Struggling with stress

[narisha99]

Have been lucky enough not to have experienced issues with mental health, but following a difficult Xmas where I discovered my marriage wasn’t quite as perfect as I had thought I am struggling with stress

Classic symptoms, not sleeping, tearful, overthinking, irritable and am finding my resilience is very low, so unable to deal with minor work challenges without ending up in tears.

We had a first couples therapy session this week, which was positive, but also gave me a lot to think about, and obvs that will be a slow process.

Am not sure if the marriage can be saved, and this is an immediate factor causing a lot stress, but I think will be more manageable after a 1;1 with the therapist which I have booked for next week.

I assume that I will be able to get on top of this in a few weeks as I am normally quite resilient, or at least to the stage where the stress is at a more manageable level.

My boss is aware something is amiss, and I do think I need to take some time off sick as my behaviours at work are affected .

I am not sure of my next steps? Do I need to see a GP? I don’t think I need anti depressants, just time and some therapy sessions? Or should I just take a few days sick and see how I feel? If I do need a sick note, can the therapist provide that?

Just can’t seem to think straight and work out what my next steps are.

It's completely individual. Work is always good for me and yes, I cry between work calls, but as soon as I am online, I forget all about my troubles.
An advice I would give you is don't rush the process. I scheduled therapy when my relationship suddenly ended and I remember well how in session three I was saying that I want to feel better quickly and just tell me what to do. And my therapist gently reminded me that thinks take as long as they take and we can make them disappear under the surface and they will come back to bite me later. Or... We can acknowledge them, work through them and give them our full attention which will be hard but more beneficial in the long run.
ETA: you don't need a sick note. You can self-certify for the first 7 days

Thanks that usual, and makes sense. I guess I just want it all to go away, but that can't happen so I guess makes sense to deal with things properly

Totally forgot about being able to self cert!