What would I say to work?

[Murree]

I have suffered from depression on and off for 20 years, just recently my mood and ability to cope has dropped.
For information, DP and I have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility and am on Clomid, its the 3rd anniversary of my fathers passing this month and DP has just received a summons for court (driving offence - he fucked up and is accepting the consequences).
All of this with my history has me at the point where I'm drowning and my work is suffering - I'm snapping with people on the phone and not really getting involved with chat between colleagues as my mind is elsewhere.

My GP has offered to write me sick note to allow me to take a break - I would kind of like to take them up on the offer but I don't know what to say to work!
They're quite short staffed at the moment so I'd feel massively guilty for leaving them in the lurch.

Do I just call in sick one day and then ask the doctor for the sick note and send it in? What would I say to my boss if I did call in?

Tell work the truth. You have stress related to personal issues. It's an illness. It's nothing to be ashamed about.
See the doctor and say you do need a sick note and ask what will he the reason given.

I have had this recently. Things were just getting steadily worse then my boss humiliated me over something which I didn't know. It was the last straw and I was signed off sick for two weeks. I just sent the sick note by email with an explanation. I was off for 2 weeks and started anti- depressants and only went back to the job for a couple of days before leaving. I have a new job and feel much better. I felt very guilty as my colleagues had a bigger workload because of me being off but ultimately if I had carried on in that role my recovery would have been much longer.

Just tell the truth - you have a lot of triggers at the moment if you're struggling anyway.
I'm just starting to return to work after 6 months due to depression, burn out, stress and delayed PTSD. I have been completely honest with them throughout, and they saw it coming anyway - they will probably have a bit of awareness that you are having a hard time already.

You have to be kind to yourself & give yourself some time.

Thanks all. I'm changing my work hours from Monday so am going to give it a few weeks and if i still feel the same I'll get the sick note. They said to just ask the receptionist to organise it if i needed one.