Do they have to put 'Social Anxiety'?

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I've been having various issues with the job centre, for a while now, they've now got me going to a disability adviser and he has sent me to some scheme that's supposed to help disabled people back into work - on the referral he writes 'Social Anxiety' - this urks me.

I can kind of understand why I have to state 'social anxiety' when I apply for ESA, as I've yet to get a formal diagnosis, but do the job centre really have to put it down as 'Social Anxiety' when just going between themselves and the schemes they are associated with?

I HATE the term 'social anxiety' because it's incorrect, I don't suffer from social anxiety.
It's important that my disability adviser and whoever I deal with at this new scheme understand this, and that I have specific needs - although in theory I should be able to discuss these needs, it's not always that easy, so surely they should be made aware of this from the start. Furthermore I think 'social anxiety' isn't taken seriously, people think it's something you get over, it just doesn't come close to asperger's.

I understand that without a diagnosis I can't/they can't know for sure it is asperger's, HOWEVER diagnosis or not the issues are still there!

I'm not sure what to say to help, but I feel I should say something.
When I was younger I was always put off into a 'special group' in primary school, and I had no idea why.
They thought my intelligence was low or something... After I demonstrated about a month later my intelligence by spelling these really longs words, saying these difficult times tables, she was really shocked, and that offended me. She some how took 'Mild Autism' from my Mum as me not being that intelligent .

Well... I'm still not sure what to say exactly ._.
But I'm sure someone with a better answer then me will answer eventually... ^^

This is a good reason to get an "official" autism diagnosis. Most institutions you might want services from won't accept your word for it.

*nods* In the process, apparently they're trying to sort out funding to send me for an assessment - not sure any more than that, tried asking my GP what the hold-up was but she's useless so I'm not holding my breath for an update any time soon.

I find it is best not to go via the disability route for Social Anxiety etc whether the diagnosis is correct or otherwise. The reason for this is that I feel they place limits on you in areas where you are actually quite capable.

Ie I don't get social anxiety in a professional capacity...I am far too confident in that area due to the fact that I was an A grade average academically and in the days when I did work I was always praised by my employers even if I was not all that social with the other staff and skipped off somewhere on my own at lunch time. I only get social anxiety when socialising, such as being at a party or something, but not on the job. However just because I am anxious around my support worker the assumption is that I am like that with everybody. The truth is is that I just cannot stand my support worker. She is about as dim as anyone could be and I am not so much nervous as biting my damn tongue in an attempt not to keep correcting her and pointing out her...ummm....well....lack of intelligence. In short I am trying not to offend her.

If I were you I'd just laugh at them, they are idiots.

My apologies for my rant...I am feeling frustrated right now.

Last edited by bumble on 12 May 2011, 5:36 pm, edited 3 times in total.

"Social Anxiety" seems to be a stock phrase, as does "Download these relaxation tracks and come back in a month".

OH christ yes!

I will say that I am not a fan of relaxation exercises. I am bored out of my head stuck at home all day and I really don't need to be bored even more than I already am. I need something challenging and stimulating but they think the best cure for anxiety or depression is to relax, relax and relax some more. I spend all day relaxing for crying out loud...I need something to get out of bed for. I feel like Bill Murray in Ground Hog day...only I don't have separate days any more as they all merge into one.

The best way past anxiety is to just push past it. As long as one takes into consideration their energy level so they don't exhaust themselves (ie do not take on more than you have the energy to be able to do) then pushing past it is the best way to go. The more you give into it and sit at home thinking you can't cope the worse your anxiety will be. It is all about belief.

When I asked for support I thought they were going to help me get out there and build a life for myself and all they have done is stick me at home on benefits. I am incredibly annoyed about it and am in the process of cutting them loose as soon as I can (got a few loose ends to tie up first). Why in the hell should I be stuck in my house just because of epinephrine and cortisol pumping around my blood stream anyway. Anxiety attacks are unpleasant but are unlikely to hurt you and go away if you face your fear. All they have encouraged me to do is run from my fear, not face it. All running does is make it worse. Silly people.

I'm surprised they believe you at all without a diagnosis.....my experience of UK benefits is that they won't give you so much as a bean without proof. I'm also surprised that people here are being left to rot on disability allowance - that's completely against the gov's ambition of shoving everybody off benefits and into long working hours for low rewards. Who do you have to sleep with to get these perks?

If I remember right, "social anxiety" is used a lot with benefit claims - it signals that you can't be expected to just pop along to an interview and that you can't be expected to do work that involves being surrounded by people. I prefer the term "social fatigue." The only anxiety I get around people is an urge to get away from them when it's going wrong, or when it's going OK but I'm starting to flag and wish to escape before I screw up. Relaxation is quite helpful, in as far as nobody performs well when they're too tense, but it's going to need a lot more than that.