Time off work for mental health (warning: suicide reference)

[Ezlo]

I suffer from depression and anxiety. I used to love my job but since it got more complex and the workload became heavier, I am frequently in tears, which isn't like me at all, my life is taken over by anxiety and I often think about ending my life, although I don't think I'd go through with it. Other health implications makes me feel like the walking dead. I'm barely functioning if I'm honest. I spend my two days off a week sleeping. I used to be a real adventurer out every weekend but I just can't anymore. My brain is just fluff.

Anyway, our annual leave at work run from April to March and since last April I've had ten days sick leave. Five for recovery after surgery and five for mental health issues. Prior to that I had one or two days off sick each year.

This weekend has been difficult with an illness I have which causes pain, but more than that I have felt despair within myself. This is frequent for my mental health. I have barely functioned yet again and I'm feeling just exhausted with it all.

I hate to be off from work but today I just couldn't get ready. No forcing myself was working. I don't know whether that's made my depression worse yet that I couldn't even get ready for work. I'm at absolute burn out from life. AIBU to take sick leave today from work?

Please anyone?

Take the day off! Take the week off if you need to,

I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time

Of course yanbu. For you, you need to rest. From a work perspective it’s unlikely you’d be very productive anyway.

What would be good today if you can, is to call your GP and get an appt to talk about your mental health. Just existing is no way to live, and it’s not just a blip. There is lots of help available, please take some of it and get back to enjoying your life.

I hope work are supportive ❤️

You're better to take extended time off of its mental health you're struggling with. If it's mental health issues, it won't be fixed by just one day, and shit will just keep building.

Get yourself to the doctor and tell them things are bad enough thar you're finding it hard to work. Get the ball rolling on treatment and take as much time off as doctor suggests.

I pushed it too far and ended up having months off because I just wasn't functioning. I wish I had just not been so stubborn, taken a couple of weeks, gotten myself to the doctors and reduced my hours at work so much earlier.

Talk to your GP, asap please @Ezlo

There are mechanisms for this, they can sign you off, they can offer support and medication to give you time and space away from those feelings

You need to speak to your GP about how you’re feeling. You can self-certify for a week. Hopefully together you can get a plan in place to support you to be feeling more able to cope. Please reach out to someone close as well.

Thank you 😊

Absolutely take today off - and maybe even the week. Make an appt with your GP and have a chat with them about how you're feeling. It sounds like you need support, but don't have it at the moment. Sending a huge hug your way x

Thank you. I'm on antidepressants but sometimes they can't even curtail the bad depression.

Take time off.
I waited too long to take time off and ended up having a total breakdown and 5 months off work. Contact your GP or (in Wales but maybe also england) we can call 111 option 2 and get immediate mental health support.

@Ezlo

Make an appointment with your gp and ask if there is anything else you could have as well as your normal meds for when your feeling so so bad.

And get a sick note for the week so you can concentrate on healing without any extra stress of thinking about going into work.

Your mental health is far more important and if you need a break so be it.

The world will still turn op.

I think you need to get a gp appointment to discuss meds and how you are feeling, sounds like they need adjusted. Further to that, when you feel a bit better, I'd start job searching. My last job honestly made me so depressed, I had 6 months on antidepressants and changed job and been much happier since. I hope things get better for you soon, take care.

I am sorry you are struggling? Do you think you might be autistic and have autistic burn out? We are looking at this for my daughter.

For now do not go to work, from your OP you are clearly not well enough to be there, please go to your GP.

Something to think about in the future. Your health conditions may fall under the definition of a disability, which means additional considerations need to be followed for sickness and absence procedures www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/discrimination-at-work/dealing-with-discrimination-at-work/checking-if-its-discrimination/check-if-youre-disabled-under-the-equality-act-work/.

OP please make an appointment to speak to your GP ASAP and get some support.

It sounds like you are reaching complete burnout and you need to prioritise your health.

Of course don't go into work today but it is also likely you need to be signed off for a longer period of time to recover.

I had a complete breakdown last year followed by suicidal ideation. Thankfully my GP saw me really quickly and put me on antidepressants on the sport as well as referring me to the mental health crisis team.

I ended up under the care of the crisis team for about 3 weeks and they made regular visit to my house to support me. After that the medication started having some effect and I slowly felt better.

I was completely burned out and needed about 2 months off work to recover. I could not concentrate, I was not sleeping and struggle to eat more than a small breakfast every day at the beginning and I think it has taken me almost a year to regain my stamina and function normally again.

My point is don't wait until you reach crisis point to seek help.

Hi I am autistic. I find peopling so hard and just being around people can burn me out!

I'm sorry for all that you went through. How are you feeling these days?

Thank you everyone for your kind replies. I am resting today and have slept most of the day so far. My mental health is absolutely shot at so I'm going to take things easy.