Scheduling sick leave

[hellohihellou]

Has anyone done this before? I’ve been struggling with my mental health for some time at work. Since early summer I’ve been holding it together and trying to manage. But I think it’s doing more harm than good. I’m in a constant state of anxiety during the working day and sometimes into the evening and weekends as a I dread coming into work. I’m also not the most productive as I sometimes get into freeze mode and can only do what is immediately required and me and time sensitive. Lots of procrastination going on.

I’m thinking of getting signed off after the Christmas holidays. I feel like my mind and body needs a break, and I don’t want to get to breaking point. Grinning and bearing it isn’t exactly working for me, as I’m still here months later. I’ve been in therapy and starting EMDR soon. I would have been off ages ago if I didn’t feel so much guilt about taking time off and stepping away and worrying about what people might think.

not sure why I’m asking, I suppose I’m wondering if I’m scheduling it and timing it means maybe what I’m experiencing is not all that bad?

Why dont you book annual leave?

If you feel like you need a break after Christmas maybe think about booking annual leave. I agree mental health is a legitimate reason to take sick leave but if you can wait to plan it ahead, it’s obviously not that bad and annual leave could be used instead.

Just because you can force yourself to keep going doesn’t mean you aren’t unwell and may end up being off for longer (just like pushing through a physical illness or injury might result in more time off than if you’d rested appropriately at the start).

However, in your situation, I’m not sure what being off would really solve? It won’t change your job, or the work stress you’ll be coming back to. You might end in the same situation a few months down the line, thinking that you need more time off.

Rather than see it as 'scheduling' could you have it as a deadline for 'if I am not feeling significantly better by this pojnt then I need to take some time'. But honestly you should go off now if that's what you need - others opinions shouldn't impact on decisions you make about your health

I think that if it can wait until after Christmas then it’s not that bad and you should take annual leave for a break. If you are struggling and too unwell to work then you should take sick leave now.

Isn’t this what holidays are for?

Don’t wait until after Christmas, just do it now.

It is very daunting to have to admit to yourself/your employer that you are unwell and need time to recover. But I do think we need to think about mental illness on par with physical illnesses - and if someone had diarrhoea everyday for a month there would be no problem in them being signed off sick until they recovered.

I was the same and was very unwell but kept working and putting off calling in sick. Unsurprisingly it just made everything worse.

For some maybe? My mental health might be better after the holidays it also might not be. What I do know is that I’m struggling now, and have been for an extended period. I should probably take some time away now.

Thank you for understanding. I do feel some guilt about taking time off which is probably why it’s taking me so long. Idk why after Christmas made sense in my head .. it’s busy at work at the moment and there’s things to do, but I’m not being 100% of myself anyway and delaying the inevitable as I’m really struggling to go on

If you are sick you take time off now, if you need a break (and don’t we all) you book annual leave. You can’t know you will need leave for mental health in a set period of time

If you are sick you take time off now, if you need a break (and don’t we all) you book annual leave. You can’t know you will need leave for mental health in a set period of time

I mean as your employer or colleague yes, I would probably judge you for scheduling sick leave in this manner, either you’re truly unable to cope now in which case take it off now, or it’s not that bad, but presumably you’re not going to tell them in any case. What are you hoping to achieve with the time off, as it sounds like it’s just your job stressing you out rather than other life events so why not just look for another job?

I totally understand and was the same. I kept going and just ended up making more and more mistakes which just wasn’t helpful to anyone!

Do you have anyone at work that you can talk to? In the end I just emailed HR to say I needed sick leave and would send in the sick note from the GP. The HR team ended up being so nice about it so I really shouldn’t have been so worried.

They’ll survive without you - and if they don’t that’s poor business planning on the employers part, not your problem.

If you are so bad that you can't function now, then you're ill now and you need to get your GP to sign you off now. If you need a break after Christmas to receover then schedule some a/l. Have you been prescibed anything in addition to counselling? The counselling can help you make sense of your feelings, but medication will help with your mood and your physical symptoms that will be making you feel physically worn out (and in turn, mentally).

It’s difficult to say if you are being unreasonable without being on your shoes and really understanding how much you are struggling. What does your therapist say about it? What is the EMDR going to focus on?

Not on any prescribed medication but considering

CPTSD

I have spoken to a colleague who has advised I speak to my manager for support, which I know I should do, i just struggle with opening up and scared about how I’ll be perceived.

thank you again, it’s a lonely and isolating place to be

Do you have a psychiatrist who diagnosed that? If so, maybe speak to them to see whether they would recommend some time off?

There’s also the fit note modified duties/hours oprion if you’re in two minds about whether or not you need to be fully off.

I think on your second paragraph that’s has been my mindset so far - it’s not going to fix anything.

But your EMDR for CPTSD may address some deeper issues which would then make it easier to deal with the stress of work? If that is the case, then some time off in the meantime might be worthwhile.

OP if you are struggling to cope take some sick leave now and make sure you see your GP for support. Longer term if your job is the source of your constant stress you need to start job-hunting for something else.

I understand that you feel guilty about taking time off. I'm working in a small team where we have a member of staff who is struggling, but holding on. Honestly though because she is not completing work and struggling to reply/engage with team tasks she is putting the rest of us under additional pressure. We'd much rather she was taking care of herself 💛

It may not fix anything but very often work is the one thing that we can out on hold while we’re struggling. Taking time off allows you headspace and your system time to reset and recover which in turn creates more capacity to cope with particular stresses. It also gives you space to think about what you might want to change in the long term which can be hard when you feel like you’re fighting on all fronts.

It may not change the circumstances but may give you better ways of coping in the medium term.