Work and mental health

[HSDG2013]

I currently work in a healthcare role and am also completing training to become an educator in my field. However at the minute I am struggling with depression and anxiety which I have a history of. This has been particularly bad this weekend. I’m not sure what to do. I feel like I really need time away from the work place but I know if I do this will have an impact on my team and a big impact on my training to be an educator. Alongside this it affects students that I would be due to supervise - I’m not sure how their work placement would be facilitated.

I don’t know what to do. I want to prioritise myself but I’m feeling trapped at sticking this out

I guess the question is, will you feel better if you take time away - with all the consequences you outlined - or will you feel better by pushing through?

Are you due any time off over Christmas/NY?

Thanks for replying. That’s what I’m struggling with. I always tell myself I’d feel better just struggling through until the next time it’s better take some time and then I don’t take it and go in a cycle.
I have. A few days off for Christmas just

You've just written the answer to problem "then I don’t take it and go in a cycle."

Take. The. Time.

Are you on medication for the depression and anxiety? How long until it will be easier for you to take a bit of time off? Do you have any access to counselling/therapy through your work? Is there a pattern where you feel better at the times when it would be easier to take time off because work is less stressful then? Are you trying to do too much or overloaded at work at certain times?

Thanks for your replies. Not currently on any medication. I have been on medication before but the last time I tried I couldn’t get over the hurdle of the exhaustion and anxious side effects when first taking them. It’s likely to be may/june before taking time off would be easier. I don’t have access to therapy but I’ve discussed with my partner paying for this privately. We don’t have a lot of spare money but it’s probably something I need to try again. I’ve tried before and it did help. Yes definitely a pattern where there’s easier times to take off but then I don’t because I feel better. And I’m definitely trying to take on too much. I always offer to help out and feel obliged to do so but wouldn’t expect the same of others. I try remind myself not to do it but then I do and I feel overwhelmed. The more I write this out I seem to know my issues I’m just falling down at addressing them

Having suffered from over work and expectation from others in the past, it can have a real detrimental effect on your mental health, and medication to cope with a job is not the answer, as you probably know.

Having someone talk to you with CBT or a therapist will only highlight what you're already thinking, moving up the ladder, gaining more qualifications, doing training and taking on more work is the thin end of the wedge to poor mental health if you're struggling to cope.

The positive thing is, you've recognised it and you're reaching out for help and asking if it's OK or what to do etc.

I can highly recommend: StrengthsFinder 2.0 (e-book) | en-gb - Gallup I did this back in 2007 and found it to be really helpful to understand your own makeup and how you respond to people and work. It also gives you pointers on how to communicate with others based on your 5 outcomes. There are no right or wrong answers, even not answering a question in time will yield a result.

Be careful buying it second hand, as it has a unique code in it that you need to use on the web to answer the 45 min quiz. I would be wary of buying it, as if the code has been used, you'll have an interesting book on personality traits and no assessment of your own from which to read up on.

It's well worth the cost...