Anxiety/depression and work

[JustSoHard]

I posted about my situation but didn't get much response so I'll try again with a different focus!

Do most of you with MH issues manage to work?
What if you have really bad days/weeks (my friend and I call them 'relapses' )? Do you call in sick?
Do any of you no longer work because your MH was too unpredictable?

Some days I struggle so much that I have to call in sick (I'm self-employed) but I feel so alone in this as everyone else seems so able to lead a normal life when I sometimes can't even face leaving the house.

Have you seen your GP?

I've seen psychiatrists and gynecologists regarding my PMDD but the only solutions I've been offered are the pill (can't take anyway but am ttc) and SSRIs (tried last year but can't go back to for a few reasons).

I was also in therapy for 6 years which was brilliant but couldn't change my hormonal PMDD symptoms so I feel very much on my own with this issue. Every.Single.Month.

I wonder how other people cope with leading a normal life, i.e going into work, when the medical world has no more to offer them.

Have you considered HRT? x

Get yourself referred to Mr Panay at Chelsea and Westminster for PMDD!

As soon as I pop a baby out, I'll be straight onto hysterectomy, sterilisation, HRT - whatever will stop my periods! Haven't researched yet but it feels like my only option!

Getting pregnant is the light at the end of this bleak PMDD tunnel but it's taking longer than I hoped

Thanks so much for the recommendation Goposie but unfortunately I live abroad. The PMDD "specialist" I saw here just referred me to the psychiatrist and the psychiatrist referred me back to the gynaecologist.

I've started looking into Endocrinologists as they are hormone specialists but I feel there is such little awareness about this condition (probably because it's just us "little women" that have to endure it) that I imagine they'll laugh me out of the office, telling me to see the psychiatrist (again). Sigh.

I live in a country with great health care and I also have private health insurance but they just seem to be clueless.

Goposie did you see that specialist yourself? And, if so, was he able to anything other than the pill or ADs?

google Panay and read ecerything you can get your hands on

Nope. I go in regardless because I can't afford not to. If that means spending my lunch hour sobbing in the toilet then so be it.

Have you tried different classes of AD? I had no luck at all with the usual suspects but one of the more old fashioned Tricyclics has helped a bit.

www.pms.org.uk/assets/files/30_4_16_BJOG%202016.pdf

Have you tried different classes of AD?

I took Mirtazapine many years back for depression and was happy with it but the psychiatrist recommended SSRIs for PMDD. He also mentioned them being safe while pregnant as I'm ttc so that might have something to do with it.

Sorry you have a tough time too sometimes, thesnapandfartisinfallible I love my job (I run a training business) but this week I've started to mull over options for setting up a new business that involves working from home because "performing" when struggling with pre-menstrual anxiety every month is just too much. I've been thinking that if my anxiety centres around not facing work as opposed to other things, maybe deep down I'm not as happy at work as I thought and need a change, new direction, new motivation, etc.

Thanks a lot for the info, Kalifornia! I'll read through it now. Funnily enough, I was actually on John Studd's website last week after finding an old MN PMDD thread that mentioned looking into him.

I appreciate your replies.

Sertraline is ideal and used for people just like you

I manage someone at work who has anxiety and takes approximately 20% time off sick. I absolutely sympathise and I am trying to help by offering flexible hours and other adjustments in the hope that we can turn this around. Long term this level of absence is not sustainable.

Sertraline is ideal and used for people just like you

Unfortunately I had a really bad time on it last year with regards to side effects so it's not something I would go back on.

Thanks for sharing your experience with your colleague, IlluminatiConfirmed. It's comforting to hear that others struggle. I only take off a few days every 2/3 months when I'm really suffering PMDD-wise, and I'm self-employed so I'm not costing anyone any money as such but it still makes me feel so weak and flakey and like it's controlling my life. No one talks about MH as people typically say they're off for something else (like me) so I often wonder if I'm the only one that this happens to!

Glad it helps a little. Self-employment is very unforgiving environment for someone with anxiety. You're left pretty much on your own with your doubts. I work in a university and it's the opposite - very accommodating and supportive. There's access to free counselling, for example, and affordable programs to support changes in lifestyle.

I work (& love my job most of the time) but am lucky that meds (citalopram) are effective. I tried coming off them (also to ttc) a while ago and had a huge relapse which took around 6monrhs to recover from (with therapy & meds) so I feel like I'm probably back on for life.
I'm not sure how well I could cope with work without them as I had a combo of GAD + panic attacks which made life pretty unbearable.m and was signed off work for 30 days). As well as meds I do yoga & meditation as well as plenty of exercise which helps me a lot. I'm actually pregnant now & have continued taking cit throughout as gp agreed that for me benefits outweigh the risks. Hope you find something that works or you.