Stress at work at unmanageable levels

[Nothavingfunrightnow]

I work in an education setting and have done for 15 years. We recently had a change of management and the entire setting has been unsettled by it. We have hugely unrealistic expectations imposed on us with no one listening to our concerns. It's becoming intolerable, and I'm thinking of quitting.

I've been booked off with stress (crying constantly at work, not sleeping well, headaches, body pains, irritable). My sick leave ends next week, and I cannot bear the thought of going back. There has been a rash of resignations over the past month, so it's not just me who is struggling.

I'm looking for other work, but in the meantime, I'm stuck. I really cannot bear the thought of returning. Has anyone else been in similar situations? Have you had sick leave for stress and the resultant MH decline extended?

This is such a grim situation for me.

If you aren’t fit for work due to stress, speak to your GP.

You have my sympathies, different profession but I’ve recently resigned due to unreasonable expectations and unsustainable stress levels.

I was fortunate to find something else quickly and I’m soon to complete my notice period and counting down the days!

I would speak with your GP, it buys you time and hopefully you can find something else.

I feel your pain, I could have written your post a year ago.
While off sick I made the decision to go. In almost 30 years of working in NHS I'd never been off with stress and this was a big wake up call as to how much my health had been affected by stress of the situation at work. I didn't care if I had to do locum contracts for a while

I made the decision to return to work (after 3 weeks off sick) while job hunting as NHS asks for sickness absence record in the reference so I didn't want a big long absence showing up.
When I returned I was open and told managers and colleagues the job was affecting my health and I would be leaving at Christmas. I was able to quietly quit over next 3 months and let all the stress and nonsense go over my head. I secured another post 2 weeks before I left and haven't looked back.

I think the danger is that it creeps up on you. If you keep going and hoping that the next day and the next week things will improve you will eventually burn out. Your health is your top priority.

Thank you so much for the replies. I feel quite alone in this because while others at my setting complain, everyone else seems to be managing. It's reassuring to know it's not just in my head and that others also reach the point of having had enough.

I've decided to resign after having talked with my adult daughter, who lives with me. We can manage the bills for a couple of months, but I don't think I'll be without work for long.

Why is it that some people cope, but others not? I feel like I've let myself down.

Silverglitterbaubles, you're right. I've kept on going in the hope that things will ease up. But all that's happened is that we have more and more piled on us.

If it was me I'd take the fully paid sick leave for as long as possible whilst looking for other work (I got 6 months full paid). Will give you a bit of breathing space to look for another job before resigning

You probably aren't the only person going through this, everyone has their own breaking point. I once had a job with a new manager who micromanaged everything. Shed stand over you when you were trying to work. We were a small team but I was the 4th person who left and talking to others we all said in our exit interview that it was the manager who micromanaged that caused us to leave. Last I heard she'd been transferred to a job with no-one
reporting to her.

Keep going back to your GP until you give in your notice.

This is the point when you prioritise yourself OP.

Not sure if you are in teaching or working at a uni. HE is intolerable at the moment.

I coped until I didn’t and then the wheels really fell off! And I’ve always had a really high tolerance for coping!

I had a few weeks off following a bereavement but my previous tolerance for stress has not returned and being back at work, I feel completely overwhelmed regularly! Thankfully I’m nearly through my notice period so I can muddle through but there is no shame in struggling.

I felt liberated when I handed in my notice which told me it was the right decision. No regrets. Glad you have made a decision and I wish you well with job hunting.

Thanks, Doyouthinktheyknow. I'm in FE, and yes, it's horrific. General pressures in education plus poor management (I cannot call it leadership, because it's most certainly not that!) makes for dreadful working conditions, where i currently am.

Don't resign! Keep getting sick leave extended while you're job hunting.