My GP has signed me off

[Tomorrowistomorrow]

I am moving house, job, area. A survivor. A Mum. I had 4 weeks left in a very stressful job. I was so hoping to get to the end and move and start afresh knowing I had closed a chapter quietly.

Today I had a very very stressful day, sworn at, assaulted, and it was just the final straw.

I get up at normally 5.30am I leave the house at 7am and I'm back at 6pm -collect the kids, sort them and I haven't slept in months. Not properly. I'm moving away from an awful ex husband and moving to friends and family. I have a new job in hopefully a lovely lovely place -it certainly seems lovely and I will be leaving the house at 8.30 am and back by 5pm.

I phoned my GP after a horrible experience at work and he cut me off mid tears and said "That's it Tomorrow. Enough. You are signed off now until your leaving date.Done. You can't do this anymore. You can't" -he's been with me every step of the way over the last 6 years of hell and supported my move and new job. He phoned me an hour later and I was still shaking. So that's it, I'm signed off for the last few weeks. I work in a dangerous environment at the moment in terms of stress levels and because of my role I'm in contact with lots of people each day -most of whom will not wear a mask to speak to me despite the rules etc today before I was assaulted, someone removed their mask and spat at me, swore at me and threatened to urinate on me and then they hit me.Not hard, but over the edge I went.

I'm wired. I should be tired and I'm not. Just checked the time. I'm exhausted but not tired if that makes sense. I can't switch off or destress. The kids are all asleep and I just want the world to stop spinning. We were moving house etc in 3 1/2 weeks, now we are going in two weeks. Work don't know yet, that I have been signed off. I feel shocked, a relief in some ways that I don't have to go back and in other ways -trauma.

Breathe OP, your GP has done the right thing. Use the time to decompress and get ready for your new life.

I'm trying to breathe but just keep sobbing. The kids are asleep right now, I've had migraines for weeks / months with the stress of the move etc and the GP has signed me off with these and the stress of being verbally abused / physically abused etc. I'm in a vulnerable group and have been so worried about Covid -and I have two children isolating from school at the moment and one child in for the next two weeks and then we move. The GP didn't give me a choice. It was that or medication and being signed off. I have an counsellor meeting on Monday evening now as I've been having counselling for weeks.

What an awesome GP - you need this so don’t feel any guilt. You need to put you self first. (And bloody hell what a day and what twats you’ve had to deal with).

Sounds like you have a much more promising time ahead

You’ll get over this hugs be very kind to yourself, one day at a time at least your out of it now for a few weeks,

It might take you a bit of time to unwind a little. Look after yourself in the meantime and focus on your future. Sobbing right now is likely a release mechanism.

This too shall pass x

I have other stress, house buying, ex etc so I'm not out of the woods yet. But at least I can focus on that

This is a very good thing. You're near your limit and you need to focus your energy on the things that matter for your future. Fuck the job, it sounds like it's taken enough from you. Remember to look after yourself in the midst of everything so you can enjoy your lovely future. Good luck.

Give your self permission to enjoy the relief, it sounds like you've had an incredibly difficult time and it is absolutely no reflection on you that this has all come to a head. Humans can only cope with so much, your GP has recognised that you are at breaking point and for the sake of your mental and physical health signed you off. When you've been fighting for so long it is hard to let go, and get your head round it being over. Well done, you've made it! You need to rest, eat, be kind to your self, and then channel your energy in to the move, and enjoying Christmas with your kids.

Thank you for your comments -I've emailed my boss after a day of crying and he has been great and told me my health and well being come first etc and he's advised me to speak to the GP again morning and the counsellor (appointment Monday) -as I'd said I was going to and put myself first. He did wish me well with part 1 of the move -supposed to happen this weekend but I've explained it is all on hold for the moment as I just had such bad time with migraines and the children are isolating anyway so they can't go for a couple of weeks etc -I can't drive. But I just feel such a failure. Some of my family are driving to near us tomorrow and I'm going to go and meet them for a quick walk - leave the teens at home whilst they isolate etc.

Friends have been really good. I rang a friend this morning and sobbed for an hour. Etc I have cried all day but feel better- I feel sorry for the 3 teens though as mummy has been sobbing all day. But they have been good too.

Hi OP. You have a fabulous GP and you’re doing great. Breathe. You can do this.