I have multiple conditions that I am going for an assessment. I would consider a few of them serious, but looking on the criteria for ESA not really sure if I will actually fit the criteria. My conditions are quite bad but i'm not sure if there so bad to score me the points, I could exagerrate a bit, they don't really have a clue what i'm capable of.
I have ADD,
Spondylocostal Dysostosis, depression, insomnia, back and shoulder injury, social anxiety.
The way in which my ADD affects me is that I always phase out and sometimes it can actually be dangerous at work, I am forgetful and struggle listening, in the past i've actually rode into lamposts before being phased out, got sacked from my factory job because I forgot that I needed a plaster when I cut my finger, so got blood all over the products, didn't actually notice it though, also I have also nearly harmed other people forgetting to put signs down when mopping the floor, I get carried away, even nearly touched electrical equipment accidentally.
My spondylocostal dysostosis is a serious back + neck growth disorder, I was actually recommended not to ever go on trampolines or bouncy castles as a kid as I had a bad back, a lot of jobs require physical hard work consitently, over time this damages your back, for me I have done my back in from my restaurant job, even since 2 years ago since leaving it still hurts, I often wake up in pain from it, so even though I can actually do physical work it only makes my condition worse, I thought i'd be fine, but no it does make it worse doing physical things. Do they consider this? It is a lifelong incurable condition, that if made worse, when I get older could become a lot worse.
I'm not sure if you get any points for depression, this makes it hard to be social and would also limit you from any jobs dealing with people, I always feel quite **** and empty when i'm not on amph, I find it hard to get motivation to do things, every thing I used to enjoy has become unenjoyable, I am very anti social because of it. Wouldn't say it affects me so much at work though, but I won't tell them that.
My insomnia also means that it would be very hard for me to go back to a normal work routine, I did actually become an insomniac at the restaurant that I worked at, so it made it unbearable the days when I had 3 hours sleep and having to work the next day, the work quality was poor and slow, I couldn't just go to bed early as I would be wide awake, no desire to get into bed at all, if I did I'd be up all night, this really did affect me. More than depression, nights without sleep are horrible the next day.
And my back and shoulder injury was done when lifting weights, that too hasn't healed since, it's like a tendon in my back has torn or has pulled, it gives way at times and my arm also when lifting overhead gives way, it pops also.
Social anxiety is not so severe, but I can struggle to talk to people, there was a point where I used to panic even looking at people, or go red, communication is key in the work place, so i guess that comes into it, but this not so much.
I feel that if I exagerrate everything they will be skeptical that i'm exaggerating, I do have some serious conditions though, maybe I don't need to and some people do genuinely have many serious problems. Are they that tough on you? Or do they just accept anything as a problem. I thought maybe just say with the more serious conditions that they are worse and add small points on where I can.