AIBU to go off sick

[Zombieof3]

Depressed and can't face going to work but can't not go.

Pretty much what it says on the tin.

My depression has gotten so severe, I do think that work is 100x making it worse at the moment as its such a high pressure atmosphere at the moment. I've been having panic attacks on and off over the weekend at the thought of having to go to work, but then the thought of not going makes me feel so guilty as my colleagues and the people I support will suffer. Work also make you feel incredibly guilty when you so return. I had a mental breakdown in July of last year which resulted in me being off for 2 weeks. I wish I was more resilient. I honestly dont know what to do, right now its such a bleak and crap place, I just wish it wasn't this way. Idk what im after really, for someone to give me all the answers I dont know. I just feel so alone and lost.

If you broke your leg and needed 8 weeks off to recover, your work and clients would be just fine.

Your brain deserves rest and recuperation in the same way as a broken limb.

Go sick, see your GP, take as long as you need. 2 weeks is not enough time to adjust your brain during depression.

Are you having treatment for your depression?

YANBU to go off sick for depression, but what is your plan for accessing treatment/ support, changing your life and making sure that it doesn't keep happening?

You need to use your time off to get better not simply have a break and return ready for the next breakdown.

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. Take some time to reset and recover if you need to. What help and support have you been able to access?

Are you in touch with your GP and engaging with a treatment plan. I am sorry you are feeling so low and that work is a difficult environment at the moment. Can you seek a referral to occupational health to see whether there is anything that can be done to support your attendance at work.

If it really isnt a place you want to continue working in can you look at getting your CV up to date and job hunt. It might help to see this workplace as only a stepping stone and try to mentally disengage from them as much as possible as a survival mechanism whilst you seek other employment

Please take some time out. I was in exactly the same place as you at the start of the year; panic attacks at work, random fits of crying several times a day, trouble sleeping, heart palpitations.
I ended up being signed off for three months, I needed that time for my brain to recover.
The world remained turning.

Hi all,

Im on medication which i take religiously. I've accessed counselling and trauma therapy in the past but I will try to get some more counselling via work.

I just feel at a loss to be honest. Im fed up of being so weak, and not being able to keep resilient like other people. Everyone at work is struggling right now, feels awful to burden them any more. Feel so caught in the middle.

Do you work for the public or private sector?

Third sector, not sure which that falls under haha!

Can you see your GP for a medication review. It might be that your meds need changing or the dose titrating to help support you better.

Are there any other adjustments that your workplace can offer you to maintain your attendance. I am assuming occ health would have been involved following your last absence. Can they recommend anything that might help.

Perhaps it isnt the right environment for you and can you look at job hunting or retraining?

You're not weak you just have different genes and a different history.
You are also very driven to help yourself given everything you have done and are still doing. That IS resilience.

I'll ask gp, perhaps they do need to be changed.

Occupational health stated that a wellbeing plan should be made which it has but the options provided was i can go in and work in a room on my own which would actually make me feel worse right now. That I can work from home providing I have no clients booked in which is ridiculous because I always have clients booked in due to the high caseload we all have.

I am currently job hunting as their demands have become unsustainable but its such a shame as I love the job, the clients and my colleagues but our demands have been ramped up so much and there is zero management support and basically we have to do it all without complaining or your essentially pushed out of your job.

Please go off sick and get help from your GP.

It does sound as though the work environment is a significant factor in how you are feeling at the moment. See your GP for a medication review to see if a dose adjustment will help put you on an even keel and sustain attendance at work while you job hunt. Can you self refer back to occ health for a review of the wellbeing plan and see if there are any other measures they can put in place

Honestly it was the best thing I did last year. Originally I just asked for a week off work. Although the Dr wanted to sign me off for 4 weeks. In the end I ended up being signed for 8 weeks. Lots of dog walking helped me. I’d stick my headphones on and turn my music up full blast and then we’d just walk for miles and miles. Had my sertraline upped to 150mg and took phenegan to help me sleep. When I returned to work I went back on reduced hours for a few months before going back full time. I had another week on sick for the same reason and my tablets upped to the highest dose. At the moment I’m caught between everything feels great, to lots of intrusive thoughts, but I know it’ll pass in a few weeks.

Absolutely take the time off but if the main cause is the job I'd be looking for another job. No job is worth your health

I've been back about 6 weeks after having 6 months off. In the beginning I was so burnt out I could barely get out of bed.
Couldn't shower or brush my teeth twice a day. Couldn't cook or make a meal.
Thankfully my DS is almost an adult so he had to sort himself for a bit.

After a month or two I started to make it to the shower more often and could make it to the sofa, could make more than toast or cereal or a whole pack of biscuits. Cooking was using the oven.

In the last 6 weeks before going back I was starting to cook more, washing my hair more often, managing to go to the shop for a bigger shop, this was too overwhelming for months.

I changed my meds, spoke to people and started healing.

Take the time you need, like a pp has said you'd take time off for surgery or broken bones.

Look after yourself.

Thank you all, ill ring in tomorrow, i just feel awful as I know the managers will just dump everything on my colleagues who have been so supportive, but i just cant keep doing this.

I will also book a gp appointment and see if they can fit me in for a review. Unfortunately, the time off will have to be limited though as I believe we only get 6 weeks paid and im not sure how much of that I have left, ill have to enquire. Im just exhausted of it all, just trying to get up and do the things I need too. It's just all a bit much tbh.