I Just Want To Avoid Stress...

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I have let the benefits lady know that I won't be challenging the decision that her superiors have made as they say I need to find work. It seems doctors notes count for nothing these days. I just can't do stress at the moment, and to challenge the decision involves stress.
But on the good side, the lady who is involved with helping me find work (The lady who helps ill or dissabled find work... Different lady from the benefits lady I normally see and she is good) really understands what I am going through having shutdowns, so at least I am in safe hands. My thoughts are that I have to protect myself, so if I find work that I get over stressed, I am just going to say sorry and leave. I know I won't be entitled to any help if I do that for the next three years? (Someone via a TV program mentioned I would have to stay in employment for three years if I find work or I am not entitled to claim if I leave?) But as I look at it, if I try to stay in work and end up in burnout, I would likely commit suicide as a way out, so if I have no income and starve to death after walking out, at least I will likely live longer!

Ok, enough of the negative talk. I am stressed at the moment so I am not thinking right. This could be good. I could be finding myself in a better position. It is more that as they said that as the decision has been made so any future doctors notes will no longer be taken into account, what happens if I deteriate fast or have some sort of accident? I guess I would have to just cut myself off from the system at a time when I am not able to cope.

I feel trapped.

It used to be an option to start a little business. I did try about a decade ago and I expected to earn about £20 a week (Just enough to stay alive!), but today it is not an option, as everything has to be done online.

I just don't know what I can do anymore... Hopefully the tallented people in the benefits office can help.

So many people are in this same situation. Some are working part-time only, in order to cope, others are taking 2 part-time jobs, with days off here and there in order to cope. Stay positive. A positive attitude will be really important now. A multi-vitamin might be good too. All you can do, is take it as it comes, and you just might be fortunate and find work that really suits! Behind you 100%.

I wish you could go back to the bike repair shop......

Hopefully the new lady will take your needs into account and be careful about what jobs she puts you up for: is it possible to request to only be put forward for part-time work?
It was when I was last visiting the jobcentre... but that was six years ago now.
Just thinking that might be easier on you & your health than full-time.

Also: maybe try discussing self-employment with the new lady?
Both my wife and I are, and we have no commercial internet presence at all: word of mouth is slow but it still works.
See if she can help you brainstorm your skills... there might be something you can do that doesn’t overload you.
(Also thinking we’re both alone most of the time in our respective work: I think similar would be good for you from what you’ve said on other threads).

Hang on in there MG.
(suitably manly bear hug)

The good thing is they did say that they will go at my pace. They are amazing. It is just me that is panicing... Today I was soo anxious and stressed while waiting for the phone call. Yesterday I had an eye test and was in a partial shutdown.
The problem is that no one can tell that I am having one. It looks like I am pretending. Is aweful to get them when outwardly all looks fine.

^ I get that too: my wife can’t tell the difference between me wrapped in thought, and me sat there with my mind a blank because I can’t process any more.
V. Frustrating for her.
And agonising for me.

Very good that they’re making the effort to take your needs into account.

My issue is that I can't think what sort of job I can do. I just can't think of work I can do at the moment which avoids me having issues. There is one, but if I do have stresses and my mind associates the stresses with the type of work I have huge issues, so I am trying to avoid the thought of that line of work for now.
But generally speaking, I need to give it some thought.

Anything you could do to help calm yourself down so you’ve got mental space to think?

Your location tag mentions beaches: are they close enough for a leisurely stroll in the clear salty air and natural light once a day?

I’m going to second Juliette’s recommendation of multi-vitamins: my wife’s been on them one pill a day for the last few years. She’s better both physically and mentally than before, and has a bad day if she forgets to take them.
Definitely a good idea.

I like smaller roads. I don't get lost as I know where I am. On a road.

They also often have the best views. And nice gateways to pull over in.

I've had some interesting things happen along little roads.