How do they view exercising for mental health?

I have been receiving long term IB for 12 years. I was a professional person who is medically retired because of serious mental illness. My illhealth pension was awarded on the grounds that I would never be well enough to work again, in any occupation not just the one I was leaving.This was supported by my consultant psychiatrist, Occupation Health doctor, GP, employer and of course pension provider. DWP has always been fully informed of my circumstances and the last review, in 2005, renewed IB for five years without an interview or medical.

Now I am being reviewed again and have been sent the forms. I have an excellent GP and he encourages me to manage my fragile mental health through exercise, which is in line with current NICE and NHS thinking. I take medication at the moment because I have relapsed, but I still swim. I have been back to acute psychiatric hospital several times since I was last reviewed.

I am terribly worried about the consequences of admitting that I exercise. Does the fact that I go out to swim several times a week mean that I would be viewed as fit to go to work?

Already I'm petrified of being followed, or being reported by someone who wishes to find circumstantial evidence which purports to show that I ought to be working.

How much do I tell them? How do I phrase the fact that I swim to stop myself going completely nuts?

Thank you for any insights.

Jellicle

Jellicle wrote:

I have been receiving long term IB for 12 years. I was a professional person who is medically retired because of serious mental illness. My illhealth pension was awarded on the grounds that I would never be well enough to work again, in any occupation not just the one I was leaving.This was supported by my consultant psychiatrist, Occupation Health doctor, GP, employer and of course pension provider. DWP has always been fully informed of my circumstances and the last review, in 2005, renewed IB for five years without an interview or medical.

Now I am being reviewed again and have been sent the forms. I have an excellent GP and he encourages me to manage my fragile mental health through exercise, which is in line with current NICE and NHS thinking. I take medication at the moment because I have relapsed, but I still swim. I have been back to acute psychiatric hospital several times since I was last reviewed.

I am terribly worried about the consequences of admitting that I exercise. Does the fact that I go out to swim several times a week mean that I would be viewed as fit to go to work?

Already I'm petrified of being followed, or being reported by someone who wishes to find circumstantial evidence which purports to show that I ought to be working.

How much do I tell them? How do I phrase the fact that I swim to stop myself going completely nuts?

Thank you for any insights.

Jellicle

Under normal circumstances, you are obliged to report any change of circumstances with regard to the payment of IB, especially if your medical condition has improved.

As you say, GPs and CPNs often encourage a certain amount of exercise as part of the rehabilitation process for mental health problems. This does not always mean that a persons mental health has improved, as on occasions it may not always be possible to undertake any form of exercise on any given day, particularly if it is a fluctuating mental health condition.

It is a matter of judgement for an individual if they believe that their mental health has improved to any extent, and whether that improvement is sustainable, sufficient enough to warrant a material change of circumstances?

Unfortunately, it would be impossible in this forum to determine if a person's mental health had improved sufficiently to constitute a relevant change of circumstances, without knowing the full facts of your case.

Thank you for your reply.

My mental health has not improved. It is unlikely to improve, but it is at risk of deteriorating. I have no physical problems, so with my GP's support and encouragement, I try to reduce the need for chemical intervention by doing exercise. It's gentle exercise, not physical training.

My question relates to the renewal of long term IB. None of my circumstances have changed, only the system.

I am worried whether an ATOS doctor will read that I am capable of swimming and therefore decline to renew my IB on the basis that if I can swim, I can go out and do a job.

You are quite right that sometimes one is so unwell that going anywhere, let alone a swimming pool to exercise, is impossible. Indeed, at the moment I feel so vulnerable and anxious that I can't go to the pool alone and have to be accompanied by my spouse.

Nothing at all about my situation is any different from the last renewal of IB, but I realise that the framework is different now and one has to be very careful how one composes the answers in the questionnaire. Hence my anxiety.

Hi Jellicle, Have you expressed your fears about exercise with your GP. Some GPs are very well informed on parts of the benefit system he may be able to put your mind at rest, Exercise is also the main part of pain management prorammes for back problems and joint problems in general. Best Wishes

Unless the form has changed would you need to put in about exercise? The form is about your fitness for work, if you know you are not that is the information you put in the form, with as much detail as possible..(I am on longterm IB myself & got a renewal last year with no medical either - hurrah)

I'm sitting here fuming at the feeling that anything that I do to try to make my life better seems to be a potential factor for scrutiny. I too like to go swimming, often accompanied by my mother who regularly comes into town. It is a recognised way to help folk feel better, recommended by OTs, GPs etc etc

Like yourself it's mental health problems that have principally resulted in my long-term IB claim. I'm not stupid, and I don't have my 'curtains pulled against the world'. No matter what I do just now, there is the constant frequency attuned to the feeling that I'm just another fish in the barrel waiting to be shot as the 'progressive' government steamrollers it's way.

I've been waking up at 4 in the morning and going out on my bike recently. The air feels good then. But the anxiety chunters on and on. If there's anything likely to be pre-empting another breakdown then it's coming for me.

I've been spending more time on these forums recently than on many other activities that I should be attending to, but I can't stop myself .

Damn, another too long post