Mutual Termination

[lambchop81]

After working 27 years this is the first time I found myself on long term sick for 7 months leading to mutual Termination. Long term sick started with anxiety and depression with some health issues thrown in. Never in my working life have I had long term sick and my lord it made my anxiety worse.
Add into the mix having a difficult time with my DD being diagnosed with ASD and difficulty with school.
So what to do now......I don't feel capable of working to be honest hence why I didn't return even though they really wanted me to. But there is such a stigma if I don't I would claim UC and as my DD gets DLA I could get carers allowance. Can I afford to do that, yes as I don't live beyond my means but it fuels my anxiety of not working (stupid I know) even though I don't normally give a sh*t what people think. In reality I would need a part time job say between hours of 10-2, unrealistic really.
My mum was my childcare but her health is deteriorating and in a nutshell said she can't do it anymore.

Hi op sorry you have had such a hard time.

There is nothing wrong woth taking the benefits you are entitled to, you have an option there of taking the benefits and you could see it as a short term plan until you feel better to work,

Alternatively if you think your mental health would benefit from working can you look into a job that you feel would provide you very little stress but get you out and about and meeting people would be beneficial?

@CleanUpTime

Hi op sorry you have had such a hard time.

There is nothing wrong woth taking the benefits you are entitled to, you have an option there of taking the benefits and you could see it as a short term plan until you feel better to work,

Alternatively if you think your mental health would benefit from working can you look into a job that you feel would provide you very little stress but get you out and about and meeting people would be beneficial?

Thank you. I know that's true but the stigma gives me anxiety if that makes sense. Right now I feel my MH benefits from hiding away, silly I know because that doesn't help me at all. I rarely leave the house apart from school runs. Maybe baby steps to actually leave the house and do something like walking I really don't want to be judged for being a dole bum, I've worked hard for years

I feel like life this day and age had a lot of pressure and we have to work work work to get anywhere.

How old are you, you say you've been working for 27 years, so could the anxiety and depression be caused, at least in part, by the peri menopause? Many women struggle with work, HRT could help, or if not knowing that it's common as your hormones change could help you to think differently about it. No shame in taking some time out either if you can afford it or just know you need the space.

@Livelifeinthebuslane

How old are you, you say you've been working for 27 years, so could the anxiety and depression be caused, at least in part, by the peri menopause? Many women struggle with work, HRT could help, or if not knowing that it's common as your hormones change could help you to think differently about it. No shame in taking some time out either if you can afford it or just know you need the space.

I've thought about this as I am 40 and have been experiencing hot flushes. I have had anxiety and depression since I had PND at 27 and a very shitty relationship so it's hard to differentiate between my MH and anything else. I used to be so work focused and driven, I would thrive on stress. Now I just find any stress such as work knocks me off my feet and I don't cope with it very well.