Return to work advice

[ChesterCake]

Hi I’m hoping for some advice returning to work, I work 3 x 10+ hour days a week in a nursery based with children aged 0-2.

I’ve been signed off since the 28th of August, with desperation and aniexty. I’ve started taking 20mg of citalopram since that date. I’ve been to see my GP today as my fit note runs out today and she has adviced me to return to work on Monday, but with ‘altered hours’ to give me an hour long lunch break to sleep.

I don’t feel well enough to go back, it’s a tough and mentally draining job, since starting the ADs I’m so tired. I’m sleeping 9 hours a night and then needed a nap of at least an hour to get through the day.

I feel a bit lost and don’t know what to do from here does anyone have any advice

We’re youreferred for counselling?

I’ve been referred for two different 3 week long talking therapy evening classes, one for managing low moods and one for aniexty but they don’t start till this evening for the first and the aniexty one on Monday.

That’s good. Did you tell your doctor you are not ready to go back to work? Have they refused to sign you off for longer? I would have thought you would be better to go back once you have had your therapy sessions and your antidepressants have fully kicked in. Which isn’t yet. Can you see a different doctor?

The gp was lovely but said she feels an hours lunch break instead of the contracted 30 mins would be sufficent for me to rest.

I might tell work I won’t be in Monday and then get an appointment with another GP at the practice and just ask for some more advice. Thank you for your help it really helps to write it down and work through!

I’d really like to at least get a few sessions of the talking therapy done to help
Me cope with the return before I actually return

Yes I like your plan for Monday.
I’m also thinking that it is better for you to have another week or two off to get sorted rather than try to go in and find after a day that it’s too much and then having another separate period of sickness. In terms of HR etc.

Going back too soon is not a great idea .

Your plan for Monday sounds a good one. What you GP suggested is really odd to me on so many practical levels. I had more success with a very phased return starting at a few hours per day. It does depend on whether your work can accommodate this though, so you might have to think a bit creatively about how to manage your return to work when the time comes. For example if your shifts have to be long and there is no way around that, could you do one shift per week the first couple of weeks, work in a slightly different role, that type of thing? My employer has Occupational Health who were brilliant, your employer may or may not have an OH person.

I'm asking this gently, but would you not be potentially better back in your routine? I often get in more of a funk when I'm out of my usual routine.

Is there a specific trigger for your depression?

Hope you're ok!

Look at some private therapy instead. If it’s open ended then there isn’t the need to get everything sorted quickly (which doesn’t happen).
Often therapists can offer a reduced fee if you have a lower income too so don’t assume it’ll be too costly.

20mg is quite a low dose-can you ask for that to be increased?

Thank you guys, I’ve been so and seen another GP at my practice this morning. He’s signened me off for two weeks and then has suggested half days for two weeks following that to build me back up. He’s also recommended I switch to taking the citalopram in these evening in the hope I’ll be more with it during the days. At the moment I feel almost like I’m not in my body’s and I do the school run in auto piolet

That sounds much more manageable. Glad second GP was more helpful.