To think we are becoming a country of hypochondriacs?

It's so variable, even by individual, so any sweeping statements are inevitably wrong for someone.

But in general, yes. Different generations have different expectations, and they do seem to be becoming less resilient.

I'm not sure why - maybe because of mollycoddling - but I think a more likely cause is the entitlement culture.

I hate managing people in the public sector because HR departments are terrified of getting rid of people. You add in neurodiversity or a LT health condition and they're paralysed. I saw one guy claim a salary for three years, whilst seemingly not delivering anything useful. It's hard not to get resentful.

Part of this is caused by government policies. They've made it so "time off with a disability" can't be used as 'sickness' in an absence policy. But the criteria aren't applied strictly enough. So if you have "migraines" or mild mental health issues, that can count as a LTC then thay can be seen as a disability. It's way too lax and genuine disability is lost in the midst of the morass of opportunitists.

Personally I don't think it's doing people any favours to accommodate this stuff. In the end, no employer wants someone with no commitment or work ethics. You have to show up to work. I can see why it annoys the old school.

This really gets my goat. This week, huge surge in early onset dementia. Last month huge surge in young people with colon cancer.

Etc ..... Ad nauseum.

Typical ignorant response.

This is interesting. What kind of behavioural changes do you see? (I'm also probably ND of some description).

I agree about the cancer stats. Huge fuel for anxiety. Maybe we know too much nowadays and it's driving us crazy. The tabloids seem to love running a "otherwise healthy younger person develops deadly cancer" story and it really fuels my paranoia.

I give genuine sympathy to people who are ill. We can all tell who is really sick and who is taking the piss.
I wouldn't worry too much about the country.
It will be fine.

I do think there is less resilience these days and people generally seem less able/willing to manage minor illnesses themselves.

I also think a lot of people are unwilling to use appropriate care services if they cannot manage symptoms at home e.g. pharmacists, nurses, 111 online. Many think the GP is the only answer to everything when a lot of things could be dealt with elsewhere.

I work in a school and there are a lot of fairly young staff hitting stage 1 absence reviews because they stay off for the slightest thing.

I have a permanent spinal issue which can be very painful at times. I make sure I do the physio exercises, use appropriate pain killers, book in for physio if needed etc. Basically, I manage my condition appropriately and therefore teach full time with very few adjustments needed. If I didn't manage it, I probably would struggle to work full time.

The reason I mentioned France was as an example to show that the sickness culture is not unique to the UK. Also, lots of companies in the UK downsized their office spaces during Covid, so the link between WFH and sickness is not as strong as it perhaps is where you live.

This whole WFH/back to the office debate is so irritating.

I get that there are some jobs that can't be done remotely. But, there are plenty that can and in which productivity really improved when everyone had to WFH.

I honestly think that because someone people enjoy the social aspect of being in the office, and of course it's profitable for local shops and offices lets etc of people go in and spend money on travel and sandwiches, this massive value judgement is being made that it's somehow 'better' to come in.

We shouldn't need an 'excuse' to work remotely if remote work enables us to do our job well and works for us.

@justasking111 I would divorce someone for saying that !!unless it was clearly a very very bad taste joke

Well I disagree with you, and what has France got to do with it? I don't live in France and never mentioned it. What I said was that I don't hear of nearly as many people here with all these health problems that half the UK/MN seem to have. I left the workforce just last year and hardly anyone had time off for anything more than the usual minor illnesses (and I have worked with a lot of people over my working life). No-one was signed off with 'stress', which seems very common in the UK.

I also never said anything bad about WFH, just that it is not such a big thing as it is in the UK, people here mostly go to their actual workplaces (which indicates to me that they are reasonably healthy, which was my point!!).

Oh no. How horrible. What a rotten thing to say.

It's impossible to do any work while suffering with a migraine headache. I very occasionally get optical migraines. I can't see anything and just need to lie down till they pass. When my sight returns to normal I am left suffering an excruciating headache that over the counter pain medication doesn't help. Apart from these I am known as a hard working reliable person.

Beat him to it, leave him. You're managing perfectly well on your own but now you won't have to clean up after him!

In Mumsnet speak, you have a husband problem ❤️

"I manage perfectly well so should you", eh?

My husband hates my chronic condition. I don't talk about it, the walking stick and gait gives it away. He's so angry refusing to be my carer yesterday because I asked him to take the bins out. He has been so used to me doing all the housework, chopping logs and carrying them in. He resents any changes to our lifestyle.

Yesterday he said I was ready for dignitas. If I ever got cancer he'd leave me I think

In my job I am privy to people’s health conditions. I do find that people like yourself are the ones that are far less likely to make a song and dance about their health. I am often amazed at how well they handle their condition and continue to live a full life. It’s the ones who are fit and healthy but fixated on a mild symptom that has been thoroughly investigated that I find I judge.

I see patients who have incredibly “brittle” health but refuse to let it take over. They may be taking 20 or more heavy duty medications but are always “fine” when you enquire.
I think that there are two types of people, those that love life, whatever it throws at them and those that are constantly looking for reasons to be miserable, centre of attention or an excuse.
Like you I have chronic pain, take nine different meds to get through the day, although I rarely take painkillers. I’m lucky that I have been able to retire early so I don’t need half a pack of painkillers to get through the day. I also have a brilliant GP who is open to using different approach to treating chronic back pain ( a major problem in my profession).

Chronic health problems are difficult to manage. There is often no cure and I’ve found it easier to accept and accommodate rather than let it rule my life. There are lots of things I can no longer do but I’ve found other ways to enjoy life. I suppose I am just an eternal optimist. And very lucky that I’m still here.

I do know what angrymum means. I think my health is okay, but I do have a number of chronic conditions. I am always taken aback when someone says they have one of my illnesses and are disabled and chronically ill. It tends to be people who do not have any experience of more serious ill health.

Ah so because people deal with their health problems differently to you, they are wrong but you are right?

As it happens I have a serious illness and I work full-time shift work, earn a nice salary and definitely don’t like to address my health problems with friends or at work. I am not holier than thou about it simply because I am able to cope better and balance. I’m lucky to have good mental health, a supportive employer, an amazing family and excellent friends. My support network is solid and my finances are good. My health may be bad but many people suffer from far worse than me and aren’t lucky enough to have a stable home, family and job etc.

The fact that more young people are of long term sick than middle aged people, suggests we do have a major issue with sickness. This fact is ahistorical. Middle age is when people are struck down with various illnesses like cardiac issues, knee and back issues, cancer, etc. Although there are always some young people who are unlucky to be ill, for most young people this time of life is a time of good health.

I disagree that the UK has more of a sickness culture than other places -France certainly does, much more so than the UK. As to the WFH side, surely if WFH is meaning that people with chronic conditions can work when they previously couldn't, that is a good thing!
Or is the argument that if you think they are probably overstating their illness then they are probably skiving as well?

Yes, I worked for a charity giving advice and completing benefit forms for sickness and disability.
This was over 10 years ago now and even then we would not use bad days as a standard answer. We would use how the client's condition affected them the majority of the time.

Yes the self diagnosis is everywhere. I also think expectations need managing, we will have aches pains, sleepless nights occasionally, headaches, nausea, etc the list goes on. You take paracetamol and get on with it. Of course serious illnesses need treatment and medication but all the self diagnosed mental health conditions plus self diagnosed chronic pain conditions unfortunately put a massive strain on services so the people that need medical attention struggle.

Everyone needs to take responsibility and address self care so if your back or knees hurt, lose weight before seeing a Dr. If you feel sick take some otc meds.

If things persist then see a Dr but many people seem to want to be diagnosed and signed off sick nowadays. There does seem to be an element of poor resilience <not referring to those with a proper diagnosis of course>.

Although I doubt the OP's intentions, this has turned into a very interesting thread. Nothing about illness and disability is simple because multiple factors are colliding. Poor medical access, poor lifestyle, high cost of living. People can be disabled and on benefits (PIP) and working with a supportive employer all at the same time. I'm one of them.

Primary care has more or less broken down in my area. I can’t get a GP appointment without losing my job because of how much ringing up every morning I would have to do to get even an appointment in three weeks. Even if people do know what’s wrong we aren’t treating it. I have a condition that if treated is fine but it took me three years to get referred to a consultant when I moved area for work. I then have had a year since that appointment. Obviously there are long waiting lists for operations etc and next to no post op physio.

So as a country we are getting sicker and sicker. If people seem like they are sicker at younger and younger ages this is a large part of why.