How long to be off with burn out ( nhs)

[Orchid90]

Hi.
I’m currently off work. I have been off for almost 4 weeks . I work in a very busy ED.
due to a combination of needing childcare / our families being far away / and work being generally unsupportive when needed time off for childcare …I ended up working lots of nights. With no real patter to them , just whenever I can fit them in . Weekends..some days here and then . This has carried on for almost 3 years and stress got more and more but I ignored it .
it got to the point where I genuinely had all the signs of burnout . Still carried on and ended up having a stretch of 7 days off . The day I was meant to go back not only I didn’t want to , I couldn’t . Had a series of panic attacks and I have been off since .

I don’t feel ready to go back . I’m only just about starting to feel human again . Had blood tests and also I tried a single pill of an antidepressant which wiped away any progress I had made . Just had an unfortunate bad reaction. i am confident I don’t need drugs, maybe could do with some therapy but I think my main need is time off .

how long is reasonable to take ? Will the gp sign me off for months or will it be 2 weeks at a time?

I feel bad because my blood test were fine so it is honestly “ just stress”. But I couldn’t sleep anymore and have weekly gone 36-40 hours with no sleep . This had become normal for me and I think I just crashed . Sleeping 14-16h and still feeling tired .
I will need a new job, but I need some time to recharge and look for something else .

sorry for the rant , just seeing if anybody been through similar and had any advice .

i’m sad a job I loved got me to this state where I might not be able to do it anymore.

thanks .

Take as long as you need.. I've been off for 4 weeks following the sudden and unexpected death of my mam.

You need to be kind to yourself.

It takes as long as it takes really and it sounds as though you're not at all ready to return to work. Go back too soon and you will have to go off again.
I was off for three months (social work) and each visit to my GP, he would let me lead on whether I felt ready or not, and signed me off accordingly. I didn't have any medication, just the respite from the constant onslaught was healing enough.
“Just” stress is a killer, btw.

Talk to your GP. You don't sound ready at all, it all sounds quite fragile, though clearly you've had some recovery.

I think it's easy to think you're 'better' when you're just not as bad as you were.

I've always understood that it's much better to be off for a single long period than to go back too early and keep going off again.

It takes as long as you need. DH had a breakdown (also works in ED). He was non verbal for a time and would wake at night having severe panic attacks. He was off for 4 months and then a phased return which I’m grateful his Matrons did with consideration. It took him a total of 18 months to return to anywhere near normal.

That sounds awful, poor you. I got myself into a similar state, also NHS but ICU. I didn't recognise it though, so just left. Have been nursing via agencies and dead end jobs so it's been a rest while still working if that makes sense. I have control over when I work which has been amazing. Gutted I had to leave a career. Heartbroken that nearly 2 years later I can't face going back.

Take as long as you need. I was able to access counselling through work while I was still there.

Thank you for all the work you have put in to ED. It's an incredibly stressful workplace.

My burnout lasted a few years not months or weeks. Take time now. 3-6 months minimum. And sort out your diet. Lots of healthy fresh fruit and veg. If you go back too soon you could find you end up in a much worse place and off for much longer