Anxiety illness at work

JoshyBoy_2

My first panic attack was early June. I went to the GP immediately after - I was expecting a talk about anxiety and to be referred to people who deal with mental health. To my surprise they went down the physical route and sent me for blood tests & an ECG. I have since been further referred to cardiologist to have a 24 hour ECG. I've been told not to worry and the ECG's and bloods have come back normal. The 24 hour ECG may take three months to happen, which isn't ideal.

This has led me to worry more about my heart, I only have to feel the slightest twang / palpitation and I feel my self go into panic mode. It's a vicious cycle. Anxiety causes palpitations which when I have them increases my anxiety. I have felt on edge throughout, constantly expecting another attack to happen, which of course makes things worse. I'm told not to worry, not to think about it, concentrate on reading etc, but it's so hard to think about anything else.

This will sound stupid, but I suspect it's normal when you suffer from anxiety, but when I'm on the edge of an attack, I tend to have irrational thoughts, like collapsing and dying.

On Tuesday night / Wednesday morning I went to A&E after waking up with a racing heart and I couldn't get it under control. Again everything was ok in terms of blood and ECG. It all comes down to me listening. Listening to the GP's & Dr's that I'm physically ok, and accepting that I'm physically ok. I was prescribed beta blockers to help calm me down. I took one Wednesday. Felt fine yesterday so didn't take another dose. I'm loathe to use drugs to get over this, in fear of becoming dependent. It's calming to know I've got medication there to help if my heart rate goes up - at least I feel in control.

Just to give a small insight into how my mind works now, I worry about taking beta blockers as I know it slows the heart down. My resting heart rate is normal, I'm concerned as to what affect taking a drug which slows the heart down will have on a normal heart rate.

One positive, I have a lack of appetite and have cut down on alcohol, so I've lost a bit of weight!

What are my rights with regards to time off? I've recently started the job and I genuinely enjoy working here. It's just a shame I'm suffering at the moment.

comeandgo

I don't know if anyone has "rights" to time off work. My contract tells me I can have time off for bereavements, if my partner is ill, or in some situations I can have extended leave. For sickness I can have five work days self certified, after that I need a doctors note. I get paid full wage.
Check your contract. You may not get anything other than SSP.

BorisThomson

You have no more right to time off than anyone else who is unwell. Check your sickness absence policy as to when reviews/ disciplinaries may set in.

The 24 hour ECG is nothing to worry about. They're normally done through the GP surgery or elsewhere in primary care. The delay is waiting for the equipment to come back from another patient.

Have you looked into CBT? You are being irrational, but that's largely what anxiety is. Talking it through with someone should help you manage it better. Your thoughts of collapsing etc are quite normal in an anxiety attack but if you keep in mind that no one has ever died from an attack, and very few will actually collapse (and if they do it is nothing serious), that might help you to rationalise things.

Please keep taking your medication. You've been prescribed them because they will help you. You wouldn't stop taking insulin if you were diabetic, this is no different.

[Deleted User]

How long in the job?

If your doing well enough professionally, they maybe able to make adjustments for you. Have a chat with them face to face rather then stew.

Even though I'm in a different situation to yourself it definately has helped talking direct.

Take care x

bugslet

Had panic attacks horrible things.

One of the best things that worked for me was breathing exercises - go and look some up on the Tinternet. And I spent time telling myself that it was going to be over soon as well and tried to out think it, if that makes sense.

I didn't take time off work.

sangie595

As already stated, there are no more rights than anyone else. This means that if you are sick and unfit to attend work, then you self-certificate for seven days, and after that you need a GP fit note. This does not include medical appointments - these are not considered sickness. So you would either have to take time off work or attend outside working hours where possible. Some employers will pay you for time off for medical appointments, others won't - it is up to them and there is no right to time off for medical appointments or for pay during such time off.

As already mentioned, you would be better explaining things to your manager and keeping them informed. You are certainly going to be no worse off - you have no employment protection for the next couple of years if you have only recently started this job, so time off work, with some employers, at this stage could result in your being got rid of. That isn't all employers, and we can't predict how your employer will react, but if they know nothing they are less likely to be sympathetic to what may appear to be erratic attendance and/or sickness.

JoshyBoy_2

My work already know about what I'm going through. Since June I've had two afternoons off, including my first panic attack. And a day off after my second panic attack.

They seem understanding about the whole scenario. I just worry that if / when I get signed off sick by the GP that I'd be let go.

IAmWales

JoshyBoy wrote: »

My work already know about what I'm going through. Since June I've had two afternoons off, including my first panic attack. And a day off after my second panic attack.

They seem understanding about the whole scenario. I just worry that if / when I get signed off sick by the GP that I'd be let go.

You may be. No one here can tell you that.

Is being signed off going to help you in any way? Avoiding the issue tends to make things worse.

xapprenticex

Panic attacks suck big time, fear of a panic attack which causes the panic attack. Id hate to experience something like that, your first step is realising that the Panic Attack CAN NOT kill you.

There are plenty very good self-help resources out there, I advise you stick to CBT.

Ozzuk

What are you doing to help yourself? I ask that as someone who also has elevated anxiety levels. You didn't reply to the post about CBT - have you tried that? At a very basic level there are breathing exercises you can do to help reduce overall anxiety levels.

Something else to keep in mind - check your works sickness policy, you mention you've had 3 instances already, often that can trigger a review and sometimes its not the amount of time off but the number and it can lead to dismissal.

What will change if you go off sick? You'll then be more anxious returning to work. Find coping strategies when in work and improve your health overall.

High anxiety is horrible but like depression there are many things you can do yourself to help. Good luck!

Energize

You're being irrational regarding the beta blockers, they aren't dependence forming and don't slow the resting heart rate down much.

I take diazepam if I have a panic attack, within less than an hour I go from feeling panicky to completely relaxed, brilliant stuff when used properly.