To doubt my work ethic (“stress leave”)

[nodogz]

How do you know your threshold has been reached and it’s time to get signed off. There’s a lot in here but I’ve been having an extended shitty time and I don’t know if taking medical time off would be harmful or helpful.

in the last 12 months my health has taken a turn for the worst. I was hospitalised (needed a blood transfusion) and went back after two weeks rest to a pile of work chaos (70 hr weeks). Took Xmas off and promptly caught the lurgy and since then I am absolutely wiped. I have no focus and just so tired to the point I sleep, eat and work. Nothing else.

Im starting a separation process (not my choice) and it’s in my interest to get my house sold asap but as I’ve neglected it for 12 months there’s all the jobs to declutter, garden and fix up decor after repairs. It’ll mostly fall on me to do this.

I got a poor performance review last year and removed from a team/role I knew well. I have a new remit but the effort required to attack it is lacking. I’m just not staying on top at all, sometimes I can’t even bring myself to check emails. I’m rather disassociated. It’s not a supportive workplace, i can’t speak up, but I can hear the knives sharpening. Obviously, this isn’t ideal As I’ll need to buy a new house soon.

im on top of the medical side. But it’s a slow process to prove my concerns and to be taken seriously.

Rationally, i haven’t really got my head around whether ive reached the threshold of taking some medical leave. I’m late diagnosed adhd so whenever things got tough before i just told myself to stop being lazy and get on with yet. It feels like weakness or a cop out but also I know I am trying really hard and failing at home/work/friens/family.

Also, what would not working do? Would I be less tired? Or would I get worse without a connection to the real world? Maybe I’m seriously ill and will need to save up my sickness policy for something more medical?

thanks strangers on the internet. In real life I just get the head tilt and “thinking of you” “this must be so hard” and then asking if I’ve considered going vegan or exercising more or just the “well, what do you want to do?”. Drs following up on tests and have offered sick note and/or antidepressants but no steer. Plod on or call it and take a time out?

Have a chat with your GP about this if you can get an appointment soon, but I personally think you should just get signed off. As far as work is concerned, at the very least you’ve been put into a totally different role and you’re expected to just get on with it. That in itself is stressful. By the sounds of things, they’re legally supposed to be more supportive of you. Getting signed off with stress will cause them to examine why, which may turn out in your favour. Give ACAS a call as well, even just to have a listening ear. You’ve had a hard time and it’s easy, especially with ADHD, to underestimate the impact. Try and do or just simply remember one thing that you love each day - even as simple as the sunset, watching a favourite tv programme, or rain on the window, because it’s easy to lose ourselves during times of high stress. “Remember who you are”. All the best and remember things can and will get better for you 💐💖

I’d talk to your GP with a view to going off sick for at least a couple of weeks. If it doesn’t help you’ve lost nothing but if it does you can then chat to doctor about whether he’d recommend you extending the sick leave.