To be really cross about the proposed cuts?

[Byjimminy]

And feel really effing sorry for those with genuine anxiety and depression - it is disabling!

Already seeing threads in MH with people despairing in anticipation of cuts. As if mental health services haven't already been decimated beyond recognition already. GP appointments as rare as hen's teeth, CAMHS and access to decent therapy is next to non-existent, the conservatiives slashed all the support workers and sure start centres and we've had the worst pandemic in decades (centuries?) - long covid is thing too! And now people are just self diagnosing/making up mental health issues? How the hell anyone believes anyone manages to claim PIP without a proper diagnosis is insanity itself.

I completely agree with this article: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/wes-streeting-overdiagnosis-mental-health-adhd-b2716618.html

I know there will be umpteen threads on this already, but maybe some others like me just want to let stuff out in frustration and have a fresh place to say it. To think this is a labour government making these decisions BEFORE putting the services in place to actually help and treat people is beyond comprehension.

Excellent post

I agree the disability label can be problematic or unsuitable when it comes to autism. Apologies for the oversight - I was thinking about the mental health side of things.

The reason I found it empowering was because it helped me see I wasn't a failure but actually had to overcome a lot to achieve what I have.

Though I clearly prefer to focus on what I can do, I am very aware of when I wasn't able to work. I didn't want to focus on what I couldn't do then, either, but that is not the same as not acknowledging it.

Autism is a huge spectrum and my son is very disabled by it he hes nearly 15 and completley non verbal ,it csn be massivly disabling for some.

Yes. That's why I said the disability label can be unsuitable/problematic for some. Because some people with autism (or "autistic people" as many prefer that language...) find it very offensive.

I personally don't, for the reasons I have explained. I would have thought this was obvious from the quote history.

What's odd is that the PP mentions her partner having breakdowns and says he's had a lot to overcome, yet doesn't seem to comprehend that autism can be disabling!

It's an interesting one because some autistic people like the PP's partner (and myself) wouldn't be disabled by it if everyone was the same/society was run differently, or with the right support or circumstances around us.

Having a decent partner can make a huge difference, for example - at the most basic level it means household tasks are halved, only having to cook dinner half the time and so on. For some it means all that side of things can be taken care of by someone else, plus emotional support. Then they just have to focus on work.