Anxiety building at thought of going back to work.

[Love14]

Hi

This is the first time I have ever posted on any kind of site and I am just looking for a bit of guidance.

I have suffered with anxiety and depression for as the last 20 or so years of my life. I am currently on Venlafaxine and it has been working great for me, so much so that my doctor suggested I reduce my dose with the intent of eventually stopping the medication altogether.

Over the space of 5 - 6 weeks I managed to half my dose and was doing ok with this, or so I thought. I had a few other health issues along the way, I have suffered from recurring bouts of gastroenteritis, I have had an infection in the lining of my stomach and I have also had been diagnosed with sciatica (I'm basically falling apart lol), again for which I am on medication.

Over the last year I have been off work 3 times with gastroenteritis and I have currently been signed off for 2 weeks due to the sciatic pain. This is the first time I have had to get a doctors line as the others were self certificates.

I am due to go back to work shortly but the thought is making me feel ill, I just have this knot in my stomach. I desperately want to go back and will do so in the next week. Long story short, the whole time I have been off I have had this feeling of dread in my stomach, I feel guilty for taking the time off, I feel like no-one in work believes I am off with a legitimate reason, in fact I know this as any time I have had to take time off before, the comments about my being off sick and that I was faking it are pretty relentless, even weeks after I have returned.

I guess I am just looking to see if anyone has faced similar and how you dealt with it?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated as I don't really know anyone who would understand this situation.

Many thanks in advance.

Love14

[seyi]

Hi love14 I can fully appreciate and understand where you are coming from. I have anxiety and panic attacks which I am managing with some medication and I was in a similar situation to you. I was off work for months and months then finally returned it wasn't easy to begin with its initially getting over the first day.

No one really commented apart from asking how I was like you my stomach was in knots and in and out the loo. Please put your well being first ignore what others think about you and if your faking etc., It would do some people good to live in your shoes for the day then they may get some indication what it feels like. Try and put the worry to the back of your mind take each day as it comes.

You can only try and please God will feel fine. Just keep telling yourself you can do this with positive thoughts and breathing exercises you will manage this.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

Let me know how you got on take care

Hugs

Love Seyi x

[RibvanRey]

Is there a manager at work who you get on with enough to confide in? Maybe not in full but in some detail so as they can support your genuine sickness enough that they would have a word with your Co workers to not bully you about your genuine health issue. As they would be making it uncomfortable for management in failing to protect you in the workplace.