To have taken a sick day off work because of my mental health?

[senseofdread]

My mental health is so incredibly low right now. This morning I woke up and just felt completely paralysed. Usually I work from home but today I had a 2 hour commute into the city and a minute meeting I was feeling stressed about and I just could not get myself to get out of bed. I find going to the office really nerve-wracking and stressful

I've been diagnosed with anxiety but recently it's morphed into this hopeless, numb sense of dread

I took a sick day and I'm feeling really guilty and worrying about my attendance although I'm below the trigger point written in our employee handbook

I've only been at this job for 6 months and it's really impacted my mental health even though on paper my employer is really supportive. I think it's just the nature of the work I do. I need to get another job

YANBU. But don’t leave it, see the doc. I’d take tomorrow as well.

Mental health is important and taking time off for it is sometimes necessary. Please don't feel guilty! And please continue to talk to your line manager about it.

Agree with PP, YANBU but you'll want to try to get a treatment/management plan in place so that in the long-term you're well enough to function.

Does your workplace have an employee assistance programme? Mine offers free counselling via phone which is better than nothing.

It's been a hell of a year and lots of people are struggling. There is help but I know it's so hard to make the effort when you feel like this. Just take little steps.

YANBU - mental health is just as good a reason as physical health. I do it when I need to (although I tend to come up with a "health problem" if my boss asks as I don't want to talk about my mental state to them....)

Take tomorrow as well, have a nasty stomach bug.

You need to sort out a plan asap. Ring your GP surgery now, ask for an emergency appointment. They'll take you through some questions. And if necessary prescribe an anti-anxiety. Ask them for CBT - pay privately if you can.

And then yes, look for another job if that's what you think will help, but you need to really address the anxiety because it will follow you around.

Use these days to get your energy back and get a plan together .

two day rule. Just one day off is such a waste of a sickness occurrence!

Take what you need, its what its there for.

Sick days should be for mental health as well as physical health (that's how it is in my place) and you take as many as needed. Thing is though, if your role is impacting your mental health so much after only 6 months, perhaps it is time to consider something new? I agree with other posters about focusing on improving your mental health as, unless tackled, it may get worse and worse. You are worth the time and effort it takes to get better!

I have been to see my GP and I have appointments every 2 weeks at the moment whilst doing CBT, but CBT isn't really helping so I think they will offer me medication at my next appointment

Has the doctor addressed whether you might have depression as well as anxiety? CBT is good for anxiety but i didn't feel it helped me with depression. You might need medication. If your next appointment is 2 weeks away, then id see if you can have a review over the phone now as anti depressants take a while to get to work.

No of course your not, mental health is so important and you have to look after yourself, stop feeling guilty it's probably related to the anxiety and take as long as you need.

You weren't wrong to do it, but you need to address the issue to make sure that the next time you have to attend in person rather than work from home you don't feel the same way and get into a vicious circle. I know from experience. Focus on not ending up in a situation where you are avoiding something you need to do for work as you may start to feel worse and that will create greater anxiety.

Yes you can take MH days... but the issues remain there tomorrow and the day after, except after these days it will be harder to go in.

Also, if this is the wrong fit job wise, then the more sick days you have the less chance of then getting and keeping another job offer.

I'd focus on job hunting, even if it's to a temporary job that you think you could manage and make this your priority.

I'm trying to address the underlying issue but, to be honest, I don't really know how to go about it.

I'm doing CBT and am having regular appointments with my GP. They are hesitant to prescribe me anti-anxiety medication.

I'm trying to do soul searching as to what elements make me anxious. I think for me it's being 2 hours away from home surrounded by colleagues who feel more like strangers in a stressful environment. I also struggle to concentrate in the office so often find I work extra the following days to make up for struggling to concentrate in the office (it's a huge open plan office)