Soon to be made redundant - Don't want to go back to work.

PaulJM

BlueBanana wrote: »

Hi all,



As a long-term sufferer of panic attacks, I make sure I take lots of time out from stressing about paying the mortgage, will I ever get another job etc. by doing things I know help me to chill out (sitting in the park, watching an old movie).

BB - Probably one for another post, but I'm dismayed by my panic attacks, usually most dismayed when I'm feeling ok!
I've wasted plenty of NHS hours this time checking I'm ok, and I am, but from time to time I still allow myself to think that they've maybe missed something! My latest wheeze is to worry about walking anywhere because I get chest pains then! Which leads on to worries about getting a job meeting customers...etc..vicious circle! Maybe this is more like hypocondria - but I'd not been to the docs in 10 years before this latest redundancy round.
It's a really difficult time for people, and I guess the ones who don't get this kind of attack don't understand why you can't pull yourself together!

Jacey53

notechno wrote: »

"b) I don't work in the public sector where I can just swing the lead because I feel sorry for myself and don't feel like going in (yet I and everyone else are paying their wages - disgraceful)

I get so tired of this "I pay your wages" nonsense. Who do you think pays your wages? We do - the people who buy the goods or services that your company produces, the people who pay taxes so that people receive benefits, the people on benefits who have to spend all their income.
We are all interdependent and the people on this site who think that monstrous public sector cuts are a good thing will soon find out that they aren't.
For all the rhetoric, I suspect that the government will pull back if it ever finds a brain on the team.

notechno

I understand all that perfectly. But the OP was saying they were wondering whether to take the next 3 months off sick whilst not exactly being ill enough to have 3 months off sick - are you seriously trying to suggest that is ok? It's theft to the tune of at least a couple of grand - wherever the money is coming from, and in this instance from the public purse.

On the whole, you have a choice whether to buy particular goods or services, and if their cost increases due to a less productive workforce you would take your custom elsewhere. I don't have a choice who I pay my Council Tax or income tax to. And some more food for thought....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1288256/Sick-note-Britain-Local-authority-employees-twice-sick-leave-private-sector.html

Jacey53

I certainly agree that no-one should stay off work if they are not too ill to be at work and I agree that any absenteeism (public or private sector) is a cost to all of us.

As to the Daily Mail article there are two issues here - firstly the public sector has to account very closely for sick absences. Secondly, they have to abide by government legislation regarding sick absences/disability etc - many private sector employees attend work when they are totally unfit as they are scared of losing their jobs - including people who place others at risk for example lorry drivers. In other cases employees are sacked as soon as they go sick and it is not recorded as an absence.

However there is an issue with sickness absences in the public sector which managers have tried to address over the last 30 years in the teeth of legislation - I have managed to dismiss two staff just last year whose attendance record was unacceptable.

As far as the "going elsewhere to buy" - some of the money would still end up in your pocket, perhaps via my pension, insurances, investments my bank makes with my pittance on deposit or even what i spend with a competitor, who then pays his workforce who spend with your company..........................and on and on....

Rupert_Bear

Best the OP left with dignity and with their head held high rather than pulling the depression card.

BlueBanana_2

PaulJM wrote: »

BB - Probably one for another post, but I'm dismayed by my panic attacks, usually most dismayed when I'm feeling ok!
I've wasted plenty of NHS hours this time checking I'm ok, and I am, but from time to time I still allow myself to think that they've maybe missed something! My latest wheeze is to worry about walking anywhere because I get chest pains then! Which leads on to worries about getting a job meeting customers...etc..vicious circle! Maybe this is more like hypocondria - but I'd not been to the docs in 10 years before this latest redundancy round.
It's a really difficult time for people, and I guess the ones who don't get this kind of attack don't understand why you can't pull yourself together!

Hi Paul,

I can totally relate to this. They always hit you when you least expect it. I kept getting pins and needles in my hand which I was convinced was something sinister but luckily I have a sympathetic GP who suggested hypnotherapy (which worked for me). I had to pay but it was worth it. I think the most useful thing the hypnotherapist said was that anxiety produces physical symptoms (chest pain, pins and needles, butterflies in the stomach) and that there are techniques you can learn to help you control it (rather than the anxiety controlling you). There's a website out there called "No More Panic" which has lots of good advice (and it's free) for people experiencing anxiety.

I know what you mean about worrying about not getting another job - it's horrible and you go round and round in circles. It really knocks your confidence. I got my CV professionally reviewed by a friend and that was very helpful because the comments were really positive and so I didn't feel that I was hopelessly unemployable.

And you're right, people who have never experienced anxiety have no idea what you're talking about. Unfortunately we can't just pull ourselves together. The NHS choices website has lots of advice about dealing with redundancy and the credit crunch (sorry, this site won't let me link to it). At least I now know it's normal to sit at my desk freaking out about losing my job....