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

Woah you're taking Modafinil??? No wonder you can't sleep. The reason I know what that is, is that I've also bought it off the internet. It's a party drug that's very similar to ritalin and cocaine as it works on the dopamine receptors. I used it for weight loss and found it's speed like similarities a very pleasant side affect and thought it probably best that I stop taking it.

There are lots of things that can affect your sleep.

What are you doing between 8pm and 2am? Blue light (daylight, electronic devices such as TVs, phones, computer, tablets, etc.) suppresses melatonin. You should avoid blue light for 2-3 hours before sleep. So you might try turning the TV off and reading a book by 8 pm.

Have you tried white noise? It's very helpful.

Amitriptiline is used widely as a mild sedative. You could ask to try nortriptiline if it isn't effective.

Care work has late and night shifts.

Yes... I used to know someone like you. He was eventually diagnosed with a narcissistic personality disorder. Absolutely unable to sleep until the early hours of the morning? Suited him down to the ground. Genetic? I don't think so.

Sorry for doubting you OP but your answers to questions on this thread don't ring true and your lack of official diagnosis doesn't help.

Modafinil will keep you AWAKE! It is also addictive. Very bad idea for an alcoholic to start self-medicating with modafinil.

You've got to start bringing yourself back into line with the general population's schedule. You probably don't need any medication at all.

Who is looking after your DD and giving her breakfast, by the way?

Dragonratt I don't want this to sound bunfighty but... why would not being able to sleep until early hours of the morning be indicative of narcissistic personality disorder?

What are the internet drugs for?

you need to get a medical diagnosis, you can't just self diagnosis and expect the job centre to believe you, can you not understand this OP. yes it must be hard, however you really need to stop making excuses and actually do something to help your own personal circumstances. You need to do that, fight for you, fright for yourself, and get a better life for you and your daughter!

Would you not be able to get sleeping tablets prescribed? I have to use sleeping tablets after my ability to sleep was destroyed caring for my very ill young child. I don't like having to but it enables me to function.

Jorahmormont, this is just one example that sprang to my mind of a person I know who claimed to be unable to sleep until the early hours of the morning. His case is a little extreme and I was not suggesting that the OP has this problem. But without a diagnosis no one knows and some might see it as a wonderful excuse for a lifestyle chose.

I would also say that outside the sleep disorder angle this is quite a common or garden long term unemployment problem that a lot of people would struggle with. It is really hard to get back into employment after a long time out and a lot of people in this position are depressed.

The way you talk about yourself 'not attractive', thinking you won't be good enough for certain jobs, suggests low self esteem. The putting up of barriers to every positive suggestion can be seen as laziness but perhaps it's fear of a big change and hopelessness that can be part of depression. It is easy to look up possible jobs on a website but harder to get your CV in order, turn up for interview and organise childcare, transport and all the things required to make a job work. Especially if at heart you believe you aren't good enough and will get knocked back.

Have a serious think about whether the sleep disorder is the whole problem or a more of reason not to address underlying depression and self confidence issues.

So OP I think you should go and talk to your GP about depression as well as sleep disorder not to 'fake a diagnosis' but because perhaps you actually are depressed. CBT and amitriptylline could benefit both.

Oh my word. I've just looked Modafinil up on t'internet.

"Modafinil (Modalert) is a mood-brightening and memory-enhancing psychostimulant which enhances wakefulness and vigilance."

What you need is a good dose of Nytol at about 7pm!!

Ahh I get you Dragon I didn't know if you were saying that not going to sleep until late is a sign of NPD. I know of someone similar who I really suspect has it and among many other things, she is forever posting on Facebook about how boring it is at 2am and "sigh I wish I could sleep like normal people, ah well, I suppose it will be another 4am doze off". However she also has serious "competitive illness" or whatever the proper term is.

OP I agree with others that you need a proper diagnosis, you cannot just self diagnose, and unless you are depressed or suffering psychosis, it would be abhorrent to pretend that you do.

Have you got even a small idea of what it takes to get sickness benefit OP? The application process can last longer than a year, and involves assessments by doctors, and, in your case, psychiatrists.

You won't 'pass'. In any case, refusing medication the GP offers is a no-no - it's almost impossible to get ESA if you have a history of rejecting treatment. You've got one and you can't change your med records in retrospect. If it was me, I wouldn't bother applying.

Do you have the faintest clue of how ill you have to be before they pay up? Read some ESA stories online, you'll find out. Even if you suffer from this disorder, and you can somehow get it medically verified, you'll sail through the DWP thresholds of function and mobility.

Incidentally, ESA is going down from 100 quid a week to 70 a week, the same as JSA, so no big bucks to aim for any more. You also still have to keep in touch with the job centre.

bessiebumptious it's very much like coke - especially if knocked back with a couple of vodkas. It's a party drug. The exact opposite of something an insomniac should take.

Bank Health care support worker - you'd be able to choose your shifts.

Oh, and the chances of having a psychotic episode on Modafinil are startlingly high - if you are genuinely worried about your health/minor ailments I wonder why you are using this.

Bloody hell, completely missed that OP is taking Modafinil! OP, you've gone from drinking excessively to taking stimulants purchased off the internet, both of which have a significant impact on sleep, so it's completely impossible to say whether you actually have a sleep disorder. Modafinil is addictive by the way and people with a history of alcoholism are advised to avoid it so it would be a good idea to have a conversation with your GP.

Cornwall is indeed lacking in a wide range of opportunities but unemployment is in fact much lower in the county than the national average. If you really wanted to work you could. But you need to fight harder for a diagnosis and proper treatment.

Bugger it, I'm giving up on this since OP's now disappeared. Hopefully she's watching Pride of Britain and getting some inspiration rather than trying to find ways of getting 'on the sick'.

So you are taking drugs off the internet that stimulates you then you dont sleep till 2/3 am honestly go to the Dr as i said there is a tonne of stuff going on I think and you need help

I think it's an interesting disorder and that I have a touch of it myself.
There's a validated questionnaire for it that classifies people into larks or owls and I am very much owl.
I hate mornings, find them an enormous struggle but am awake, alert and do some of my best work between say 10pm-2am.
My brother is the same and after a while he negotiated his job to start and finish1hr later because he just couldn't get in for 9am. I have another couple of friends who solved it by going self employed and setting their own hours.
Like everything there is some genetic element but you can also advance and delay your own body clock by your routines eg light exposure, exercise so people can entrench the tendency more or fight against it.
It is diagnosed by self report so cynics would say that it could just all be due to lifestyle choice. It's more commonly diagnosed in the US because everything is more commonly diagnosed in the US. Their healthcare system is obviously going to incentivise more diagnosing and prescribing than ours. Who is to say who is right? Many aspects of medicine particularly psychosocial ones are culturally determined.

I think OP meant that she was taking modafanil to stay awake to get to work at a normal time.
Clearly getting a drug like this on the Internet (or any prescription drug in my view) is a seriously bad idea.

Okay. If you want actual help, we can help.

What do you do all day?
What do you like doing?
How is your health other than this sleep issue?
Weight?
Fitness?
What qualifications do you have (or do you want to do)?

Do you know what? My brother is looking for work.

He is not choosy. Applied in supermarkets, garages, care work (it costs for the CRB and he just can't afford it) restaurants and bars. No luck.

Obviously somewhere in Cornwall will be recruiting but it might end up costing more to get to work mightn't it?

Move? Yeah. Cause that's free

You have to apply for jobs to get JSA. So op is obviously trying.

I have a dd with narcolepsy. Modafinal isn't going to work in the long term, it has a shelf life. It has a fair few side effects and whilst good for sleep regulation it needs to be monitored and the doses taken carefully if you actually want to sleep.
Papworth sleep clinic is extremely good, I'd try there.