Does anyone else find being off work with poor mental health excruciating?

[Greedybilly]

Also what are you actually supposed to do whilst you're off apart from worry that work will think you're a fraud? I tried to take an overdose last weekend (30 years of depression) having tried to swap antidepressants too quickly. Gp and crisis team been crap. Signed off for 2 weeks but just sitting around worrying and feeling crap. Literally don't know what to do with myself. Tried walking, meditating bla bla but feel terrible. Please help.

Anyone?

Yup. One of the worst times of my life.

How are you doing today? Has the meds change been looked at?

Glad you're still here x

Well I'm taking the next 2 weeks off work as it's just making me very unhappy. I'm leaving in 3 weeks anyway but cannot face staying there till then. You're not a fraud. Nobody needs to know why you're off. Take small steps and do little things every day to help with your mental health & get plenty of rest

Sorry, I’ve no advice but want to bump in case anyone else can help.

I can’t imagine two weeks off work will give you a quick fix. I know I’ve always heard going for a walk or exercise helps. Personally, when I’m down that’s the last thing I can think of.

Remember, Samaritans are there if you need to talk.

Thanks for replying. I feel like I'm the only person in the world some days. Just not sure what sitting around for 2 weeks is supposed to do . Really not motivated to do much.

Are there things you like to do? You could do anything. Your colleagues are at work. You are signed off to recover.

If taking yourself out for a coffee and a piece of cake is your thing, then do that. If going for a stroll is your thing, do that. Whatever your thing is - do that. It's medicine for mental health in a slightly different prescription to medicine for physical health.

I would ;

Read
Take some walks in nature
Visit a new town for walks
Go swimming
Work out
If I could afford it at the time I'd potentially go out to the coast

I did all those things last week. Really run out of motivation for another week if it but also can't bear the thought if going back to work.....:( just so tired of it all

Is there someone you can stay with or that could stay with you? Even just for a few days. I have been signed off too and just came home to my folks which has made the world of difference - although I know that’s not possible for everyone.

Try and get up and do something outside of the house if possible in the morning, even if just to walk to a shop.

Then maybe try and find something to focus on in the afternoon - a jigsaw, colouring, sudoku, embroidery?

Then you're probably not ready to go back to work yet and should book another go appointment to sign off a bit longer.

You could take up a new hobby or learn/do/try something new?

@MinnieMouse0 noone I can go to(either too far away or at work) did think I could go to a travel lodge but just so bloody fragile and will cry at the drop of a hat. Already anxious about going back and I've got another week off ffs. Normally v good at keeping myself entertained but feels different/I feel like I've come to the end of the road this time.

@Toddler101 thanks.yes it seems pretty obvious written down.

Don’t go back until you’re ready! There’s no rush! Just make an appt with the GP and ask for the note to be extended. I hope you feel better soon xx

@MinnieMouse0 thanku!

I agree that getting signed off from work has its disadvantages. I know people for whom two weeks turned into months. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to go back, so I hope you are able to return to work soon, even if work isn't great.

Try to establish a routine, even if it's only a couple of weeks. If you can, force yourself out in the morning to buy a newspaper and come back and read it over breakfast. Puzzles are also a useful distraction. I'd also suggest keeping the radio on all day. I find the house feels less empty when I've got Radio 3 on.

Promise yourself you will call a mental health crisis line if things get too bad.

Take care of yourself.

Yes, it’s really hard. You’re already feeling like the lowest of low and it’s hard not to worry what other people (who control your fate at work) think, even if they’re supportive and understanding.

At the same time, you clearly need this time to get back to yourself. The others who have suggested sticking to a routine, any routine, are right. Do something each day, no matter how small.

Sorry you’re going through this, hope it gets better.

It can be hard to be signed off. I've had two 6-8 weeks periods of being signed off. I did light exercise, had lots of therapy, read a lot and slept a lot.

So when I was signed off due to low mood and anxiety...
In the early days I did lots of things like baths, naps, little walks in the park, getting a take out coffee and sitting by the prom watching the river with headphones on. As I started to feel a little better I added going to the gym 4 times a week and then as I got better again I started adding in meeting friends or relatives, going to the cinema, going to galleries etc.
Basically I spent 5 months just looking after myself and thinking of it as recovery.

@ClematisBlue49 thanks for replying. The crisis team have been utter crap tbh so has gp

Honestly the first 2 weeks I'd say I pretty much sat on the couch watching scrubs and staring at the wall, before I could contemplate anything else. Please don't put pressure on yourself.

Sorry to hear that... those services can vary a lot, unfortunately. The Samaritans may be better? And don't forget that if you feel you are at risk, you can go to A&E for emergency help.

@Zola1 thanks for your honesty. X and thanks for your replies everyone it means a lot.x

Yes you feel worthless and the downward spiral just keeps on getting worse

It really is like @Zola1 says. A small routine, a walk, a bit of reading, a social interaction however small. Then building it up slowly, day by day.

It's almost like saying I don't want it to be like this, so I'm going to add in little things to see if that makes it a bit better.

It's exhausting at the start, then little by little, it becomes less exhausting and more something you look forward to.

Everyone is different, so only you can judge how much you can do, but planning in advance and a routine takes some of the exhausting thinking out of the equation.

Walking helped me but it felt so painful at first and mostly I just cried. It did slowly get better. I had baths just for the moment at the beginning of getting into the hot water. I tried a bit of adult colouring.

I don't believe you're at the end of the road.

Does Mind have anything in your area? Your depression will tell you nothing will help but sometimes something creative or being with other people can help.