If you were signed off work did it help or hinder your recovery?

[charmingbat]

I have had a very hard year - bad pregnancy, twins, sepsis, pss, pnd, relationship issues, family breakdown, death threats, police involvement, ss involvement, house move and have a recent diagnosis of c-ptsd. I also had a difficult childhood that I have recently realised was abusive. Ive estranged myself from my family as a consequence. I’m totally burnt out.

I’m recently back to my job after maternity but it’s triggered a huge relapse of my mood. I wonder if I need to take advantage of my employers generous sick pay arrangement to help me recover. It means we could still afford nursery while I find my feet. My husband worries it will make me feel worse to be off work. He has my best interests at heart but I know I’m doing a crap job at my work because Ive got no energy or motivation and that’s triggering me.

Did being off work help or hinder your recovery

How long would you want to be off?

I ask because if it’s a few weeks to completely rest and recover physically and mentally I think that sounds great.

If you’re planning a longer stint you need to be aware of how difficult it may be to return / retain your skills and nerve.

I don’t have a plan.

Sorry you are having such a hard time at the moment. It definitely helped me but I had no responsibilities other than to myself and normal household stuff so could focus on having therapy and getting well, and I also had a phased return to work.

It helped me. Similar circumstances. I was off for 8 weeks.

I wonder if I need to take advantage of my employers generous sick pay arrangement

And If you didn't have a good sick pay package? You either need time off or you don't? Other than just not being at work what medium and long term coping mechanisms will you be putting in place if you do take sick leave? Because if it's just time off for time offs sake then no I don't think it will help?
Lots of time at home on your own to dwell on things isn't necessarily the way to overcome your current feelings?

I think you do need a plan of some sort, otherwise all the same issues that are causing you to feel unwell will still be there at the end of it. I was signed off for 6 weeks last year, it was for anxiety/depression but I think really it was burnout from the first lockdown and wfh/looking after children at the same time.

During those 6 weeks I started antidepressants, they had time to start taking effect, and I did online counselling to try to develop some coping strategies. Work made arrangements for me to have more support, and I did a phased return over 4 weeks. My employer has up to six months full paid sick leave - incredibly generous - but honestly I’ve never known anyone ever take that long off and come back at the end of it (with the exception of one woman who was having chemotherapy).

I’m doing counselling and I’m on medication- my doctor has recently increased my dose. I don’t have a plan and I don’t want to dwell.

You can self certify for 5 days - maybe do that in the first instance and see how you feel? If getting some rest and having that space is helping, you could take longer, if you find you're at home dwelling on things then maybe look to go back in? I am not sure about c-ptsd, but there are some MH conditions which are disabilities, and if you go through OH then they may suggest reasonable adjustments which could help keep you in work but make it more manageable?

I was in a very similar situation start of last year, was in therapy twice a week dealing with some awful stuff and was no use at work. I needed time to myself but also didn't want to just dwell, and I knew that 2 weeks full time off wouldn't really help. I got the Dr to recommend reduced hours and I worked 3 days a week for about 10 weeks. It was what I needed to look after myself and do therapy, recover, rest, exercise etc, without feeling like a useless failure and without just dwelling on the negatives. When you get your sick note, you can ask the Dr to tick adjusted hours box, not a full sign-off.

Check your sick pay policy obviously and see what you're entitled to first. Go to employer with a plan. I hope they are supportive and you can get the time and care you need.

Take good care of yourself