Been off, about to go back but....

[whatsthepointinwasps]

Not sure what to do;
I’ve been off work with low mood and stress for a good number of weeks. My work could see I was really struggling and have been very supportive whilst I’ve been absent. However I am meant to be returning soon.
The personal situation which prompted me to go off has still not been sorted out and in actuality has been even more difficult of late.
I do not feel I have had one day to myself to rest or any time to do the therapeutic things my GP advised me to do to assist my recovery. This is because I’ve had to deal with all sorts of problems regarding the situation.
Most days I have felt worse than ever and almost at my wits end. I just feel empty, drained and completely exhausted.
I have begun to have nightmares about going back to work, though I love my job when feeling well.
I hate to let my team down but I’m just not sure if I’m ready to return quite yet. I feel sick at the thought of causing yet more disruption but I am worried about how I’ll cope if I go back still feeling the same as when I went off.
I have one more week off but a lot of that will be spent caring for an elderly relative with Alzheimer’s and trying to get a new care team in place.
This was the source of my stress since before Christmas and as I said earlier it is still on going.
Would it be inconsiderate to my manager and colleagues to take a couple of more weeks off?

[kitk]

Honestly, I think you need to talk to your doctor and get signed off officially for another few weeks. Your manager can't argue with that. You don't need to worry about the rest of the team- you're either in a job where others can pick up your work or you're in a job so specialised you'll have to catch up when back. If it's the former there are temp agencies to support and many people aren't working at capacity anyway!

It does sound like you need help shouldering your additional responsibilities tho and I would be aiming for that. Will you be better when the care situation sorted? How can you help yourself against future crises? I don't know the whole story but sounds like some CBT might help you a lot!

[whatsthepointinwasps]

Hi, yes doing a CBT course was what doc advised but I just haven’t had a chance cause of all the trouble with the care team and filling in for the shortage of care.
Things would be much much better if I had a stable, reliable team but it’s just not in place at the moment.
Next week will be me and the only carer left. I am hoping to have a new team in place in a fortnight but till thats settled it’s a huge worry.
I don’t feel like I’ve had a break to recover at all.