Anxiety or Panic Attack sufferers aged 65 or over, should apply for Attendance Allowance, and should have needed support from another person for a minimum of six months. There is no mobility component for Attendance Allowance, and only two rates of care component. To qualify for lower rate care component, claimant must require ‘continual supervision throughout day or night in order to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others’, to qualify for higher rate, claimant must require this supervision both day and night.

If Anxiety or Panic Attack suffers are not sure if they are eligible, Disability Benefits helpline can advise. If in doubt, claim! It is advisable to seek help of a Welfare Rights organization when completing claim form, as they will be familiar with qualifying rules, and can gather right information for a successful claim.

Millions of pounds of Disability Benefits go unclaimed every year in UK, if you meet qualifying rules, its your right, claim it for help you need to manage Anxiety and Panic Attacks.

Disability Benefit Rates April 2005 to April 2006 Attendance Allowance £ weekly

Lower Rate40.55 Higher Rate60.60

Disability Living Allowance

Mobility Component Lower Rate16.05 Higher Rate42.30

Care Component Lower Rate16.05 Middle Rate40.55 Higher Rate60.60

Ali Sinclair is an accredited Welfare Officer (Institute of Welfare Officers), and is currently studying Social Care. Ali works in local government, her work involves advising on Welfare Benefits and Disability Benefits. Ali can be contacted at webmaster@attakkpanic.co.uk or go to her website for more information about Anxiety and Panic Attacks at http://www.attakkpanic.co.uk./

Well, reason I thought I’d become depressed was because of a series of traumatic events occurring at same time. I was wrong. The root cause of my depression lay in ways I reacted to them. One of ways I’d reacted was to blame myself for events I couldn’t control. The more I blamed myself, more I beat myself up. The more I beat myself up, more my self-esteem decreased.

The phrases I have used to briefly illustrate self-deprecating phrases we continually use against self are mild. I’m sure you realize that many people use much stronger phrases than I’ve given here. The point is that these phrases would be totally unacceptable to say to others. You wouldn’t tell a person that they were boring, an effort to be with and that everyone found their company dull and it would be better for everyone else if they kept away from people.

Agreed?

Yet, if I say to people:

“Pay yourself compliments. Accentuate your good in all areas of your life. Write down your good points, your triumphs, your achievements. Remind yourself as often as possible about all good you have done.”

They look at me like I’m an alien and say they’d feel stupid. Or uncomfortable. Or even embarrassed.

Yet they don’t feel any of these emotions when they talk to themselves using emotionally charged, self-deprecating phrases! And like rust upon metal, these phrases gradually erode our self-esteem and our confidence.

OK, here’s bottom-line. I’d like you to inscribe what you are about to read into your mind over and over again until it is permanently etched there:

It is NEVER acceptable to talk to myself in a way I know is inappropriate and even offensive if I spoke in same way to others. Time for me to sign off, but before I do, here’s a phrase I say to myself every single day without fail. Please use it, it is very powerful:

“If you put yourself down, down is where you will stay.”