Is there ever any circumstances where going back off sick after returning too early wouldn’t look bad?

[Struggo]

Recently had a week off for stress. I think I got myself a bit burned out and it manifested in a lot of anxiety for me. I knew I needed to put the brakes on as I was getting physical symptoms such as dizziness. I rang my GP and he signed me off and asked me to do things to relax- I’m pregnant, so de-stressing is an absolute priority to me and I don’t have the same energy as before.

After a week of (loads) of fresh air, plenty of sleep each night and being able to take a relaxed pace I began to feel much better and my anxiety had pretty much gone by the end of the week.

I’ve been back for a few days and I feel exactly like I did before I went off, back to ruminating and anxiety. I do enjoy my job and my manager is very understanding so not sure why work is a trigger but it obviously is.

I have another few months to go until maternity leave and although I would receive full pay on sick leave, it’s just morally not the right thing to do and not something I would have ever done before. I do feel as though I need another week- possibly two- off, but that would look really shitty wouldn’t it? DH is telling me to put myself first and I know that is true but I just feel like my work ethic has slipped and this is a role I’m keen to return to after maternity leave, so don’t want to wind anyone up.

Has anyone got any ideas as to what else I could do?

Anyone?

If you have 2 more weeks off, what will be different that wasn’t after a week?

You may have the answer to that in which case, sounds like a couple of weeks off is a good plan. If you can’t answer it, though, I’d be looking more at what you can change in your life around work (more mindfulness, building in daily exercise, planning something to look forward to every day, thinking about your diet) to hopefully build more healthy habits for the future & continuing to manage your stress.

I think you’re fine to take additional time off if it feels too soon. There is a lady at my work who suffers from depression, she came back for two days reduced hours and went back off because she wasn’t ready and I don’t think anyone is judging her. At least you tried!

Well in tje nhs that would count as two episodes of sick if you went off again even for the same thing so maybe check your sickness policy as you could trigger a warning

Take the time and put things in place. See your GP about talking therapies to support you understanding your triggers. Pregnancy also plays havoc with your mental health with all of the hormones. I struggled.
Use the time to put new things in place, the suggestions pp said are good.

There's no harm in taking the break. I'm currently off with stress, not pregnant, but I've put things in place including counselling to begin managing it. The time off work allowed me to focus on getting myself into a place where I feel more in control. I haven't done this before being signed off, but it was definitely the time to put myself first.

I did after a bereavement. I had three weeks off. I’d cleaned my home from top to bottom and felt bored, thought I was ready. Went back for 3 weeks but I new in the job and it for really busy, I just couldn’t cope! It was also close to home (nursing patients who had the same surgery as the relative who died). I ended up going off again for several months and changed jobs.
If you don’t think you want to do this role after you go back mat leave, have you considered speaking to your manager about a change of roles?