Once every two years I have to be interviewed by them or else have my benefits cut off. Last time I was given advice and reassurance by the clinical psychologist who was providing my CBT at that time. On this occasion it was just me and some Diazepam kindly prescribed by my GP to help get me through the ordeal. Because of my extreme anxiety I arrived about three hours too early. I wandered around the local streets enjoying the unaccustomed exercise and fresh air and hoping it wouldn't rain. Eventually I found a quiet library and sat in there reading a graphic novel about Laika, the first dog in space. It's a very sad story but it helped to calm me down. I returned to the assessment office about twenty minutes too early and filled in some forms. I had to ask the people in the queue behind not to crowd me and (perhaps noticing how much I was shaking and perspiring) they gave me some space. Sitting in the crowded waiting room hiding behind a copy of the Metro newspaper was really stressful. My actual assessment started about twenty minutes later than the appointed time. By then I was a quivering wreck.
Part two of this exciting tale follows shortly. 
