Being signed off work for stress- what’s it like? How do you recover?

[crumblingatwork]

I am in a temp contract and really suffering from anxiety and stress. Been posting here under different nicknames about my inability to cope for the entire contract and things feel like they are coming to a head.
i have an appt at the GP on Monday and need to talk to them about how I feel.
I want to run away.

I'm really sorry you're feeling like this. Be really honest with your GP, they're usually good listeners. In terms of being signed off, it will give you breathing space. Yes you will heal, but only if you can change the thing that causes the problem. Otherwise it is just breathing space - which is really valuable, but not a magic wand. Sometimes enough to identify the problem and start working on a solution though. Sending hugs!

Ah I feel you @crumblingatwork . I have been signed off work maaaaaany times but with physical illness not psychological. However, as the years have gone by I have realised the interplay between the two and that my physical health is often a reflection of my mental (un)wellbeing hence why I can totally relate to your message and where you’re at right now.

The road to recovery is long, it’s personal, and it takes self-compassion. You’ve already started by taking a step back from work so well done. It’s not entirely a GP matter but this will be a necessary part of the recovery process. Take the time you need to heal. Surround yourself with love and peace in whatever form that takes for you personally.

Wishing you all the best in finding a lifestyle that is a positive one for you.

the stress has now become physical. With me vomiting in the morning and constant headaches
my contract is due to end at the end of the summer

If work is causing you stress and it’s only a temporary contract why not quit?

Stress is a killer, I would quit this job and find something less stressful OP.

I am on two months notice. Sorry it’s not temp. It’s fixed term. Hence wondering if I should resign and get signed off for remainder.
this is so not who I am

Bumping

Give notice and ask to reduce the notice. Mentally you will feel relieved as you know final day is approaching.

I have been signed off with stress but it’s was not the job it was because my DD died and was for a few months.

I think you should ring ACAS for advice ( it’s free) I assume you still want to work but just not at your workplace, is it the pressure of the job or something amiss with your working environment?

https://www.acas.org.uk/sick-leave/sickness-and-ending-employment

I had two mental breakdowns because I was in the wrong career. Then, with two small children, I decided to do a Masters in my field to broaden my options, while still working in a stressful job that didn’t suit me. I had a stress induced physical illness so serious it very nearly killed me. Two weeks in hospital and a year to recover. I haven’t been able to go back to my old career. It would literally kill me. I’ve had to look at my skills and very, very gently start rebuilding a life that’s sustainable. That looks very different and much, much smaller in scope.

Edited to add - the point being that as PPs have said, until you fix the cause of the stress, time off is a sticking plaster. You won’t heal while you’re still dealing with the problem.

I'd get signed off sick until the end of your contract and start looking for new work. You're not going to feel better until you get out of the toxic work environment - and being signed off will give you breathing space to recover mentally

I am sorry you are going through this. I was signed off at the start of the year for nine weeks with anxiety and depression. Workload and worrying/confidence were my main issues. I am back at work now and doing ok - but have to be vigilant about my mental health. The job market is tough and other jobs dont match my (average) salary so have stayed put for now. I wonder often about long term and how I will cope though.

I was signed off with stress for 14 weeks. It gave me the break I needed to recover and then I had a phased return to full time. The main thing for me was that I knew things would change when I went back because if they hadn't I would have been off again

Thank you for kind replies.
how does it work?

You go to the GP and tell them you're stressed and ask to be signed off. You send your fit note to work. What happens next depends on your company policy. I was referred to occupational health and spoke to a nurse who wrote a report recommending what I needed to get me back to work (time off, phased return and less work on my return). I was signed off for 4 weeks at a time and 2 weeks for my last note when the GP and I agreed that I was ready to go back

Hugs, OP. Be very honest with your GP. Informing my GP of my mental health struggles was one of the best things I’ve done

You have to speak to your GP. I couldn’t sleep, was vomiting and crying at the thought of going to work. He signed me off for three weeks but also gave me anti-depressants. After three weeks I was able to go back to work but started making plans to change job and career.

there Is part of me that is worrying about my team; I have a lot of deliverables that are quite public in the next 8 weeks
and another part that thinks it’s a big
Organisation I must be replaceable

You can't be doing too bad if they haven't sacked you

First write a list of symptoms, physical and mental and ask the doctor to sign you off.
Once that is in place, try to relax and do the things that make you happy. If it's a direct result of the job you will start to feel better in yourself expcept when you think abut work. You are allowed to search for other jobs while on WRS btw so it'll give you some breathing space to line up the next - hopefully less stressful- job.
There can be some admin to do for instance engaging with HR? occupational health, adjustments for returning etc however if you're temporary there might not be much in practise, but take as long off as you need to feel better.

Doctors don't care about signing you off, they will do it.

You self certify for the first week, however being a contractor do you need a sick note?

I am an employee on a fixed term contract. It’s a mat leave cover
I have to say I am not an incompetent person but whatever I am doing here makes me feel
completely incompetent
I have been posting about my inabilities on here (under different names) since I started the contract

I used to always power through as I had the same “this is not who i am “ mindset. One day I went to the doctor for something else and couldn’t stop crying and she signed me off for 2 weeks. I felt horribly guilty but also very relieved. I did lots of the things that elevate my mood, slept a lot and got therapy. The crucial thing that was I was moving jobs anyway. My new boss is lovely but I’m still very nervy as I’m still recovering from the bad time (it was how I was treated in the team and I work very near the people in my old team). My confidence is growing though as my new team are very gentle with me. I went back after just short of a fortnight as knew my boss (who was the most toxic one) was wfh that day. I also had physical symptoms which I was surprised to find stopped once I moved teams. My little boy said to me that I’m not sad and angry any more. I’ll always remember and cherish how my new boss is to me, she’s a brilliant team lead. No real answers I’m afraid but the time off helped me and I had to move jobs. It was like a physical sensation feeling the weight lift off me when the new team was totally nice and normal.

Hello. Just to offer a hand hold. Mental health is health and if you are experiencing challenges you must take time to deal with it like any other health issue. You wouldn’t be feeling as bad as you do if you were not committed to completing the job to the best of your ability. But your health must come first. The organisation will be able to find solutions, that’s for them to work out. You will not be the first or the last to need to take time out. People of all levels of seniority do it. You have done the best you can and now need to focus on getting well.

I was off work with a stress breakdown for 7 months and recovery was very difficult and not always linear. I didn't recognise myself.

Do not worry about the organisation. It's up to them to manage the work. My ex line manager drove me to the breakdown and then had the nerve to ask the union if she could ring me (she used to ring me when I was off sick or on leave about work all the time).

Focus on you. I hope you soon feel better.