'On the sick' and my acting debut.
Over 10 years ago I had a period of unemployment due to having a bit of a breakdown at my last job. Stress, bullying and overuse of amphetamines to get through the workload culminated in a very poorly big-girl's-blouse. I became very depressed and one day had a doozy of a panic attack and never went back to work.

So I'm confirmed by the doctor as a fully fledged wacko and I'm given incapacity benefit and left to sit in my house for months on end watching daytime TV and slowly turning into Jabba the hut.

Now at that time every year you had to visit another doctor who would confirm you were still ill and valid for incapacity benefit. This took place in some faceless grey building in the city and filled you with dread at the thought you might lose your money.

As we all know, there are plenty of people who don't walk around looking like the living dead because they are depressed or mentally unstable but look normal and healthy but just can't work as they aren't reliable or strong enough emotionally to do so. I figured that it wasn't enough to just BE depressed, I had to ACT it also.

Before the appointment with the doctor I didn't wash my hair for a week, I chose the plainest clothing I could find and didn't iron them. I didn't want to turn up filthy because that would be going too far. I wanted to look like a normal middle-class women who just couldn't cope any more, (which was true really), and not a working class work-shy dole scrounger. I arrived and sat in the seating area and thought sad thoughts until my name was called. I eventually went in and the scene was set.

I gave the performance of a life time. I sat hunched in my uncomfortable plastic chair looking sad but not sullen and answered the doctors questions, carefully thinking about what he wanted to hear. Some I answered truthfully and some I embellished for effect and I began to realise that I was probably safe for another year.

I often say to myself when watching a wonderful performance from some actor in a film that I could never do what they do but then I remember my time on the sick and think......mmmmm! maybe I could.
( girlinthehole, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 19:42, 8 replies)

Never mind the unemployment
I think we all want to hear a bit more about the "bi"
(Richy_T hundreds if not thousands of dollars, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 19:47, closed)

Ninja edit. *laughs*
.
( girlinthehole, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 19:48, closed)

I was expecting that
but did absolutely nothing to prepare.
(Richy_T hundreds if not thousands of dollars, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 19:51, closed)

I'm sitting here, trying to get pissed as a mattress...

then I read this.

This post is awesome - and perfectly sums up everything that is so brilliant about you.

*Clicks*
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Fri 3 Apr 2009, 22:21, closed)

I agree.
And I'm not at all drunk. Yet. (But it is Friday night after a very long week), We shall see.
(MichaelS wasn't picked again, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 23:58, closed)

I can completely relate to this.
A very good description of a period of my life, too.

*500th click*
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 22:44, closed)

This is a great post
clicks
( SpankyHanky, Sat 4 Apr 2009, 0:09, closed)

Well said
*clicks*
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Mon 6 Apr 2009, 9:50, closed)