To fake having a disease, just because what I do actually suffer from is unheard of-even with doctors?

[XoticEngram]

I suffer from a sleep disorder which in itself isn't/shouldn't be a big deal. In the grand scheme of things compared to cancer, or some progressively deteriorating mental condition I am lucky.
However it does limit the work that I can do. Basically it is genetically impossible for me to fall asleep before 2-3 am so if I have to wake at 7am for a job that starts at 9am then its unworkable. If I was in a big city, this would not be a big deal but I live in Cornwall-a place with much reduced work opportunities.

As a consequence of this condition I have been claiming job seekers allowance for a long time. I have repeatedly tried to talk to Drs about it but in this country GPs are useless for sleep conditions and do little other than dole out platitudes about good sleep hygiene.

Now my job seeker advisor-who knows that I suffer from this condition- has rail-roaded me onto a 6 month work program placement which demands that I get up at 7am at the very latest.

Basically I have been put into a situation where I will have to endure 6 months of 360 degree hell with no respite whatsoever. I do not compensate any sleep I miss in the same way as other people. Being exhausted does not mean I fall asleep earlier.

Best case scenario- people on this work placement think I am belligerent and have an attitude problem.
More likely scenario- I incur damage to my health (in the form of excema like rashes-to start with) and succumb to alcoholism (something I have abstained from for over a year) and become a danger to other workers due to concentration problems. And end up receiving benefit sanctions on account of failing to meet the requirements of this program.

If I lived in USA and had easy access to a fire arm I might just turn my self off and experience Peace Perfect Peace.

Ive made an appointment with the Dr. It is unlikely that will be able to help me with what I actually suffer from so I am thinking strategically it might be better to say I am suffering from depression/psychosis in order to try and get myself on the sick. If I am forced to do this program this will probably be the result anyway as constant cortisol has a negative effect on any ones brain.

Please by aware-I WANT TO DO THIS PROGRAM. But the people who run it are unable/unwilling to work with me, refusing to acknowledge that the problems that cause unemployment are intrinsically complicated preferring to insist that a 'one size fits all' approach can be used for everyone. I think one of the people who runs it have an RAF feel about them, so they are probably full of militaristic virtue and belief in a regimented application of a hegemonic schedule in the curing of all of societies evils.
BTW- the name of my disease is Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. I doubt you've heard of it, but its a real thing

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome isn't that obscure and it is certainly treatable (I'm no expert by any means but I know that Melatonin and Light therapy are two of the options) so I don't understand why a Doctor would give you the diagnosis and then refuse to treat you for it. Unless you've self diagnosed in which case the DWP won't take this into account. Is it worth trying a different GP for a second opinion?

You need to spread your job search rather more widely.

Do you have a documented, official diagnosis?

If you have a diagnosis and supporting medical evidence then that should be sufficient. I speak from experience of having a condition that causes exhaustion (I skip a sleep phase) however if you basically just have a skewed body clock I don't see how you can't work and why you're exhausted

looking at the Papworth website it says that delayed sleep disorder can be fixed with behavioural techniques, great news! you should get yourself booked in for a study with them, speak to them about self -referral and then if it's not possible they will advise how you can get your GP to

Don't just use the government jobsearch, it only has about 10% of the jobs around on it, which is useless imo. Have always found Indeed to be good, or ring local agencies/care centres/bars and make it crystal clear you'd be over the moon to do evening/late shifts all the time any day of the week - think someone would bite your hand off.

But that disorder means that you will sleep later.
So you could do afternoon or evening work. Bars, pubs and clubs

What about night care? My friend works nights only in a care home via an agency
Or supermarket nights?
Or a petrol station?
Even McDonald's are 24 hours these days so might be worth a look?

yorkshapudding- I hear that a drug called melonin has some sucsess in negating this condition. But its not available on NHS.
I take Modafinil (brought online Drs wont prescribe it)for this condition and it helps-in short bursts- however last time i was obliged to meet a DWP obligation for over a month, the amount of Modafinil I had to take caused horrible rashes all over my feet. I still have not recovered from that. I DREAD what 6 months will do.

I remember when I applied to work at Sainsbury's a few years ago. There was a chart where you could tick your availability to work, so you could apply to work afternoons/ nights. I imagine the other supermarkets are the same.

Melatonin is available on the NHS. It's used for other conditions. However if a spate of cbt will cure it (going by the previous poster) then push for cbt.

It sounds like you just need a system reboot

I've heard of it, it sounds rubbish. Can you consider self-employment?

So do you have an official diagnosis?

What's your skill set/background OP?

Who diagnosed you in the first place ? Could you go back to them and get a document for the job centre

ilovesooty
no, i dont have proper documented diagnosis. But after having problems with sleep for ever, and after Drs unable to offer any solutions, its the only thing that fits. As soon as I stopped fighting against it and continually trying to reset my body clock, things got way better. But it makes work problematic.

I have fibromyalgia ( among other conditions) I am constant exhausted even though I use a wheelchair so do very little physical activity. I also can't sleep until the early hours due to joint pain ( arthritis). Going to bed earlier makes no difference. I sympathise op.

So your self medicating and as your ignoring questions have you self diagnosed to? If so you really can't expect them to make exceptions as to them it will seem like someone else who doesn't want to get up early.

Surlycue- I have been mostly using the government jobsite for job searchs and have not seen any of the jobs you described. I would love to be a dog walker.

Without meaning to sound harsh, there are thousands of people competeing for every job. If you are only looking on the jobcentre website then you arent even doing half of what all those other thousands are doing. You need to be pounding the pavement, asking in shops, handing in CVs, posting on gumtree, local facebook selling pages, trawling ALL the job websites, joining recruitment agencies. And if you arent seeing call centre jobs then you arent even searching the whole of the job centre website. They are on there!

BTW if you want to be a dog walker then do it. Put a post locally on facebook and gumtree advertising your price and availablity, what services you provide, get insurance and get going.

I have just read up about this condition. It says clearly that if you are able to sleep when you need to, you will not be tired, That is one of the diagnostic criteria. But you talk about being very tired. So it doesn't sound as if your self diagnosis is correct. I agree with your Advisor.

AndNowitsSeven- I am sorry to bring it up,right now I am panicking but compared to what you have my condition is laughable

Sorry but if this is a self diagnosis I'm not surprised you've been put on a mandatory work programme.

If you want to get off it I think you're going to have to try to get work covering your preferred hours.

AndnowitsSeven- and it must seem very disrespectful to talk of 'faking' anything

And Surly is right I'm afraid.

You'll need to be much more proactive.

Cleaty- I cannot sleep when I need to

OP you have only made a few comments on this thread, and already you are contradicting yourself.