I don’t think I can work anymore.

[paulhollywoodshairgel]

I have always worked since I left school at 16. Full time and then part time after having kids. I suffer horrendously with my mental health and a few physical illnesses. I had a year off work after my father died as I had a complete breakdown. I’ve recently returned to work and I just don’t feel like I can do it anymore. My mental health condition feels worse and my physical problems are getting worse. It just feels impossible to carry on. I work for the NHS and I have no idea what to do or where to start? Do I just resign? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I got to this situation when working for the police and I was going to resign. I was advised to go for ill health retirement which I did. I had a lump sum from my pension and a small monthly payment too.

What support do you have if you left? Do you have a partner who works?

Have you been to see your GP?

If you have a physical disability and a mental health one, you will definately be entitled to support at work. Are you feeling like this, having already had some support or prior to receiving any?

I always worked too since 14, had many mental health crises then huge physical health problems, left work 6 years ago and won’t ever go back because I’m just too unwell. Get full rate PIP and the rest benefits, I earn about the same as working. I’d be 6 feet under if I had to work full time again. Focus on your mental wellbeing, there’s help available.

Speak to your trade union rep about applying for ill health retirement. 💐

And if you're not a union member, go straight to your pension provider and ask for their ill health retirement policy. It usually takes some time but it is possible to arrange for them to start paying early. Speak to your GP and get signed off, paid, in the meantime. And if you have an Employee Assistance Programme through work that offers financial advice, use it while you have access to it to work out how to put yourself in the best possible position financially to minimise future stress. If you don't have access to financial advice as a work benefit you might also have access to it through your bank or credit card company.

I'm in a similar boat OP. Have been increasing hours after a bereavement that floored me but my physical health is driving me to distraction. So many different conditions, all overlapping, all 'manageable' on their own, but the combination is doing me in. Plus elderly parents and ND kids is crippling me. I just know I'm going to break again if I overdo it, yet it feels like society wants me to do that. But the advice to me from my UC work coach was 'don't whatever you do hand your notice in'.

Have you got occasional health at work? You'd need to go through the processes and medically retire I think.

Occupational not occasional!

No don't resign.
You could ask for an occupational health assessment because changes to your job/reduced hours /a different job may help. Obviously dependent on what your struggling with/what your physical illnesses mean day to day to what or even if this would help.
You could ask your GP for support because then it's on record.
Are you in a union because they can give you advice and support.
Last resort can be ill health retirement however its a process you need to follow hense not resigning and requesting assessment/support. Its also means you have to have looked at if you could do any job, if you could do something on reduced hours, if you could work in the future (just not now) or if you can never work again. There's two tiers to retirement and it took me over a year to get through the process as they obviously dont want to pay out a pension to someone in their 30s if they dont have to.
Do your research and dont think not working is easier it destroyed me having to retire aged 38. I know it was my only option but it took away that last bit of me.

Best advice for anyone in same boat is to ensure you are keeping evidence of ur conditions (doctors notes hospital letters diaries etc) and then apply for PIP and LWRCA

What's LWRCA? My Pip application was turned down. Haven't the will or time to appeal tbh.

Universal credit for being too sick too work. If you have a partner they can also get carers allowance
i I got 0 points first time for PIP and then reapplied and got high rate for both for past 6 years

Work is good for mental health. I had a lady absent from work for a year due to bereavement ... she came back, yes it was very hard at first, but she said it was tve best thing she did for her MH.

Can you ask them to reduce yoyr hours for a bit so you have a phased return?

I get what you are saying op. I've worked 40 years most of those in the NHS dealing with horrendous situations on a daily basis and then for the last eight years in another line of work dealing still with ill miserable people often living in difficult situations. I'm completely burnt out and mental health suffering. My fixed term job comes to an end in a few months and whilst I don't know how I'm going to manage without the money I am so ready to finish.

Hi. Some good advice here thanks. 🙏 I’ve already reduced my hours as low as I can go. They have been more than accommodating. They’ve provided equipment and occupational health involvement. Physio and counselling. I can’t fault them on the help they’ve provided. I just feel after this last breakdown.. it’s like my brain doesn’t work the same way.

It's a horrible feeling OP, I feel like that sometimes too. It sounds to me like another chat with your counsellor and Occ Health is in order. I hope you've got a bit of a break over Christmas and can find the best way forward in the New Year

I had to make the decision not to work anymore in my 50s. I had a lot of medical conditions that would be serious without medication but liveable with and treatable with medication. All ultimately a consequence of a life spent in overdrive trying to outrun childhood trauma and resulting mental health issues. Fell off the mental illness cliff a couple of years ago and was hospitalised for a month. Every time I tried to pick up work again, my brain revved up again even with specific medication. I’ve taken ill health retirement. Not working isn’t as easy as it sounds but living a quiet stable life is working for me and I’m finding a way to have a new identity for myself that doesn’t centre itself of my diagnosis. I’ve made sure to continue human connection through the gym etc - activities that I can opt out of on the day without impacting anyone else.

All the best.

Oh my goodness I could have written that myself. That’s exactly how I feel. Thank you