The sense of panopticon, surveillance, fear of getting anything ‘wrong’, being believed, knowing you’re not viewed as disability ‘proper’, viewed as morally deficient, all contribute to increased paranoia, depression, anxiety, self-harm/suicide.
Some people relay how DWP processes, government, and the endless drip feed of derisory media have resulted in this getting embedded into auditory voices heard, persecutory fears, low self-esteem.
“I started to fear the police would break into my home, drag me off and put me in prison”
“I was afraid to stand near my window in case I was under surveillance”
“I can’t go out or speak to people I don’t know, they could be undercover operatives”
“I heard my thoughts in the voice of Ian Duncan Smith”
“I can’t bear receiving post because of DWP letters, I ask friends/relatives to not write to me”
*I have vomited at the sight of an envelope”
“I can’t do a class, socialising, doing voluntary work, in case anyone asks me what do I do. I’m afraid of people knowing I’m a claimant in case they think I’m a scrounger and ring the fraud hotline”
“I have exit plans in case I can’t face the next review or lose it”
“I considered physically disabling myself so that it was visible and I’d be believed”
Recovery in the Bin 