Would it be wrong to be signed off work?

[TheOrigBrave]

I've had a tough time. My work has always been a stable thing so I've resisted GP signing me off.
My MH team have taught me many ways to look after myself and I'm feeling more able to try them.
Would it be bad to ask to be signed off work even though I'm coping ok with life in general?
I feel it would give me the time to work on more healthy coping behaviours. The fact I don't feel overwhelmed by the thought of not being busy busy busy (to avoid thinking etc) is a positive step.
My work know nothing of my MH issues.

Do you feel your workplace would be sympathetic to your MH issues? If not, then I might be wary of asking your doctor to sign you off on that basis.

Difficult for me to answer because generally I've found that work is helpful in maintaining my mental health. I did have some time off to try and "sort myself out" but eventually concluded that, for me, dragging myself into work had more benefits than not. Perhaps other people have had a different experience?

Have you used up your annual leave?

Hmm I can see where you're coming from but in my opinion, being signed off work should be a last resort if you really can't make it, not something you fancy doing. If you're coping ok then you should work and if you want some personal leave it would be better to take holidays or arrange unpaid leave.

I only ever got signed off work when it was work that was effecting my health, and taking time out from it allowed me space to heal. But then my stress and anxiety issues have often been directly work related.

If your issues are not work related, you may find yourself better in work where you do not have time to dwell on things.

Thanks both.
Yes, my work would be fine, I have chosen not to tell them. My boss knows I have weekly medical appts that have been going a long time - I haven't said why.

I work from home in a brain intensive job, so am quite physically isolated. Yes, work has always been very good for my MH, but it had also enabled me to always be busy and not give time to the issues that trouble me. I am a single mum and work full time so it's easy to fill my days. I'm not trying to justify why I time off work would be good, just explain my situation. For me it would feel like progress, but I can totally see that it would be rather indulgent and not fair to my employer.

Going slightly against the grain, I think it sounds very sensible. I'm in a similar position and actually have an appointment with my psychiatrist later today to discuss it. I'm not in crisis at the moment but I'm also just functioning really rather than recovering and I think a bit of time to focus on myself will help rather than dragging it out by trying to balance work plus recovery. Ultimately, some time off now will probably make me a better employee in the long term.

That's kind of how I feel. I have been under MH care for 18 months now (community, though day patient care was offered). I am nearly at the point that they feel continued appts will be counterproductive as I will feel I've "failed" them (as well as all the other stuff). I need to get my shit together and feel that if I give myself that time to face things head on I will still have the safety net.

I understand that if I'm signed off from MH care I can be referred again but (as we all know, that's not a straight forward process).

It is better to take two weeks off now than have a breakdown and be off because you are hospitalised in 6 months’ time.

I think you need to have a clear plan for those days.
For most people work offers structure to the day, distraction, social interaction etc. Its okay to take time off to build coping skills but what would that look like in reality?
For most people the time off would get eaten up by other things eg. Looking after kids or simply resting. Its very easy to then fall into a non productive pattern which could lead to you ruminating etc

I think you would need to book in a group or something during the time.

Don't know if theres maybe stuff like recovery colleges that happen in the day that otherwise you havent been been able to do that your practitioner could point you to?

What do you mean by Working on coping mechanisms?

It's a really good idea to look into whether there is a MH service I can use. I can discuss that with my carers

I'll be back later, I'm actually in china at a conference.

It sounds like it would be a great idea for a week’s annual leave.

It doesn’t sound like something you should be signed off work for, sorry.

I think you sound brilliant though. Strong and brave and resourceful.

I think it will take more than a week's annual leave!

For me, the two things to consider are 1) what would be my routine? I know that work provides a helpful structure in some ways and I don't do well without that so how I can I replace it and 2) what are my goals? I'm realistic enough to know that I will never be 100% recovered (suffered from an eating disorder for years) but what is the point at which I can say 'yes, this is good enough'.

Apologies, name change fail there...

Thank you for your honest, non-judgemental and thoughtful responses.

Taking annual leave would be a problem due to needing to save as much as possible for when ds2 is off school. I can't justify the "self-indulgence" of taking that time away from him.

I know a week off isn't the answer to my problems, it's just one of many options I'm thinking of in order to aid my recovery.

I absolutely agree that IF I did it I would need good structure.

I guess I'm thinking I could really focus on practising good behaviours, giving myself time to let the damaging thoughts in, use my skills to deal/cope with them and see that the world doesn't implode.
Or in the event that it does implode, that that's ok too - it happens and I know support it out there.

I am just coming to the end of being signed off for 2 weeks, and i feel like its the best thing i could have done.

I was/am having therapy sessions which began to throw up all kinds of issues and thoughts that i needed to time to process, but with work and every day life going on i was just pushing them to the back and not really dealing with them, which for me just voided the whole point of getting therapy in the first place.

I used the time to focus on some of the issues and make notes to myself on things i need to work on. I needed the time away from work to give me the headspace to do that. I could have taken annual leave, but being signed off felt like i was getting permission in a way to slow down, rather than time off where youre on 'holiday ' so you pack things into your diary.

I would get signed off if your doctor is willing to do that for you.

Thank you @GreatGatsby212
I actually feel quite teary reading your post (I think because you can empathise). I'm so glad you feel it has been a positive step for you.

🤗
It was def a positive move @TheOrigBrave

Take the time you need, like a pp said, better to take some time now than breakdown later on. Your employer will appreciate having you at your best.

I would avoid it personally. Simply because once off it's harder to go back.

@didyouseetheflaresinthesky do you speak from experience and if so do you feel your situation was similar to mine?

I am. I was functioning and everything but just hating life and I was coping but not healthily. I ended up off for 4 months and the longer I was off the more anxious I got about going back. I'd have been better to book a few days holiday and just have a long weekend.

Would it be bad to ask to be signed off work even though I'm coping ok with life in general?

The think is, we would all be better with a bit of time to test out healthy coping behaviours or to renew our mental health. But if we all took that time off no one would be at work.

*thing

@PotteringAlong well yes - there's "better off" and there's full MH crisis. What's you point? Fortunately GPs don't sign people off work for the former.

I'm sorry @didyouseetheflaresinthesky , that sounds tough. It's something I should be aware of.

In my opinion, your mental health is paramount, particularly if you have a child. I took one week last year to go and get myself diagnosed with depression (I have a history of it and could sense a breakdown coming) and i wouldn't say it did me the world of good (days of letting the anti depressants kick in, and too much Homes Under the hammer ;) but it was absolutely necessary to help me in someway reset where I was / what j was feeling). I say do it and don't feel in any way guilty about it. My only caveat is that I'm sure not every employer is as ok with this as mine was. I guess if they're not that amenable to this then you need to weigh up their attitude (regardless of how unjust their attitude might be) against the benefits you would reap from doing it. Which is worth the most?