Is going off sick career suicide?

[wheresmyhairytoe]

Currently off with anxiety, depression and stress.

I'm so worried that this is going to stop me from returning to work with people respecting me and that if I want to move jobs they'll reject me as soon as they see my sickness record.

Who will see your sickness record? In most cases this'll be only Occupational Health who will look to ensure you have strategies in place to manage any ongoing medical condition, mental or physical.

In terms of losing respect, would you loose respect for a colleague if they had a broken leg or a diagnosis of a heart condition?

Are you receiving help with medication and/or counselling and establishing what is causing your stress, anxiety and depression?

In my experience being off sick is far better than insisting on going in and not being able to do the job. Then people get resentful over carrying your workload.
Out of sight is out of mind, if someone has to cover you at least this is being acknowledged by a manager so they are a lot less likely to be annoyed by it.
Most people are too caught up in their own business to give too much thought to yours. Harsh as that sounds.
In any future job they are unlikely to withdraw a job offer because your sick record shows mental Ill health. If you work in large organisations new managers won't even see it.

It a little while the only person who will remember this is you. When it comes to new roles before you know it - three years will have passed and it will be a complete non issue. Please use the time off to deal with the physiological and root causes of your stress. Lots of walking, meditation, swimming, looking at thought processes and medication if you need x

I've had to do this after a bereavement. It was four years ago now and I managed to get a PT post on a different sector afterwards, then back into my previous professional via former contacts who knew I was up to the job. My record will now be back to normal I suppose.

@DorisDaisyMay, can you tell me more about the three year thing? If I were to apply for a post in my old area, would they still have records of my absence?

My dh had nearly a year off with anxiety/depression after a perfect storm of year. His career has gone on since then, and he's been open about what happened, and what he did to get better and stay that way

It shouldn’t do and hasn’t in my experience. Use the time wisely to prioritise what it is you want; be it a new job or to seek counselling.

Hope you feel better and time away does you good

@SaltyAF it was more a comment on how fast time goes and before you know it, things that you think are massive, are distant memories. Not really connected to sickness records or anything like that. x

It didn’t affect my career. I had a long term absence due to a work related incident that my employers fully acknowledged was a direct result of the incident I dealt with. They were very good, keen to get me back to work and provided Physio and counselling. I had a relapse 12 years later but they were still supportive to a point ( denied medical retirement) but still offered counselling.

I'm seriously considering being signed off due to stress. Recently had a bereavement and a colleague is harassing me and I just don't know who much more I can take.

@loutypips sorry you are feeling this way. Your post talked to me as it’s exactly how I felt, and I’m currently signed off. I too was (and am) being seriously harassed by work.

I’ve instructed someone to help me prepare grievance letters and to ensure I don’t get walked all over (I’m a senior manager, but it makes no difference). It’s still relatively stressful, but I feel more hopefully of a positive outcome- not least for my own sanity.

I would recommend that you take time our and consider complaining with a view to getting a positive resolution for yourself.

All the best

@Thestateofplay unfortunately the bereavement has just proved to me that life is too short to be unhappy in a job. I'd rather be doing a far less stressful job for less money and be mentally well than putting up with all this crap.
I have formally complained but am yet to hear anything back just yet. Hopefully it won't make things worse (although I seriously doubt that!), otherwise I will just quit.
I hope things are sorted out for you soon.