FINALLY DONE IT: Tayforth's new beginning

Funky_Bold_Ribena

tayforth wrote: »

Can anyone else give advice on this? There's bound to be someone who knows more than I do.

Try the Conservation Volunteers http://www.tcv.org.uk/

Or see if there is a local community garden that you can get involved in, there are loads where we are in and around the East Mids...

msb5262

Hi tayforth - I'm still here too...and very happy to see your brilliant progress!

Alpha58

Yep...still in the same place!

tayforth

Hello all

I had a quiet weekend at my mum's, still haven't spent a weekend in my own house alone. I know that I need to, and I'm planning to - next weekend.

I took the temazepam twice in the last week or so (in desperation as I had been sleeping so badly), but it didn't work that well. So last night I took Nytol. And I slept well. I know, it's not good to be taking sleeping tablets, but it's that or be exhausted at work.

Speaking of work, I'm in the office 4 days this week and it's a bit daunting. From next week, I'll be back to 5 days. Hard to believe, really. But it has to be done!

On the plus side, I got a letter from Personnel saying that no disciplinary action would be taken as a result of my long sick absence 'in the circumstances'. I'm very grateful. I was expecting at least a written warning. But they'll be closely monitoring my sick absence for the next 12 months, so if I get sick again I'm in trouble. :eek: Best start taking Vitamin C and echinacea!

msb5262 wrote: »

Hi tayforth - I'm still here too...and very happy to see your brilliant progress!

Thanks so much, msb5262. :A

Alpha58 wrote: »

Yep...still in the same place!

And happy there...?

aileth

Tay, if you're having trouble sleeping there's one thing I can suggest.... Night Nurse.

That stuff could knock out a rhino.

spirit

Listening to an audiobook is great too. Don't think I've ever got to the end of a chapter and still been awake. Obviously I wouldn't choose something 'heavy' to listen to, the library has loads of listening books to choose from.

paulineb_2

aileth wrote: »

Tay, if you're having trouble sleeping there's one thing I can suggest.... Night Nurse.

That stuff could knock out a rhino.

It does, but talking as a fellow insomniac, it just masks the problem.

And after a while it wont work as effectively. I had my insomnia under control with an anti depressant, stopped taking them, felt fine, had a bit more life stress and my sleeping pattern is a bit over the place at the moment, but id try and stay away from night nurse/nytol or any other similar product. I only use night nurse when I have a horrible cold.

Im taking some herbal tablets I got in poundland that contain valerian and they dont do much for me, herbal stuff doesnt

Its the symptoms of the insomnia that need to be tackled and if that doesnt work and it didnt for me, Id suggest cutting down on alcohol as well or cutting it out (it may knock you out but it impairs sleep quality). Im not trying to suggest that everyone who has sleep issues uses wine or any other alcohol to help, but I see it written so often online, people taking alcohol to help them sleep, it might knock you out but sleep quality will be poor.

paulineb_2

Mitrazapine which is an anti depressant that helps insomnia really worked wonders for me. I only took them for 6 months and for 6 months after I slept well.

paulineb_2

Also, disciplinary action for being off sick? Seriously? I know some companies do this, but speaking as someone who spent 6 months off with work related stress and know people who were also made ill as a result of their work (and I appreciate you werent), you should not need to feel grateful that they arent disciplining you, it shouldnt even have been a possibility. You were under the care of your GP, they signed you off as being unfit for work. Its ridiculous that people end up being monitored when theyve been through some really tough life events and feel like if they have an illness they cant stay off

My mum went through some awful life stuff in 2012, caused by someone who had a vendetta against her and that filtered over into the workplace and also had legal repercussions, she was off work for 7 months, could not go back until things were sorted, could not even have been a possibility and she wouldnt have been disciplined for being off, but had to crawl out to work when she was really ill, because shed have ended up on half pay. Having lost wages already due to that mans actions and legal bills and what happened was nothing to do with her, a lie was told about her and it snowballed and the person doing the harassing of her was a senior police officer.

I do understand why employers need to keep an eye on peoples sickness and absence, but in certain circumstances, the disciplinary word should not be mentioned. As someone who has managed staff I would never threaten someone with being monitored who has been through what you have.

tayforth

Thanks for all the getting-to-sleep suggestions. I'll try an audiobook, it might help!

I'm not really drinking much ATM, and I know - it makes for poor quality sleep.

Pauline, my employer is very strict about sick absence, honestly. And they've issued warnings to people who've been laid up with a broken leg or appendicitis i.e. they could not physically be at work.

I had been fully expecting a written warning. Even though, when I went to see Personnel, I broke down crying and could barely speak.

I know, it doesn't seem at all fair - but that's their policy. And it had been playing on my mind a lot, I was quite worried about it. So I'm relieved.

I'm so sorry to hear about your mum, that's terrible. My heart goes out to her. I take it the officer was acting in a private capacity when they told this lie? How awful. Were they disciplined?