I'm lost

[forest29]

I've had a succession of awful life changing events happen over a short amount of time. I work from home the odd day and wondered if it would be best to try and negotiate more working from home to try and minimise what feels like heading towards a mental breakdown and end up going off on sickness leave

Would this be a reasonable request?

Do you really think that being at home on your own would be the best thing for you at the moment? What other strategies are you employing eg walks, the gym, hobbies, friends. It sounds as if you are prepared to give up and expect to have a breakdown.

One of the events that's happened is my youngest child's father has suddenly passed away, I have no support network so it's me 24/7, the one contributing factor is it is making me feel better to have some alone time and working from home enables me to do this

I'm sorry for your loss, OP 🙏 I think it's perfectly reasonable wanting to rearrange your work life to best suit your personal and family life, especially in these circumstances. If wfh is your preference, I definitely would ask and try to negotiate, yes. Good luck 💐

I really appreciate those words ❤️. I feel like I've reached the maximum mental capacity I have, I've worked so hard since it happened to ensure my youngest has all the support there is to offer and I am there for her 24/7, but this has now led me to mental breaking point where I'm not looking after myself properly and consumed with worry that if something were to happen to me she wouldn't have anyone, I worry now the parental choices are soley down to me what happens if I don't make the right choices. As I mentioned this is just one of the major life changing events that has happened in quick succession

A period of holoday, sick or parental leave would give you a better period to readjust. WFH isn't a solution here. Orgainse WFH more when you are in a better place.
You need a break OP.

It really sounds very hard what you are going through 🙏
MN in general is very anti-WFH, so I'm not surprised the other pps have reacted against it. I absolutely see no problem in working from home, but some people seem to be terrified of it. My circle of friends, 90% work from home, including DH: they are all sane, normal parents. None of them has grown horns nor something like that.
I think it depends on your personality, though, and I get that for some extroverted types, it's not the ideal set up. But this is a very specific moment of your life, and you should feel able, if you have the option, to organise your work however best suits your family.

However, I agree with what others seem to point: you need outlets to prevent your isolation in this vulnerable time (which is, I guess, pps' concern).
I would also look for some kind of counselling/therapy for your mental health.

Good luck 🙏