Has anyone taken time off sick from work for stress before?

[MementoMori]

And if so, how long did you end up off work altogether?

I'm currently in my second week, the note runs out tomorrow but the doctor said she can extend the sick note's life over the phone, so I might do this as I still don't feel completely ready to go back and I've got a lot of things to sort out still.

I'm just feeling really worried that I'm starting to push it now with the time. Although, my BF's sister had 3 weeks off and this lady I was talking to the other day said she had 5 weeks off.

So is it normal to take quite a few weeks off before you go back, and do you feel berated for it when you do return? Or did you manage to get a new job or whatever in the time you were off? How did you cope with going back?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm just worrying too much and need a bit of reassurance or something.

OK thanks for reading, any advice appreciated.
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The tiger who came for a pint

[Chriss]

Hi, I'm just finishing my second week off (back to work tomorrow )

I was given the option of having another week off by my psychologist, but my psychiatrist warned me, the more time I have off, the harder it would be for me to go back to work.

I've started getting really anxious about returning all ready, but I'd rather give it a crack, if I really can't deal with work, then go see the Docs again.

Over all, only you can decide when you're ready to go back to work or not.

One of the guys had 10 weeks off for PTSD, though slightly different.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[kitty kat]

I was off just over 2 years ago, originally with injuries following a bike crash, but that led to depression. I hated my job anyway as I had been transferred to a branch I never wanted to work in. I was off for 5 months in total, but managed to get another job. I told new employer I had only been off due to injuries from crash.
I have not looked back, enjoy the job, had a promotion and not had 1 day off apart from holidays in the 2 years I have been with the company.
Only you can decide when you are ready to return, if you go back too soon you will probably end up on the sick again after a while.
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
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[MementoMori]

Good luck Chriss, you're much braver than me, I've also been told it'll be harder the longer I leave it but I really can't bare the thought right now. I hope it goes alright.

Thanks for the advice so far, I'm going to ring up the doc's tomorrow to sort out some more time and I'm in the process of writing a letter to work explaining the situation. I'm going to try and see if they can transfer me to another dept. for the time being. I hope they can; they should be able to seeing as all the temps leave soon.

I'll just have to see how it goes and hope for a bit of luck.
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The tiger who came for a pint

[Kickstart]

Hi

Place I used to work had quite a few people go off with stress and depression. Shortest time seemed to be about 3 months, and quite a few who came back that soon (probably too soon for them) landed up going off again after a short while.

Don't let things to continue to get you down.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[J0Al1]

Personally, I just went to work and 'got on with it' through stressful times in my life.

Last year I had to deal with a mentally abusive boyf (that I worked with and still do) and court cases thanks to my sons Father.

Work may be boring/repetitive/unrewarding/hard/tiring etc, but it gets you out of the house and around people.

I can not imagine going to see a quack for stress unless it really is severe and making you unwell.

Therefore, I would imagine it solely depends on your reasons for being stressed.

If it's your job that is stressing you (as it did a chap here who was off for 1 month), then the management need to look seriously as to why. If it is personal, I'd be very careful not to take the piss and try and look at the advatnages of your job, not the dissadvantages.

GWS

[BanditsHigh]

Was off once for two weeks ... never a right time to go back ... the longer you are off the worse it gets.

I was made redundant two years ago, but they took me back only to make me redundant again last year ... I have no confidence, suffer from depression on/off and have now been out of work a year ... the thought of going back to work really stresses me out ... don't think I can do it!!

Worse still is that I'll lose my home by the end of the year probably ... I'm resigned to it unless I can get the finger out and find another job ... only problem is me, and what a problem that is

Good luck ... Barry

[kawashima]

I suffered anxiety neurosis and was suspended from Jan-07 to Jul-07. After I came back my job became shipment. I was doing inv before but it totally ruined my health. Now I'm fine. My salary dropped but it's enough for single life.
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