To think we are becoming a country of hypochondriacs?

🤣🤣🤣I

f you ever become disabled, you'll soon find out about these "rewards". Or do you think illness and disability only happens to those less deserving that you?

I agree with the poster who talked about preventative- I've long held the viewpoint that for quite minimal cost relative to further costs down the line- the gvt could set up preventative clinics in town where once a year you made an appointment and got a 'full ' blood and urine check, blood pressure check and a chest x Ray, free of charge - this does not need staffing by doctors but by trained up phlebotomists, nursing assistants and obviously a radiographer. Any follow ups done via GP./GP assistant.

There are many things if picked up early would have better outcomes.

And how many of them 3 million are stuck on nhs waiting lists getting worse

No money would definitely help my bipolar disorder.

Posts like this really make me feel like shit about myself. But I expect that is what you were hoping for OP.

Yes, people will miraculously suddenly stop being sick because they have no money. Sure.

More than 3 million on "sickness benefit "...when the availability of wfh jobs is higher than ever .
1 year on benefits max am sure people would step up and be productive ..

YANBU. At all, this is a serious problem, especially when you have a crumbling NHS and GPs under extreme pressure. And a benefits system which rewards 'sickness' as opposed to unemployment.

Nobody is getting pip without strong medical evidence the fraud rate is 0.4 % so practically non existence so please tell us how people are manipulating the system. Lots of posters on here have used the word snowflake, hypochondriac and faking it. Have you ever thought the reason so many people are struggling with their health is because the nhs is failing them. But of course it's easier to blame the vulnerable person then look at the true cause of the issue. I work part time and am only able to do so due to having a boss who is understanding of disability and flexible if he wasn't like a lot on this thread then I'd be another person who couldn't work. So maybe if people's attitudes changed towards disabled people and instead of slagging them off try to understand there needs then more would be able to work with help.

But the OP used the real-life example of a real woman with real chronic conditions. A woman who also works (because apparently working for home is not good enough). She also dismissed these real conditions as the aches and pains and headaches we all get from time to time. Can you really not see why people have pushed back?

...there is no such thing as a burden of proof on an internet forum. We aren't in a court of law.

It is however longstanding (if unwritten) forum etiquette.

The clue is in the descriptor there though surely, it's not an 'ache and pain' it's chronic pain, which means it's persistent and severe. Which you know, obviously.

If you don't have chronic pain that's great, but that doesn't mean that other people don't, or that they must be liars or hypochondriacs when they say they do. I accept that it's possible for human beings to do the splits even though I can't.

What an odd and ignorant stance to shout so loudly about.

Although it appear I have touched a nerve with a few of you. But aren't forums supposed to be for discussion/debate? No need to take things so personally

You haven't touched a personal nerve with me, I have no chronic conditions or disabilities. I just think you sound like a fool. And of course people will take it personally if they suffer from one of the conditions you dismiss with a casual "oh we all get headaches/aches and pains" and suggest they just toughen up a bit.

It's not disabled people though, is it?

Why are you so fucked off with people saying there are some claiming chronic conditions to not work, make phone calls, pick up their own shopping (or whatever)? Do you not think those people exist?

I'm genuinely sorry you are not well and have lots to contend with. And I'm sorry if you've faced skepticism. But as adults we can have a hypothetical conversation about this sort of stuff when you only have to open <insert social media of choice> to find a person talking about their completely self-diagnosed condition which stops them doing stuff they don't really want to do.

Stop trying to shut down discussion by deliberately not acknowledging nuance. Nobody has said that all disabled people are faking it or are snowflakes. We cannot ignore the explosion of claims for disability and sickness benefits and there is a growing feeling that not all of these claims are completely valid. The poll in this thread reflects this.

Considering the state of the country's finances and the debt burden the country carries where interest payments alone are crippling us then we are not in the financial position to not tackle this. It's not about targeting groups for their characteristics but about ensuring systems and resources designed to help and support the most vulnerable in society aren't being exploited. Like it or not, there is a real feeling at the moment that people are manipulating the system and this is often informed by people's anecdotal experiences where they know people that quite openly do this. This is why posters claiming that it never happens fall on dead ears and people become suspicious of everyone as there is just no acceptance of the obvious. We need to root the exploiters out so that the system is sustainable and can support the right people.

Don't come on here with your stats, don't you know it's all mollycoddled youngsters who are scared of a bit of hard work.

I just feel like you're blaming disabled people though. Why can't we organise society to protect the vulnerable? Or even include them? It is just so grating hearing the assumption that we arent trying hard enough, that we are a burden, that we are making it up. People forget that anyone can become disabled at any time, and most of the time it's not their fault. I just urge you to have a bit more compassion, not everyone can be the model member of society you seem you expect them to be.

I have about 10 diagnosis and not one of them was caused through lifestyle choices. Very few are.

I'm 55 and have had chronic illness all my life. I've taken steps to self manage the problems and just crack on. I did have to quit my career over something others would deem a nonsense problem though (allergy and very painful sinusitis caused by working environment) so environments can cause issues.

People going to the doctor for a cold is just ridiculous, but I suspect they do it for attention or they're bored. Same with family A&E visits.

When my dcs got chicken pox I just gave them calpol. Now, it seems parents panic over it.

I am disabled too. I know this. It's not people with genuine disability or illness that I am talking about.

OP has mentioned being sick of hearing about a friend’s health problems. I do understand to an extent - I’m sure it is tiresome when you are well and able-bodied. However, when you are chronically ill, your world shrinks so much that all that is left in it is you and your horrible illness and the symptoms and the sadness that life is t what it once was. There is very little to talk about other than your health because you’re not well enough to do anything or go anywhere to prompt discussion of the usual things. She’s probably just as sick of talking about it as you are of hearing about it

See when you say no need to take things personally and ask if you've touched a nerve...

People with chronic health conditions have likely spent years battling with medical professionals over their issues, trying to get a diagnosis, feeling something is wrong and not getting any answers or waiting years to see a consultant

So it gets wearing when people then start posting "hmmm maybe they're just a hypochondriac"
People will be pissed off if like me you've spent the last 18 months sat on a gynae wait list to be told you're just not trying hard enough or maybe you're exaggerating

Firstly, I think it's extremely naive and dangerous to downplay the role that people can play in managing and even preventing disability and illness. We know that simple things like diet and exercise can play a huge role in preventing lots of conditions like heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. Lots of these conditions can ultimately lead to disability. Before you start accusing me of saying something that I'm not, of course there are also lots of cases that aren't lifestyle related but a hell of a lot are. It isn't controversial to suggest this as the scientific community is pretty unanimous that lifestyle is a major factor.

PIP claims aren't spiralling because elf workplaces not employing the disabled. You can claim PIP if you're employed so it certainly doesn't explain why claims would suddenly shoot up. Also most new claims have nothing to do with vascular disease. Arguably lockdown has caused more people to claim for mental health disorders than it saved in a potential increase for physical conditions linked to COVID spreading.

My point is that the state and society isn't some other entity. It is made up of all of us! There is a fallacy that the state and wider society has an inexhaustible capacity to carry the burden of anyone that is struggling with their physical or mental health. When this becomes the majority of the population then obviously too much falls onto the minority and there will be a reaction, especially when the 'strong and healthy' minority have their own issues and struggles to deal with. Talk of restructurng society is all well and good but there is stuff that needs to be done. We need to have economic growth to fund all the services we want and we need people to fill vital roles. Some of these roles are hard and difficult and put a strain on people's mental and physical health but they are necessary. We need to get real about this instead of pretending we can somehow sanitise the world and make it easy for everyone.

Thank you for answering.