Work stress/depression

[inahaystack]

Hoping someone on here has some words of wisdom.

Been a ward nurse for years. Massively struggled the past year. The area I'd like to work in has no funding and other jobs I've attended interview then been declined.

I'm now crying hysterically before shifts and feeling sick at the thought of going in.

Has anyone else felt like this and things improved? Did you do something for them to improve or did it happen over time?

Husband is trying to be supportive, however ultimately he can't hire me.

Can you take some leave or time off? A week off sick? Call in with a sickness bug

My friend advised me to do this years ago when I had awful stress. I wish I had listened to her. And just taken a week off and said I had noro. She said no one will no.

I'd then work out if you can resign and to agency work.

I'm not a nurse but a teacher -similar I imagine- and it did improve. I got another job elsewhere eventually but sometimes you just need a break. I'd advise not going off with stress if you can help it to preserve a reference. I'd look for a new role too even if it's a sideways move.

Now I'm still a teachers love my jobs and team and that is the most important part, as well as feeling valued.

I did call in sick... but I think if anything it's escalated my reaction to going in work since.

We definitely can't afford for me not to work. Also agency in the area is getting cancelled frequently so not something I can rely on. Hence why I'm applying for everything available.

My stress burnout started like this, and ended with me quitting after 10 weeks on leave.

I had savings, plus negotiated an exit settlement, so took a bit of time out before returning to work seven months after first crashing out.

If that sounds extreme, it was just how long my body took to recover from the impact of illness. My wonderfully supportive practice nurse was the one who recommended it, because I wasn't going to recover from just a short break. She was marvellous.

That sounds tough, I'm so sorry you're going through that, it sounds a lot like burnout. If you can take some time out, just to let your mind and body recover, it may make the world of difference, and then look to work elsewhere I'd say is probably the next step? As you've been there for years, have a think about transferable skills and areas of interest. Most local colleges have online courses/night school for retraining and you could build your interview confidence with something like interview gold, that's what I did last year. So, from the other side of the situation, I'd like to say it gets better! Best of luck!

Also it's not a case of not working, just not nursing.

You can do 40 hours in Aldi! And a bar at the weekend until you make it work for you.

Obviously this depends on your circumstances.

Burnout is real. You will be come more and more cynical and disillusion. Are work supportive (assuming they do not know the extent of how you are feeling) or do you feel you are being poorly treated. How are relationships with colleagues and managers?

Is there a private hospital you could work at? Or any jobs going in outpatients (less stress than the wards)?