Have youvever been off sick long term for MH reasons?

[Oldromance]

And how ill were you?

I work in the public sector and and struggling at work. I'm not crying everyday or anything, bit finding relationships difficult, struggling for motivation and focus, know I'm not doing the job as well as it should be done.

I've never had any time off at all really buy I'm seriously thinking of seeing my GP to ask for some time to gather myself. No idea if that's likely to be given, but it seems like colleagues have occasionally been signed off for ill health after e.g. management disputes. I don't feel desperately.ill, but probably do have some depression.

The answer is almost certainly that I should resign/retire, but I feel like some time off might make things clearer, and maybe there's a part of me that feels like I'm "entitled" after working nearly 40 years and never making use of the generous sick pay arrangements.

I don't feel desperately.ill, but probably do have some depression.

Have you been to your GP to see about treatment? That would be your first step if your mental health is poor

Sounds like there isn't enough wrong with you to be off work sick but you feel you are entitled to it because of your age and length of service. If you've had enough, have some dignity and retire.

I don't approve of skivers. However in your circumstances I think it would be reasonable to go to your GP and request some time off sick. And perhaps get some medication for your anxiety and depression.

I left after 30 years due to work pressure and stress. I had never taken sick leave above an odd few days now and then. In hind sight I wished I'd spoken to the dr about how I felt and used the sick leave entitlement in a way that worked for me.

I had mild depression for a year but when I couldn't stop crying I had three weeks off and the GP wrote to my employer saying I should be given light duties. She also referred me to talking therapies. I'm public sector too.

Have a chat with your GP OP as it sounds like you are approaching burn out.

I had a complete breakdown last year due to various stressful events one after the other. With insight, I pushed myself for too long to just try to carry on as normal and one day my body and mind just collapsed and I found myself sitting in my house and crying hysterically. I could not sleep, struggled to eat, write or generally concentrate more than 5 minutes. I even reached a point where I made plans to end my life. Thankfully I reached out to my GP who immediately gave me some anti-depressants and called the Crisis team. I was under their care for 3 weeks and slowly got a bit better. I needed to be off for almost two months while I tried to recover, then worked from home with the support of Occupational Health. I also had weekly counselling sessions through the NHS (they gave me the maximum available as I was in really bad shape).

So my point is don't wait until things get even worse, speak to your GP and then either book some annual leave if you can or ask to be signed off while you try to address what is going on with you.

'@JoyousPinkPeer · Today 08:24

Sounds like there isn't enough wrong with you to be off work sick but you feel you are entitled to it because of your age and length of service. If you've had enough, have some dignity and retire.'

Sound like you know nothing about depression. Have some dignity and don't post such nasty little comment when someone is so obviously struggling.

I've had periods of several weeks off at a time as I work part time in a healthcare role for the nhs and unfortunately suffer with Schizoaffective Disorder, so despite all my efforts & the reasonable adjustments my employer has made, it seems I can't avoid periods of illness.
I'm waiting to see my psychiatrist again for more help with meds as I've had a verbal warning and I don't know what else I can do to improve. The problem is I'm having hallucinations.