Ever heard of agoraphobia? It& #39;s a condition which leaves people unable to get out of their home or face others.

Every eye on you is a threat, every unfamiliar noise a source of stress, every new situation a reason to panic.

It can ruin the lives of those afflicted with it...
...it& #39;s an invisible condition. You can& #39;t tell if someone is agoraphobic just by looking. But they know they are, and their suffering is sharp and real. Unless you& #39;re a Tory looking to save money of course, then their suffering is just fake... https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/26/welfare-funds-must-serve-really-disabled">https://www.theguardian.com/politics/...
...even if it eventually turns out to be fatal.

Of course, the DWP didn& #39;t consult the people who actually knew those who too their lives. They just looked and saw an able-bodied person not following the rules that everyone else had to abide by. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/07/three-cases-of-suicides-linked-to-dwps-handling-of-benefits">https://www.theguardian.com/society/2...
Terrible, awful, bad, cruel, and monstrous behaviour towards those who need our help the most, right?

Very callous for the DWP to completely ignore real suffering and jump to a conclusion, condemning the complex individual as feckless based on just looking at them..

..right?
So let& #39;s talk lockdowns, and claustrophobia.

The opposite of agoraphobia, claustrophobia can make you a nervous wreck if you& #39;re cooped up too long. If you& #39;re left without the sky, with just your walls, feeling trapped, it can trigger quite high levels of anxiety in some.
Yes, I know there is a risk in people going out. But for some, there is a risk in staying in. The lockdown doesn& #39;t make it easier, the fact they feel they have to stay in makes the need to go out more urgent, as they truly feel trapped.
Yes, I know experts are saying the lockdown is necessary. The field of those particular experts is in respiratory disease. I challenge you to find me a single expert in psychiatry who thinks this is not doing immense harm.
Yes, I know the lockdown is necessary. But this is a necessary evil, it isn& #39;t a glorious opportunity for people to exercise their megalomaniacal need to exert power over their fellow citizens.

If people need to get out, exercise some compassion and common sense.
No. It& #39;s not "different" - if you& #39;ve ever called the DWP& #39;s treatment of the mentally ill heartless, but you& #39;re now saying that people suffering should just suck this up, you& #39;re either a hypocrite or a coward.

The fact there is a global pandemic doesn& #39;t solve mental illness...
...in fact, it makes it much much worse.

I& #39;m not saying that everyone should immediately get out for a great big group hug in a great big hall while handgliders cough over everyone from above. I& #39;m saying we need proper and *comprehensive* judgement. https://twitter.com/michaljadczak/status/1248853337275064321">https://twitter.com/michaljad...
In summation, try to approach this with less hostility. Less of the finger wagging, curtain twitching, yelling, condemnation, and cries of "it& #39;s simple", because it really, really, is not.
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