To find messaging in sick at work mortifying?

[Iwishiwerefromtheshire]

Not even calling, I don't even have to do that, but messaging my boss and telling her than I'm off with stress and will be seeing a doctor etc. I find it so embarrassing. Knowing that it's going to cause so much inconvenience at work for everyone and feeling like I've let everyone down. Does anyone else feel like this?

Yes I did this a few weeks ago as I was suffering with extreme anxiety. Although I text my boss and lied and said I had a stomach upset. I'd actually spiralled after a pet had become ill and a woman at work had been a little interfering in my job a bit and I'd panicked and was worrying needlessly about being fired. I'd spent all night unable to sleep and by the next morning could hardly keep my eyes open so text in sick.

This was the first and only sickie I'd pulled since I started working in 1987 so I felt I was justified. And I am freelance. But the lie burned me up and i confided in someone at work and they told my boss i was struggling mentally. My boss called me into a meeting with the person I'd confided in and he couldn't have been kinder and said if I was struggling they could peel back my hours to offer me a three day week (I'm freelance). Obviously it would save them money too. But I thought how much it showed they valued me. That's how a good boss and a decent company who cares about their staff operate.

One of my former bosses was just awful if we phoned in sick (no texting in those days). She’d answer the phone and you’d say you weren’t coming in and she would just go quiet. I remember once having horrendous period cramps I could barely walk and she said ‘you sound ok’, I replied ‘there is nothing wrong with my voice’. In 13 years I was off sick twice as the alternative of letting her know was too scary.