New job after 5 years out, occupational health form, do I disclose?

[lifeintheolddogyet]

I suffered what I can only term a breakdown in April last year, due to Health Anxiety. I realised through my course of CBT that I'd suffered from it since the death of my father when I was 13 after a long and horrific illness. Then my mum got cancer, my bf died suddenly, my DS2 was born with severe SN, you get the picture. Life events and a proclivity for anxious thoughts just swallowed me up.

I decided not to take medication (I don't know if that was the right decision or not, but anyway) and have pulled through. I've been a SAHM for the last five years but now I have been offered a new job and the occupational health form just came through. I'm reluctant to disclose my illness.

I'll never be free of the anxiety - it's part of me and I've come to accept that but ironically, now I feel much healthier mentally than I have done for ages, I worry that my mental ill health might stop me from getting a job! In the past, I've been so ill but with no self awareness and no diagnosis; if that were still the case I'd ticking 'no' instead of 'yes' in the box!

If I do disclose, what might happen?

My RL survey is 50:50. DH says don't disclose.

Sorry, it's been 10 years as a SAHM. So the job's been a long time coming.

When I last started a job, I disclosed depression and I still got the job.

OH forms are not to decide who and who not to employ - in fact if they decided not to employ you due to a mental health issue, they would be on very dodgy ground.

Its only a decision you can make though.

The choice has to be yours.
Am I right in thinking you have already been given the job?
In which case, the occupational health form may just be to cover their work practices?
I know one of my DSs had an occupational health form, and a company working for the public body rang him up after he ticked yes to a couple of questions including allergies.
But they just wanted to know if he could work in various work environments ok.
So they may just be doing the same. Dont know for sure.
hth

Thanks for getting back - I think I will be honest. I've nothing to hide and I am perfectly well enough to do the job. In fact, with all the CBT I've done, I'm probably better organised and calmer now than I have been in my whole life!

Thanks again. Good old MN.

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