Where does this jumped up prat of a man get off, dictating that depression is over prescribed. Bloody wooden top... I was always a happy, outgoing, friendly young man, I worked hard, wasn't a party person but enjoyed a trip to the cinema, a nice holiday, music, comics etc. And then something happened that tore the life out of me to the point I tried to end it twice. I had not picked on up the fact I was severely depressed, I saw my doctor who game me sleeping pills. It wasn't a fix. As time passed I realised I was still feeling down and went to my new Doctor, who instantly saw I was very, very down and started me on medication, she also got me to see trained people. Between them, they saw I was severely depressed, and failing health was making it more of a strain. Soon the health stuff overtook the depression in terms of severity and I became unfit for work. That fact alone depressed me more as I was always a solid worker, hardly ever missed a day and worked my backside off. Work was a wonderful routine, I miss it. So now, I live a fine line of depression and chronic pains etc, I still try to get on with life and attempt to be on the happier side of things despite the stress. So when I heard that MUPPET make direly stupid remarks, it bloody hurt. Now I know he's just a puppet in the way of things, people like him are Minster for Health one week and Minister for Transport the next week. Now I know he has ZERO expertise in any of these things and relies on his team to come up with the actual politics. So people like me rely on those people to get 100% correct leadership from PROPER professionals who have a vast knowledge of the medical issues. Sure, I know this is a cost-cutting exercise, but it MUST be balanced with proper care and correct medical advice. As always, the people hit are the people in the worst position, they rely on these people being unable or so stressed that they can't fight back. As for over diagnosed cases, of course there will be people who try and use the system, but trained Doctors can use the Voight-Kampff test (basically the Blade Runner turtle in the sand test) in a mild way to test the reality. Psychometric tests can also be used. Most triers-on would not make it past simple checks. Stress and depression are ways of life for some, I'm sure anyone reading this has had times of these in varying levels. Sorry Wes, it's not fun, going out for a walk and changing diet will NOT fix many folks (if any).It would just help with blood sugar and dietary needs, that isn't depression. And just stopping your meds is a disaster waiting to happen, any of that stuff HAS to be done in stages, the shock to the system can be massive. Can we vote on involuntary euthanasia for Politicians...I'd buy that for a dollar....
I can well imagine your anger and frustration that idiots like this good for nothing shit get away with these sound bites day in, day out, as they try to make a name for themselves in the political arena, Paul. The worthless tosser probably aint done a decent day of work in his life so how he thinks he's qualified to talk and give advice on health issues he aint got a clue about must make your blood boil. Sorry to hear you've had a shit-load of life's bollocks to deal with and the effects have worn you down to your very core but you've proved time and time again to be a fighter, mate, and I know you will always fight tooth and nail to ensure your loved ones are cared for and looked after and this goal alone, I'm sure, makes your resolute determination your raison d'etre. As you say, to just be thrown off a course of meds at the drop of a hat on the whim of this idiot could indeed be catastrophic. Some idiot Hull GP has left my mate on a very strong and "evil" painkiller/anti-depressant the past 10 years and rather than wean him off it gradually, after he's hurt his back doing his weights in his home gym, he actually upped the dose and left him on it without any medical reviews to follow. He has had to pay privately to see a specialist who was appalled at how he had been treated by the NHS and is now taking his advice and trying his level best to gradually come off the Amitriptyline perhaps 5g at a time, week by week, and it's having all sorts of nasty side effects on him - sleep deprivation, shakes and has seriously reduced his testosterone levels etc which has also freaked him out as other hormone / chemical levels are all over the place. It's no wonder his relationship of 10 yrs with his lass has just ended too as neither of them can cope anymore. As you say, Paul, you cannot just come off these things as they are powerful drugs with serious side-effects. Who is this Wes Streetlife fuckwit as he seriously needs a good slap and I'm certain you would help him out there, fella Give him one from me, mate.
That drug you talk of is a right bastard, it's known for all sorts of bad side effects, I know, it was one they tried on me first round. I had the shit's awful anger, sleep loss and more. I'm sorry for the poor bloke, too many folk are fed drugs that are not best matched to their condition. Sure, there's no perfect drug, just read the lump of paper they come with for possible side effects, it's more or less War & Peace in length. And yes, I'm a fighter, but on two occasions the grief got the worst of me, depending on how you look at it, I was either really lucky or really unlucky. And today they announced the PIP test will be even harder, it's already VERY hard, it's no use being an Oscar wannabe, they want hard proof from many people. It's not one you can easily fake, and those that do normally get found out quite quickly (and so they should). I hated taking benefits, I'd worked non-stop and that was all I knew, getting paid to sit at home just felt / feels wrong, but we have to live. I was told years ago to apply for PIP, I refused as I felt I wasn't as needy as some of the people I've seen. These days, I left it way too long, I have effectively damaged myself more by not being a person who likes to burden the system. One announcement I did like from today is that they are going to overhaul the Government Credit card system, apparently to avoid "wasting money, ie the MP's are caning the cards for freebies, nothing changes. Two free houses, renovated by the taxpayer by switching main residence every few years. Almost bottom less expenses, a free card to spunk money on, and if they get caught, the old excuses, an error in administration and "I didn't do anything wrong". People like Streeting are a product of this unfit government model, still running on rules centuries old. The rules kept, so to protect the thieving MP's from any wrong doing. The MPs seem to think it's some well-kept secret that us chattel don't know about, shows you how arrogant they are. Sorry boys and girls, we know all the secrets, we Just can't remove them, yes, we know you are thieving self-serving f*ckers.
