Previous mental health problems - suddenly not coping again.

rocketqueen

Just wanted to get some opinions and get all this off my chest....

I have suffered from depression, anxiety and OCD since my late teens, after a particularly bad patch in my 20s I was admitted to hospital as things got so bad, I received counselling, CBT and other therapies along side medication and gradually got "better" although I still take a hefty dose of antidepressant/ anti anxiety medications on a daily basis and have been advised to continue doing so.

I have had a diabolical couple of years - the ending of my marriage - leaving my home and pets, health issues, etc. I have coped with it all remarkably well, not missed one day of work during it all.

Suddenly however I am not coping, due to a change at work, I have suddenly had much more responsibility thrust upon me. I have just had 2 weeks off and for the first half of it I felt fine and back to the old me, then as returning to work got nearer I got more and more anxious.

Last night I barely slept at all and ended up crying at the thought of returning today. I haven't eaten since yesterday lunch time as feel so stressed and cried as soon as I got home. The pressure is too much for me.

I just don't know what to do. I would need another job before I can consider leaving this one, I really don't want to go off sick, as I've worked so hard to have a good sickness record (I've only had 3 sick days in 8 years.)

I hate feeling like this, I've worked SO hard to turn my life around, but just feel like I can't cope at the moment.

Does anyone have any advice? (I'm not looking for medical advice.)

UKTigerlily

I was in a similar situation, in that I didn't want to go on the sick but sometimes, you have to do what is needed to make life a little easier when going through these things. Can you have a chat with your boss & explain that you can't cope with the extra responsibility, even if just for now? I would go to my GP, get a couple of weeks off & take care of yourself. I know how it is, i've got mental health problems too & had to leave my job permanently & still feel guilty! Good luck x

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Identify what at work is overwhelming you - is it extra hours, being in charge of people, being expected to answer for a team? - and try to work out what help you could have to deal with it, such as some training, a couple of hours' assistance with admin, a task you did before that could be delegated to somebody else.

Then talk to your boss. You don't have to say you can't cope, but that you feel it would be beneficial for x, y or z to happen.


You've coped with things way beyond work - you can do this if you want to do it. If not, start looking for alternatives, but remembering doing this more responsible job means you actually have more value to other employers as well.


And make sure you do something, anything, that allows you to switch off for an hour each night. I know anxiety makes that harder, but you are entitled to it, you've earned it and deserve it.

[Deleted User]

I wonder if this might be helpful to you at some point, if not right now.

Its something that's been recommended to me as I am finding things difficult to cope with right now.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/mindfulness.aspx

bunty109

Does your work have an employee assistance programme? Mine does and it can provide counselling. It's anonymous so work don't know the names of anyone who accesses the service. If your workplace has this, then I'd really recommend it.