I’m going to phone in sick tomorrow I can’t cope with work anymore

[sweetkitty]

My mental health is totally and utterly shot to pieces, I’m in bed tonight unable to sleep, sobbing, in pain, dreading tomorrow.

We are very very short staffed and I am running myself ragged. Everyday I am physically abused (I don’t really want to say what my job is) I love my job but it hard, I’ve usually got quite a few bruises but I keep being head butted in the head and arm particularly the elbow joint. It’s always sore and tender just now.

We are always short staffed and the powers that be do not seem to care, I’m scared that that something is going to happen to the people in my care and that they are unsafe. It’s a constant source of worry and stress. The staff that I do have are not trained and don’t want to work on the field, I feel sorry for them they’ve been duped a bit themselves and they don’t want to do the dirtier jobs so I’m doing them which I don’t mind but it adds to my workload. Of course then I’ve got the stress of deadlines and management blaming me when things go wrong. I wrote an email last week voicing my concerns had a meeting but nothing really happened.

I’m now thinking I’m not physically fit for the job I love as I have fibromyalgia although it is mild to moderate usually but with the extra workload and violence it’s not easy. Plus I used to work 4 days a week and upped it to 5 for a variety of reasons and feel I can’t drop any days as I’m contracted only for 3.

I don’t feel I can’t take another day of the stress, anxiety or violence. I have the usual worries at home too, DH and my DC are worried about me too and want me to drop days too. But I feel I’ll let everyone down I don’t know what to do.

Do it. Pick up the phone and say you can't work, follow it up with an email if you feel it's necessary, and then talk to your GP. Nothing will get better if you don't take some time out. Believe me, I've been there, although my work situation wasn't as extreme as yours. I had to do this two years ago, and I was mortified at actually asking the doctor to sign me off. I felt really ashamed and as if I was letting others down. Now I know it's the best thing I could have done. Apart from having a break myself, it made my employer realise how dire the situation was. Hope you can rest soon.

Thank you I did it. I said I had a sore head and wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t get to sleep until 2.30am can’t stop crying. Going to phone GP in the morning. Cried all morning too. Had a bath then napped in the afternoon.

Good for you. Be totally honest with your GP, don't leave anything unsaid and ask to be signed off if it's what you feel YOU need (without thinking about your colleagues etc, just this once...) You might just need a few days to get your breath back, or you might need longer. Either way is fine. But don't forget that something has to change in your workplace too.

I'm glad you replied, I really feel for you. Good luck.

Thank you for replying. Yes something in my workplace really has to change you don’t go to work everyday to be physically hurt my right arm is so sore right now. I have countless photos of bruises. I’m also constantly stressed about something happening to the children I work with it’s not good to work like that.

Just hoping I can actually see a GP what with Covid

Just checking in to see how you're getting on. X