Incapacity benefit for s/h?
 

I went for their medical check thing today, and it was possibly the scariest thing ever. I was signing on for depression, stress and anxiety. For the whole time I was there, I was shaking. I could hardly fill in my name on the forms ><

The doctor didn't ask me many questions. Confirmed the reason I was claiming, and then asked how I s/h. I told him cuts, burns and ODs. He asked me what I OD on, I told him that.
Then he asked to see the marks. I showed him my arm. He looked so shocked and distressed and revolted and pitying at the same time.

Then he got me special permission to leave the assessment early, I was obviously suffering severe anxiety and depression. He kept repeating how I 'need treatment'.
I thought he would ask me a few more questions, or at least talk for more than 3 minutes. Is it really that obvious to everyone that I'm a screw-up? Does s/h in itself count as a reason not to work? Or was he just taking pity on my trembling fearful self? :ermm:

self harm does not count as a reason not to work, but the issues surrounding the self harm may do. If they effect your life to an extent that you cant function to work. But depression and such other things are valid reasons not to work.

It's weird, I know I should be pleased that he believed me and everything.
But its like he assumed that I was totally hopeless just because I self harm.
Ah well. x

hey there... well in a way were not actually aloud to work... well its not that were not aloud its just most employers do not want the responsabilty incase we harm ourselfs at work...

I'm on IB for depression/self harming/anxiety, never had to see a doctor for an assessment though.

Self harm in itself isn't a reason not to work, but most people who self harm are often depressed or have other MH conditions.

I think he was just taking the self harm into consideration along with your other issues. Also, you aren't a screw up hon, it's good that he recognises that you need help. Better than being told you don't deserve it or something. I think you think he centred in on your self harm because you have, I'm sure it was merely an aspect of all the reasons you aren't able to work atm.
(hug)

Self harm in and of itself is not something that will keep you from working.

The issues that cause you to self harm, however, can.

I would think that your shaking and intense anxiety probably swung it... and the self harm just confirmed things.