Returning to work, following sickness.

[LostDignity]

Hi,

I'm hopefully returning to work next week following a sickness absence of seven weeks. I'm quite nervous and not sure what I'm going to be like once I'm back or what to expect?

I initially went off due to a relapse of my bipolar and ended up in a deep depression but I've slowly pulled my way back out of it.

I'm just looking for any tips/advice on how to ease myself back in? If it helps, I'm a nurse on a rather busy ward environment.

I've always been productive and on the ball. As well as bipolar disorder I also have adhd. Work have been supportive throughout but I'm just scared as I feel like I've been off longer then intended.

It sounds like you have been opened about your condition, so that's good. Have you been off work with it before?

My advice would be to focus on what you are implementing to try to minimise having to be off because of it. Have you been to your GP to discuss it and whether your medication can be amended, have you asked for counselling, have you considered what triggered this bout of depression and whether there is something you could do to prevent it happening again.

If you are showing commitment to manage your condition and how it impacts on your working, your boss is likely to be much more sympathetic than if you take a 'it's not my fault approach and there's nothing I can do about it.

Good luck OP, hope it goes well.

Are occupational health involved? Will you be having some kind of phased return? These can be incredibly beneficial and lessen the pressure.

Fwiw I had 2 months off with depression about 11 years ago. I felt exactly the same returning. I was so worried about what people would think and how I would cope working. For me it was honestly what I needed. I had a phased return and was able to do a couple of hours a day at first which was just enough to ease me into things without masses of pressure. I found that no one asked lots of questions about me being off. For them it was just like normal, it's just that I was back.

Try to focus on you in a months time, rather than you next week.