Back to work worry

[superlambanana]

Last year I had three weeks off work for depression and anxiety, and going back to work was awful - made particularly hard by my really unsupportive boss.

I've since moved jobs to one I'm much happier in and the depression and panic have all but gone. However I still get really anxious if I'm ill about going back - and I mean physically ill. I've just had three days off and I'm really worried about it. There's no logical reason why I should be but I feel like I'm slipping back into the 'anxiety pit', even though that's not the reason I've been off.

Does anyone have any advice please?

Anyone.…? TIA

Do you have a work friend you can go back in with for a bit of moral support? Are you worried about questions/ judgments? You need to identify your negative thoughts, think of reasons why they are wrong and practice some calming breathing techniques you can use on the way or while you are there. I'm having. CBT for a similar thing and they are the sort of things I have been told

Oh I get like that too. So anxious. What I found helps is being very factual about it, if possible reference it to - oh " you know that awful flu you had last year, well I can now empathise as I just had it." Or say as little as possible and tell myself everyone gets ill and has time off. And try to get back into it. It does get easier the more it happens actually. And in my head I note when other people off and tell myself it is not just me.

I think I feel guilty if I've been off, like I shouldn't have been, which makes me so nervous I end up sounding like I'm making excuses - which of course is far more likely to sound suspicious. Then that sets off the anxiety and I get more anxious that I'm going 'back there'.

Nobody at work knows about my previous issues, and I liked that I'd left it all behind me. Now I worry it'll always catch up with me