughout my working years & always arrive at the same conclusion-it's better overall to work. A further breakdown is to what capacity can you work and where.
There is also a need to lower expectations of what you can do v's what you think you should be doing. It's humbling to the ego to know your limits and your margin of realistic capability. Finding meaning within a job that is below your intellectual capacity & passions is also something to make peace with. So, there are challenges. But that's life everywhere whatever you may be doing. May as well earn some cash whilst dealing.
In truth, there is stigma out there. There is mild bullying. I've cried in the car on the way home. There are also people who silently get it and treat me fairly. I have plenty of laughs at work too. At the end of the day I tell myself that I've the right to earn an income & live a life of dignity & choice due to having a bit of money in my pocket.
I make a repeated daily commitment to get out of bed & just go. It's not always pretty but habitual behavioural patterns & deepening the grooves of neurological circuitry are crucial to survival. Work can help with this. Once you're in the shower it gets easier.
There's also the casual socialisation you get at work with others who are out there functioning. Being with functioning people improves mental health. There's also a huge amount of personal growth to be gained through working.
Quick story regarding The Clink as I call it.
I was on Newstart at the beginning of the pandemic. If you earn over a certain amount they cut you off after 6 f'nights. Every sixth f'night I took time off in order to earn below the threshold-which is pathetic by the way-doing this kept that Newstart safety net alive. In May I had a bad phase of depression and lost track of reporting dates for a few fortnights. They cut me off altogether citing mental illness w'out hospitalisation etc as inadequate reasoning. This exacerbated my health & I panicked through another phase of pondering the point of living. I realised then how cut throat and detrimental to my mental health Centrelink was. I've been off the dole for for 8 months and feel much better not having to wheel & deal my way around their rules or submitting to a demeaning &humiliating system.
Like I said, it's not all roses but in terms of the bigger picture working is overall more beneficial in my experience.
Look forward to hearing what you decide to do.

Hi monkey and thanks very much for the detail and info.

l hear ya and it's great people are coming in and talking about all this l was really hoping some would. l was unemployed yrs ago myself yeah it's a pretty depressing life l still remember those feelings. Things people are talking about yeah , are also the way l've found all this too and usually work does help me a lot. Even during confusing or stressful times getting out and onto the job picking up my tools hours fly buy and the mind's preoccupied the whole time , it can really be my go too at times and l'll usually feel much better. Kinda makes the thread sound pointless right there doesn't it but as we know it's not always happy outcomes and those other times that bring this questioning about. Which are sometimes too often and too deep to be counteracted with just work. They'd be the times l'd be knocking on clinks door though right, or they;d be threatening me or forcing me to go through hoops soooo, and the very times l couldn't deal with their bs , bit of a vicious alternative to me.

Fantastic you've found your balance and system with them and work, great stuff well done monkey . Take care .

Hiya SQ and also a big thanks to you too for the detail and thoughts. And yeah , l do envy those that spend their life actually doing their calling spent a lot of yrs thinking about all that myself too, and living it. l actually did mine 13yrs, gambled everything, but l got out. lt's what l was meant to do , put here for and given a talent for but you know what , it also came with all it's own very weird things and lifestyle and probably fame too later on that at 13 yrs , l just longed to be just an ordinary working person again, l envied them. In the end it actually made me miserable and so l got out of it.

My little business since isn't my calling it's so short of myself and people can't even believe l use to do what l did. But l really actually like it and the lifestyle more andddd, l'm just one of those everyday people these days again that l envied all through that 13yrs , and it's great haha.

So there ya go , you might not be in your calling but there can be other huge satisfactions.For me it's my own hours good money for what l do work my own boss, traveling the state and yeah your spot on with working and mixing l meet some great people. All those things were really important to my and why l do what l do now instead.

Happy for you out of that clink rut , it's obviously helping you far more.

rx

Buttttt, on the other hand realities kicking in today , l'm back to work next wk, had time off. Really don't feel like it , or another yr , or a new yr , or all the worries of life again. And the yrs and yrs more of it yet to go damn.

Even back in the stone age life would've been a daily battle , just staying alive would've been. But l don't believe humans were built to cope with the non stop unstoppable garbage we're forced to deal with these days . rx

Hi Rx,

I agree with you. Some unstoppable garbage is unavoidable. In saying that perhaps you can do less?

I used to work three jobs, it was hectic. Now instead of working more I work less and Centrelink is my buffer.

I have time to swim laps, paint, play games on my pH, go to the gym, focus on me, basically.

Being busy, busy, busy can run you down. Can U share your load?

I also avoid situations or ppl that add to my stress or grief.

Play it smart.

Hey monkey.

Really nice to hear you've gone from 3 jobs to a life again big congrats . 3 jobs is just too much especially with mh probs.

I've got a pretty cool set up too work wise , life wise to really, really , can't complain. My own hours lots of time off and pretty good money for what l do work, ; just find the life side of life relentless , even though l don't even do that much , don't even see many people , l'm the master of avoidance, yet it's still relentless at you at you always something. My gf says there's never just peace and yeah l find the same.

You paint huh yeah l figured , l use to paint , don't anymore . rx

Think l need to have just one thread maybe l should just make it this one , god knows. l've had a fair few things goin on since l joined bb and l've wound up with threads everywhere.

Anyway , started back at work yesterday only did a few hrs always takes me a few wks warm up in a new yr but man , do not feel like it, spirits and mentally are down the tube. l was expecting some money in Feb this yr and ongoing from there which would've meant l'd hardly even have to work anyway buttttt, it won't be happening, it ain't coming , it'll be another 3yrs now , hence the questions with this thread. l have to somehow kick start my spirits again and except that l'll have to keep this going another 3 yrs , from mentally zero to suddenly needing another 3yrs , ouch, a very big ouch.

Depression is so damn tiring isn't it , it's mind boggling just how spirit and energy zapping it is.

rx

Hey Rx

Reduced hours would already help me. Sorry, I didn't read all replies, so don't know if that's an option for you.. but I think there's truth in what lots of the others said, that you'll feel better if you do work.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the post :-) good luck, whichever way you choose to go.

Yeah right , thanks for the thoughts yeah you've basically said it lt right there you are in a better state working . l can well understand that. When l think about this l always remember back to when l left school many moons ago but l still remember being on the dole for long stints sleeping in and feeling disgusted with myself, ashamed and really feeling like crap. These days my daughter 19 is in that trap right now and it's effecting her in the same ways.

l have a property and plenty of other things to do these days so l could easily not work but couldn't afford too though unless l could get something centerlink but l couldn't cope with trying to get through all that either just to get it. How would you survive if you weren't working ?

My job over all is fairly easy in many , own business and very easy hours, lots of time off, but it also has it's hard slogs and bits and pieces and they're the parts l just feel over and past now and that l can't cope with for much longer. like yesterday l had to do an 11 hour slog down through melbourne to pick up the next job , nearly killed me so over it l do quite a few of those runs through a yr , all over vic.

Businesses can take yrs to start paying though so l'd love to move into the last bit of working life if l do that with something easier butttt, dunno if it'd be worth the hassle seems my job also does have very easy hours and time off and that l dunno, tossing everything around.

I am now on a DSP after running my own businesses for near 30 years. Each business closed due a severe decline in my health, often with a year or more in between being able to work. Self employed, I could work the days I felt possible. Working for someone else, I was never reliable enough.

After my last serious, ill call it an episode, I literally could not work. As a builder I lost all my skills. My body was no longer connected to my head as in no coordination, shakes, nerves, anxiety was paralysing to the point of sitting on the ground balling my eyes out unable to even pack up my things to drive. My ability to recall next steps totally gone, and where I had to methodically work out the night before each step I needed to take (and if anything went wrong, even flat tyre, that was end of coping for that day) I lost that ability to visualize in my mind.

I continued to shrink my business prior to this episode until one day, I broke. Something snapped in my mind. Since that day, I cannot hang a door, cannot confidently hang a picture. It is literally beyond me.

With bipolar Ive learned there is a huge difference between my capabilities and abilities.

Now on a DSP, I miss working. But realistically, that's nostalgia talking. What I truly miss is that feeling of self worth. The feeling of standing back and saying I built that, or I did that, great job, can do. I miss feeling a part of life. Now, I am for the most part a spectator. Accepting that is hard and something I fight, trying to contribute where I can. So where I built houses, now I once a week clean public toilets. Was I happier working, it came at a very high cost. The repercussions on my family were huge, having expended all energy at work. That's one example.

Am I happy now, no. Was I happy then, maybe. Did I have a purpose, yes. Having lost everything, including my family, do I have a purpose now, no. Maybe I will find that purpose. But I worked for as long as I could. Then, ultimately, that decision, to work or not work, my mind took that away from me.

Thanks for the post and l'm sorry of how things have gone .

Funny , l was thinking just a yr or two ago l'd always work to old age , l was enjoying it and l watch older folk fit as a fiddle but the thought lately is too much. My business would be ok but there's not enough in it to pay someone to do those harder parts but l am looking into that more. l could go into another area of it and on far better money but that involves lots of paperwork and stress which l find far harder .

At other times though lately , l don't feel like l can cope anymore with any of it. rx

Been reading about last few wks and there's a lot of studies about all stuff around this and retiring and all sorts of things , very interesting and in a ways really surprising but in others not at all really.

Do you know , from studies across the world , people that retire early mostly don't tend to be as happy as those that work through to retirement or even beyond. Not only , but their mental state and abilities , social skills , everything . deteriorate much faster and earlier but people that keep working not only tend to be happier but are also just healthier all round. So all that would obviously cross into a lot of mental health scenarios too and just supports a lot of what people have talked about here. And l think l've even mentioned somewhere myself, for me getting out to work and back on the job is often one of my best go to's that really helps clear the head and emotions.

Admittedly though , that's mainly just with that aspect of work , the other is the business side of it and long trips involved , they're the parts l don't know about lately.

rx

Hi Randomx,

Your findings are useful to us all.

I think this is very important info to know and hold onto.

I just finished work and do feel more accomplished than if I spent a day at home.

I think when I retire I'll make sure I keep doing things for example laps at the pools, aqua aerobics, bingo, grocery shopping, cooking for friends, as examples to keep the social and physical aspect of my life going.
I wouldn't want depression to creep up on me in my old age.

I'd like to hopefully get involved in things so even though I'm not working I'm still keeping my mind active.

If u don't use it you lose it, as they say.

Hi RX, I've probably answered this before, however, there are two ways to look at your question on this thread, yes it is possible to work if you have depression but there has to be a line where it becomes impossible and that's when you can't pretend any longer and this makes you unable to achieve anything at work, so the boss isn't too happy, that's when it's not healthier at all, plus everyone is asking you 'what's wrong', so generally I would say no.

I had one wall to paint when it struck me, I couldn't paint it and sat down crying for a whole day, that's when I had to stop, there was no strength left in me to continue.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

Yeah see that's it Monkey and what they're saying and there's even been ads on tv here yrs now saying the same sort of stay active stuff. None of it mentions from a mental health issues though and that's where it gets tricky,

l suppose though as in your case back then Geoff that would've been a no brainer then at that point . My situation l dunno , only just earlier last yr l was grateful for a job like mine and as l was saying mostly work was a really big help and a nice go to l was actually enjoying it.

last yr , on top of corona though, l also had very very stressful yr on a personal level that really knocked some wind out things and it's still going. But on top of all that something else happened which has also had a major psychological effect.For 4yrs l've expected some money this yr , right now , this very mth well , so for 4yrs l've thought l won't even have to work anyway from here on , well hardly, if l don't want too, 4yrs butttt, guess what . Due to events that money will be another 4yrs yet now damn it. l didn't know, l thought l'd have a choice from 2021 on butttt, l don't , not for another 4yrs now.

l suppose l should remind myself of how so many times through things going on it was such a relief to get out pick up tools and go to work.

PS , incidentally one more big thing the studies found and again it was all over not just in this country or that.

Do you know they also found renters to be happier and far less stressed that people owning a home. The renters had all this free time and didn't really have to worry about much just paying their rent. Home owners on the other hand were working harder , more stressed , often had money worries and nowhere near the free time.

How's that . rx

Last wk l was bringing a job back and it had problems so l had to park it outside a farm as l was between towns. I met the farmer and l must admit it was the perfect example of why l question this very subject right now.

Helluva nice old bloke but it turned out he was 85 and still working his farm.l know l'm mentioned a few farmers bc we have a few out of town around here l meet now and then or l'll just pass them in coming and going to different areas or whatever sooo, here was one more. Anyway explained what happened and checked it was ok l park the job outside and we got to talking. Yep 85 and still working , pretty amazing isn't it, he said it keeps him going , l've heard that one a few times and l've gotta admit anyone as fit as him at 85 would be very pleased.

Got me thinking l wonder if there was say a younger farmers stress still involved though which l reckon makes all the difference. lt was a big beautiful farm he'd owned since his 20s so everything would be well paid off and he's probably loaded most of these type are . But so it's probably been more routine type work for yrs and yrs now and he'd know his farm and seasons like the back of his hand and wouldn't need the money. So it wouldn't make or break if one yr didn't pay much and l'd say it'd probably be more a routine he's been doing 60yrs or whatever and so no stress or to him hard , l suppose he probably just doesn't farm as much as he use too , smaller scale maybe.

But it's fascinating meeting people like this.

rx

Hello RX, absolutely, meeting people that age have always fascinated me even at a young age, but back then we never respected the hard work these people have not only done but what they have been through, nothing that we could ever anticipate happening to us and certainly never wish for it to.

We never believed that one day we'd ever reach that age, and I'm still 20 years away, but when you look at their capability and ability on what they can do, physically especially and compare it to what we can actually do ourselves, you have to applaud them.

Some of these old fellows don't know what depression is, unless their doctor has diagnosed them with it, because when I asked an elderly chap if he ever had depression through the years of war, the depression, he said no and didn't understand what it meant, not until he was placed into a nursing home.

I felt deeply sorry for him and now I'm physically incapable of being able to do what people can now do at the ripe age of 85.

Best wishes.

Geoff.