Any advice greatly received

[nicsnigsnags]

I am on mat leave at the moment from a fulltime job, due back in a month.

I wanted to drop a few hours a week but have been told this can't be accomodated where I'm based at the moment so would mean moving to god knows where, (the employers doesn't even know)

To make matter worse I have just been prescribed antidepressants for anxiety I have been stuggling with for a while now, (having to clean, tidy to the detriment of my 2 DC)

My head is all over the place at the moment and I think my GP might want to sign me off when I go and see her again next week as she knows the nature of my job and it is stressful anyway.

I however was signed off for 12 weeks with SPD before my mat leave started, was trying to come back but they said there was no other role I could do despite me going to Occupational health and trying my best to return, I was also hospitalised during that time with pain that was found out to be a large gallstone, had the birth induced in order to get surgery to remove gallbladder when my DD was 5 weeks.

My issue is I'm really worried about taking more time off straight after mat leave and how it will look and what my manager will think but I don't know what to do if my GP suggest signing me off.

I can't even enjoy being off as I feel I need to get back to get into a routine as this is'nt "real life" at the moment but the thought of going back full time or to somewhere new is frightening, I just don't know what to do, have only been on medication for just under 2 weeks so it's still early days for that to be helping.

Thanks for reading and hope someone can give me advice as I feel I'm about to lose the plot!

Okay. Anxiety is terrible for messing with our heads, isn't it?

It's good that you're getting the help you need from your GP. Very well done for taking that step and giving the ADs a try. As you say, they may take a little while for you to notice any improvement.

On the work front, it's good that they are trying to accomodate the hours you want to work. I do understand what you mean about not wanting to go back to somewhere new. But from what you say, it doesn't sound as if where you were working before was doing much for your mental health? So a change might be a good thing.

And if your GP thinks you need to be signed off from work, then that is just what is happening with you at the moment. Worrying about what work will think, won't help you get better faster, probably the opposite. So, when you have seen the GP again, if they sign you off, I suggest you try to set up a meeting or phone call with your manager to discuss it.

(Racks brain trying to think of something that might help...)

If you are struggling to clean & tidy (I know this is a small part of the problem, but you did mention it), have you tried the Flylady system?

See www.flylady.net and the various Fly Threads on the Good Housekeeping section of MN

Ooh Seabright, I'd never known what all those fly threads were about, and had been too scared to look at them/ask. Thank you!

thanks you seabright and isit me, I also didn't know what those threads were about either.

I have already set a meeting up for the 5th to talk about hours but I am also back at GP next week so will have an idea how she thinks I'm progressing.

I have major anxiety if I can't get all my housework done in a certain order or if I need to leave something and attend to one of my DC, I know it's ridiculous and people say oh just leave it, it'll get done but leaving it makes my anxiety worse.

I feel I'm missing out on so much as I'm so wrapped up in having to get stuff done, that's what made me go to GP.