Work stress

[piddlvee]

I've been told by my doctor to speak to hr and my boss about work related stress on my next working day this week but I'm dreading it.
We've had a couple of years of bad luck..caring for relative with dementia, cost of living has nailed us and I've had long term mental health issues (PMDD) I've not relayed in any great depth- asides speaking to my manager before Xmas and being told to cheer up 🙃
How do I go about this in a calm way? I had to have an ecg last week as I was having palpitations and stomach ache with anxiety. It's not all work related but my work load is steadily increasing and becoming unmanageable. And because I then give it my all and don't complain I'm then given more and more..I'm catastrophizing and thinking I'll be sacked etc. I can't cope with stressing about it until I speak to them and have a toddler to look after too while I feel I'm failing

So you tell them exactly as you started your post. You've been diagnosed with work related stress, on a background of past MH issues, and your Dr has told you to speak to them about it.

But you will need to be clear with them what you see are the issues at work and what needs to happen to help you eg unmanageable workload, let them know at what point it became unmanageable.It's not on you to sort out what will actually happen, that's on them. Be honest, they can only help if they know about it.

It may help you to send a brief email first of all saying you need a meeting to discuss work related stress. That way you've got it out there before you meet them.

It doesn't sound as though it's 100% work related though, has GP prescribed medication or suggested any therapy?

I've had CBT and am now on a new pill the last week to try and sort my pmdd after trialing some other things. It's not 100% work but when work is so stressful and expect too much I then cannot cope and it makes my life miserable. They are planning in not renewing a contract of someone who works 35 hours a week in a few months and all her work will end up falling to me, which is filling me with dread on top of being stretched thin as it is

As pp said explain what your Dr said. Use the HSE Stress questionnaire https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/assets/docs/returntowork.pdf to help structure the meeting. Take it with you and consider referring them to the tools etc. https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/downloads.htm

Remember under H&S at work act they have a duty of care. The tools etc are part of helping them to ensure they comply with the act.

@Stemmingthetide
Thank you for taking the time to share this. I've had a look through and jotted down some notes. Really helpful thank you