Anyone started with the NDIS?

[CheerBear]

I heard back from the NDIA today @eth and anyone reading. Apparently I need to provide more evidence of current treatment, of the permanency, and of the impact. Apparently the many, many pages of exactly that, that I had already provided, were not enough.

It took everything I had to give them what I did and I have nothing more I can provide them with. There is literally nothing more I could say, no more reports to attach, no more letters I could give, nothing that could be written differently. The person I spoke with kept saying that it wasn't the worst outcome as they hadn't said no yet and I get that, but it feels pretty awful right now. It feels like I tried as hard as I could and now I need to try even harder. I don't know where to begin and it feels pretty overwhelming to think about. Getting that application together took a lot out of me in terms of time, energy, resources, appointments... I don't want to do anymore of it.

So ugh 😞

[Mazarita]

I have my listening ears on your post, @CheerBear. Hugest hugs for the painfulness of this process. Is there any deadline on when you need to get these next things to them? Perhaps it's 'time-out' time for a while at least, to give you a chance to recover from the blow. Really feeling for you with this. Hugs again. 

[eth]

Hey @CheerBear  feeling with you and completely empathising with what you're feeling at the moment.  Getting another response saying your efforts haven't been enough really knocks the stuffing out of you.  I've been where you are, had to provide further evidence last year myself. 

One thing that can help is to get a mental health occupational therapist to do an assessment of the functional impacts of your diagnosis.  I had one last year that my sil managed to get funded by Carers org.   Also I got further, more specific reports from my psychiatrist and psychologist about life long disability and functional impact. And got the GP to amend the access request form to better reflect the worse days rather than the better ones. 

It's a blo#$%y  tragedy that during the application process you have to be focussed on proving what you're like at your worst instead of being able to focus on a recovery path.

  Another thing you might be able to do at this stage is get a Disability Advocate involved (they're free and in every state).

The other thing that helps a lot is if your psychologist can give evidence in a report that you have exhausted all the medicare rebates under the mental health care plan AND still require ongoing therapy.  That such therapy will help you manage better and ameliorate some of your symptoms, but that you will have to have ongoing therapy all your life because of the permanence of you conditions.  I don't know your actual diagnosis, might be different from mine, but these are the things that helped me get over the line eventually.

I agree with @Mazarita that it would be good to check the response deadline,   And then maybe print this post and keep it with your NDIS stuff to read when you are feeling a bit stronger.  

I'm angry for you too.

Sending the warmest wishes your way xxx

[CheerBear]

Thank you @Mazarita for your listening yesterday. I took your very helpful and gentle suggestion to time out yesterday and spent the rest of the day and the evening doing what felt right and trying to settle the overwhelmed (and angry) feelings. They're not gone yet but I think I can put them on hold for a little while, or at least try to. Thanks for getting it.

And thanks also @eth, for your understanding too and your helpful suggestions. I will definitely look more into it all when I have the details of exactly what they're asking for, how to provide it to them, and when they need it. There's so much in this thread alone that could help, and I will be sifting through it all. I have one big thing on this week that takes priority and is driving big stress and anxiety, and I am going to try to tackle that first, then I'll get stuck into this one.

I was shattered yesterday. I didn't expect to hear what I did in the "maybe - but let's push you a bit more before we decide" feeling response. I know that application is as good as it can get for me because myself and my team (GP, clinical psych, psychiatrist and mental health worker) made sure of it. I'm struggling with the idea that I will need to use the already stretched and not enough services and support that I have, like my psych and my GP, for this again instead of using them for the stuff I really need to be doing. And that I may need to find even more people to say that I am permanently, functionally impaired - people who don't know me or my life or my situation. Precious resources that would be way better used elsewhere. All so I can maybe have a chance at getting the support that could help me. Then there's the idea of sitting with the anxiety that comes with waiting to hear back from them again. Far out 😞 

Thanks again for listening and understanding

[eth]

Lots of hugs @CheerBear  I hope talking about it here is helpful for you.  It has been for me.  Thinking of you 

[eth]

This seems timely @CheerBear :

https://www.valid.org.au/10-steps-excellent-ndis-therapy-reports

Might be useful for you.

[Queenie]

Hey @eth @CheerBear @Mazarita @Appleblossom @greenpea I have a meeting this afternoon (well more a workshop I think) to learn how to navigate the NDIS online portal. Kind of weird because I haven't actually received my plan as yet. I guess they are getting me ready. Nervous because every time I go to the NDIS offices, I feel like I am being assessed all over again and have to justify my needs.

[Queenie]

Back from the workshop. My brain is fried! For the first time in my whole life I am being told I can pick and choose who and when I want to support me and what services I want involved in my care. Mind blown! All this talk about legal binding documents, service agreements, negotiating price per service is scaring me! I have to leave my current psychologist and go with a NDIS approved psychologist. Unfortunately there are none in my area, so I have to travel quite a distance to another town just south of where I am living (I am in a metropolitan area!). 

[Mazarita]

Sounds like a mixed bag of new things, @Queenie. Do you like your current psychologist, or think they are helping? I would not like having to change psychologist and the travel time sounds unhelpful too.

On the other hand it also sounds like there are more options open to you than previously, promising.

Understand how it might be a brain spin.

Take it easy tonight, hope you might find some relaxation after a big day. Hopefully there might be time for taking it in slowly before the next step?

[Appleblossom]

@Queenie Glad to hear about the good bits of your day.

Yes I found the concept of choice ... is high ... but pushing legalilty is scary for me too.

As I have a lot going on in all areas of life, part of my reason for delaying looking at and thinking about NDIS. Is that it could enough to turn me into total jelly.  So I am working at , not being anxious about the change and facing each step when it comes.

I have to face it with respect to myself and my son.

Last night I met a lawyer in the carers group, if he shows up again, maybe talking to him will reduce my fear of lawyers.  All I see in law is people charging like wounded bulls.

Strange that there are not enough NDIS approved psychologists, tho not strange really as I have been referred to people who ceased in the field a lot ... hmmmm

Take Care Q