Just realised, it's the heading where u only have 140 characters ............ So if U want t get PIP here's how ........

[StaceM8]

Luckily my brother paid for me to have a head injury therapist & she has taught me so much about myself & my condition.

I no longer consider myself as bipolar as the Drs and psychiatrists have said that I am. Easy option really isn't it, there u are take these ..........

PLEASE UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES JUST STOP TAKING YOUR MEDICATION FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, THE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS, MOOD STABILIZERS OR THE LIKE COS YOUR BODY NEEDS THEM . THEY HAVE GOT U HOOKED AND IT WILL HAVE DEVESTATING EFFECTS IF u JUST STOP EVERYTHING !!!

Anyway back t PIP - U have to look at it from a worst case scenario - when U are really low, at your absolute worst. where getting up is a problem. When the inertia has set in. The complete inability to do anything. Which is difficult, cos the only time U have th inclination to fill in the PIP forms is when you're on a high & everything seems rosy. A lot of the time it's not and as I said that is th angle u have to come from. When you are at our very worst.

If U have someone who knows what you're like when U are down to fill it in with U, that'd be great.

Preparing food (remember when you are down, can U do it ???)

You need prompting from another person to prepare or cook another meal. If I remember rightly I wrote that I could get a bowl of cereal or make some toast when I get up to go t toilet, cos that is the only time I get up and kno I need something to eat and drink. Assumingly, similar to yourself. 2 points

Eating and drinking : Personally I can still do that if the food or drink is brought to me... 0 points

Managing your treatments (remember, this is during your very low periods) I would imagine U need prompting at least. I also Use an aid - a pill pot & got 1 point for that

Washing & bathing (U need supervision or prompting from another person, although tbf it is myself that after 3 days kinda forces myself to do it cos I really don't want to & again do it when I've had t goto toilet- 2 points for that.

Managing your toilet needs - fine with that personally ;o) nil pointe

Dressing & undressing ??? I got 2 points for that but not sure what I put. Probably the fact that I find it so difficult to get up & to get dressed so I'm told to get dressed

Their criteria is :-

' you either need another person to tell U to get dressed or undressed, how to do it or when to keep your clothes on or that you need prompting or assistance to select appropriate clothing.

Other criteria : Communicating (again personally no problem - 0 points)

Reading & understanding (0 points cos I am fine with that)

Mixing with other people. I need to be prompting by another person to engage with other people, cos when down I assume like everyone else, I don't want to be in anyone else's company - the exact opposite to how I am when I feel well

Making budgeting decisions - I need prompting or assistance from another person to make complex budgeting decisions - 2 points

And for that I was awarded the Standard rate of PIP (11 points)

Hope that helps u get yours - But remember, U have to answer WHEN U ARE AT YOUR VERY WORST !!! (a mistake I used t make ;o(

[Mummily]

I can’t find your Psychotherapy post to reply to ! I think you mentioned a really good head injury specialist who you’ve found good … please could you message me the details. My son’s experience of life post TBI is very like yours. Mummily

[StaceM8 in reply to Mummily]

Hiya Mummily, hope you're well - please check out my profile, all the details will be on there - where are U based ??? & get your son (& yourself) to subscribe to my YouTube channel, which will be available to join very soon (just got to work out how t set one up first ;o)

Stace Xxx

[skydivesurvivor]

decided, when pip first came out out wouldn’t go on it , stayed on incapacity etc. went to DWP interview with mum when they were looking into people claims. Had to leave dad alone at home having just come home with pacemaker!! Went in after 30 mile trip, told didn’t need to see me?!!

[StaceM8 in reply to skydivesurvivor]

I managed without PIP for years cos I didn't want to claim for more than what I needed, but I was told that by claiming PIP I could have a much better life & that is so true.

It's also bloody difficult to get which is why I posted what I did - we deserve it cos there are so many expenses other people don't have to endure, but for most, it's a hidden infliction.

I now can afford to pay for a head injury therapist once a fortnight & psychologist once a month & have extra money left over for my holiday fund - Plans t go to Canada at the end of the year ;o)

Maybe the end of next year cos I'm recovering from a go-karting accident I had 20 months ago - mid July 2023 in which I totally snapped my femur in half - not an easy thing to recover from ;o( Anyway check out my profile regularly cos I'm writing my autobiography and any tips are more than welcome ;o)

Stace Xxx