To get signed off?

[FigsEverywhere]

I had post natal depression and anxiety after having my first child, although the anxiety never really went away.

It's flared up a lot in the last few months and I'm quite often tearful, in a foul mood for no reason, exhausted and have no enjoyment over things that I usually love.

Work is going through a stressful patch at the moment with some upcoming deadlines. It's definitely making my anxiety worse and each time I think about work, it sends a frisson of anxiety through me.

DH has suggested getting signed off for a few weeks, and it sounds really appealing, to kind of get a handle on how I'm feeling and to feel like I'm bringing it under control a bit.

I'm worried about work - I've done everything I can do at present, I'm just waiting on others to do their bit for us to meet the deadlines, so there's not much to actually leave my boss with, subject to everything going to plan I guess... But I guess the mental load of the deadline? The team isn't overworked either, so I'm not dumping loads on already stresses people...

I've been trying to just get on with things and deal with it for a while now, but I just can't right now.

AIBU to get signed off for a bit?

Possibly, the only reservation I have is how hard it will be to go back. You won't forget about it, it'll play on your mind and then when you go back you'll be playing catch up. Talking from recent experience!

Interesting, thank you

Interesting, thank you

It’s totally irrelevant how colleagues work without you. If you are not well enough to work then you need to go off sick. What happens in work without you is not your worry

Do you have an employee assistance programme you can access? Or a GP to speak to? Would you be able to approach your manager and perhaps alter your workload or working pattern to help?

Being signed off is definitely a last resort, if you think it is your only option and the only thing that will help then you know what you need. Like PP said I'd be worried about how hard it would be to go back especially if you're off due to anxiety, but if you had a plan of how you were going to help yourself / seek help with your a cursory when off work then that might help with the return to work.

How long have you been back since maternity leave ended? Do you think it’s just part of the adjustment to being back? Or do you genuinely think you will feel better after being off sick for a few weeks?
I could imagine it would just be harder, but that’s obviously just my opinion

If you are too ill to work, you need to be signed off. How work will cope without you should not come into it.
If bring signed off will help your anxiety and allow you to feel stronger, cope better with general life and to go back to work and do a better job when you have recovered then you should consider being signed off.

Are you getting treatment for anxiety? I think you need to make sure you're treating the underlying issue. If you're off work then nothing will have changed when you go back if you dont get treatment? I'm not a fan of getting signed off so probably not the best person to advise.

@luxxlisbon I've been back from my second maternity leave for 18 months.

@rainbowandglitter yes, I've been offered meds and talking therapy because I spoke to my GP last week when I just couldn't stop crying one day. I have accepted the talking therapy because I found it useful last time. I would also be taking up the offer of the meds if I did ask the GP to sign me off.

Do you think you'll be able to forget the deadline and relax or will it still play on your mind?
It sounds like you've been on it and done your part. But if you aren't there and things aren't done it's likely to be seen as on you.
Of course if you are genuinely not coping then your health comes first but if you'll sit at home worrying and then be more anxious going back then it's not necessarily a solution.