Time off for Stress

annie-c

Shaun, to add to my post above:

I say all this because I've been there. Admitting to being stressed and taking a few weeks off work was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life because it is important to me that other people see me as someone who can cope.

But it was so worthwhile. Since taking a bit of time out and re-thinking things I've changed my job, changed a few friends, and moved house. Lots of change, but through doing it I've also become so much closer to my real friends and family and have become much more able to ask for help (just now and then - I'm sometimes still too proud and prefer to cope alone!!).

My GP was fantastic when I needed help. He told me to take time off and he advised me how to handle work issues. I went in feeling ashamed for not coping and frightened that he would think I was faking it to get time off work - but I came out feeling that the most enormous weight had lifted. Looking back I don't know how or why I carried on being unhappy for so long!

I have to be honest and say it wasn't easy getting straight again. But that's mostly because I buried my head in the sand and let bills and paperwork get on top of me. But I didn't have this site, or all the other advice you can get on the internet these days. You already have more control over your situation than you probably give yourself credit for by finding this site (and us lot!) in the first place.
Good luck and let us know how you get on...

Annie.

Sofa_Sogood

ShaunJUK wrote:

Thanks for your help.

I am back at work tomorrow and face a full week ahead of me so no chance of getting to the Dr's.

Should I take monday off and go see him? How long am I likely to get off work?

My main concern is financial strain, would my income protection pay out?

My possible sources of income would be as follows:

Statutary Sick Pay
Company Sick Pay
Mortgage Income Protection (HSBC)

What would I get if any out of those and is there anything else I may have missed?

I'd read annie-c's posts ShaunJUK

Have you got an understanding employer by the way? It could be that they'd rather your health was 100% than have someone working who was under stress and possibly making themselves worse in the process.

Re the SSP etc, if you asked on the relevant boards here, I'm sure they'll help. In fact I know they'll help

shopbot

Just wanted to wish you the very best.

Lots of good advice has been posted already. I think you should also use this site to help you work out what the minimum salary you and your family can live on is. Using techniques on here to reduce your expenditure means that you might be able to move to another job with less stress even if it means a lower salary.

Keep posting here if it helps

flis21

shopbot wrote:

Just wanted to wish you the very best.

Lots of good advice has been posted already. I think you should also use this site to help you work out what the minimum salary you and your family can live on is. Using techniques on here to reduce your expenditure means that you might be able to move to another job with less stress even if it means a lower salary.

Keep posting here if it helps

I have done this. Worked out that we could afford to live on a lot less than we are. When I was younger I wanted to work with children, did my qualifications, then realised that it didn't pay that well, so got my horrid stressful office job. Now I have reassessed have decided that we can afford to live on a Nursery Nurse's salary, just have to make a few changes and cut backs, but if it means I am a lot happier then it is worth it. As such I have an interview today for my first Nursery job.

I even feel happier just going for the interview. It is really important when you go through something like this to try and sit back and work out what it is that is making you unhappy and see if you can change it. I was helped a lot by some counselling, which was paid for through a scheme my work are in. Maybe you could ask your work, or your doctor, if there is any counselling available to you.

ShaunJUK

well I have taken the plunge and taken the day off work, I have an appointment with the doctor at 15.50

I hope I am doing the right thing

candygirl

Shaun you are definitely doing the right thing.i am off with stress at the moment too.mine is due to a lot of life changes at once, major surgery a marriage split, financial worries about the house etc due to the divorce and a lot of work related stress.i had soldiered on for over a year with it until i had a mouth full of ulcers, couldnt swallow my food properly and had an ear infection, i went to the docs and broke down and she signed me off for 2 weeks, but said i'll probably need longer to recover.if i feel i need the time i will take it, even though i'll only be on half pay as the job's relatively new.
I am also reassessing my life at the moment and realising that even though i've had a hard time lately i have coped really well but i am human after all.
Good luck shaun!!

rubytuesday

I was off work for seven months July 2004 a combination of stress and a reaction to taking coproximal and valium for osteoarthitus in my spine. I had a break down and ended up spending 3 months in the Priory. I was on full pay for 3 months and then half pay for 3 months followed by SSP I had a staged return to work and eventually got back to normal hours July 2005. Unfortunetly I think they were trying to get rid of me because of my illness and I had to take out a greivance against my employer for one thing or another and would have taken them to tribunal if it hadn't been resolved! More stress!!Any way your health really must come first, take some time out, check your contract and then work out the best ways to resolve the stress issues be that changes in your working environment, less hours or a new job when you have recovered. Good luck.

Gem_

Hey Shaun hope the doctors appointment helps. Do let us know how you get on.

Re the mortgage - do you have the mortgage insurance thingie they are always trying to flog? If so then it should pay out for long term sickness (depending on the policy). It is worth checking.

Good Luck

G

hjb123

Good Luck Shaun,

You are doing the right thing. If you keep bottling it up it will only get worse, tell the doctor how you feel! He will understand! Trust me I have been there!

Let us know how you get on

H

ShaunJUK

Well I managed to get a week off, He didnt seem to care much though just recommended I increase the dose on my Anti-Depressants, I almost had to convince him medication wasn't the answer and I need time to sort things out myself