Sick Day off Work

[Cs131193]

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all having a happy, anxiety free day!

Feeling awful today. Didn’t feel well yesterday but went to work and by the end of it I felt so shattered and overwhelmed. At times in work I felt dizzy and unsteady on my feet. I felt like I was going to pass out in the car on the way home - I will point out that I was a passenger - however today I woke up and I still feel pretty yuck! I’ve got a really bad tummy and feel like I’m going to be sick. So I decided to take a day off, but I’m feeling guilty for doing that. I feel like I could at least go in and try regardless of how rubbish I’m feeling, I feel like I’m letting everybody down at work, and that I’m letting myself down. I don’t get paid for the first few days off sick so I’m missing out. I also feel bad because I’ve only been working for the company since the end of September. I really love my job and when I’m there I feel proud that I’m out there earning my pay. Is it normal to feel this guilty about taking the day off?

Thank you!

Enjoy the rest of your day/week 🙂

[Jeff1943]

Cs, all the symptoms you describe such as dizziness and stomach upset are very common symptoms of anxiety disorder. They're unpleasant, most of us here have experienced them, but they are not going to lead to anything life changing. They are caused by blips in your over sensitive nervous system which happens when we go through a period of stress, worry, over work and/or disappointment. Maybe the anxiety of starting a new job triggered it but either way you must now give your nerves a rest from apprehension.

You say you love your job, which is good, so the best therapy is to accept your bad feelings for the moment, just coexist with them for the time being, and continue as normal with your work and life. Occupation is a good distraction from anxuety, it stops us thinking too much about how we feel and the more we do of that the worst we feel.

You can carry on despite the light headedness and dizzy feeling, you won"t fall over, anxuety does not have the power to do that do us. So take a deep slow breath and get on with your life and accept your symptoms calmly and with a minimum of fear. What is there to fear, nothing I suggest, your nerves have become over-wrought and need time to recover which they will do so long as you don"t flood them with stress, worry and fear.

Unsteady legs will still carry you through your day and upset tummy ysually responds to a tea made from thinly sliced ginger root steeped in hot water. So don"t attach so much importance to your symptoms of anxiety as you have up until now, say 'So I'm feeling a bit dizzy, a bit nauseous, so what? I can still do the job I love doing, why not? So I'm not feeling 100%, who cares? I'm going to carry in regardless, I'm not going to sit and stew about a few glitches in my nervous ststem, not me, I'm made if stronger stuff than that!"

I wish you well and hope that you soon recover from your symptoms of anxiety.

[Cs131193 in reply to Jeff1943]

Jeff1943, thank you for your reply, I’ve never thought of things that way, you’ve worded it so simply but it makes so much sense! I will be sure to try the ginger tea too! Thank you for the great advice and for putting it into a better perspective for me! I hope you’re well and having a good day!

[CSmidge]

Hi! Ive been signed off for two weeks as my anxiety got so bad following my dads stroke. I felt so guilty on work and spoke to my boss, who made me feel so much better and supported. I work in a large primary school so being off is a massive guilt trip of mine.

Ive currently got a dicky tummy, tiredness and shakes as we speak - its crap!

[Cs131193 in reply to CSmidge]

CSmidge, thank you for your reply! I’m so sorry to hear that! I can relate 100% my dad had a stroke 2 years ago and it made my anxiety go through the roof too! I hope your dad is on the road to recovery and gets better soon! And I hope you’re okay, it can be tough dealing with the worry over these types of things. I used to work in a primary school for 6 years, I know how you feel when you take the time off because of the knock on effect it can have on the other staff. You’re right it really is crap having a bad tummy 😞 I hope you feel better and I will have your dad in my thoughts!

[-Rinaaa]

This is how i’ve been feeling the last few days. Its good you love your job, but it’s important to put yourself and how you feel. Because without you there is nothing else.

I haven’t been work for a week as I haven’t been well. Got signed off sick today for another week. I also used to feel guilty if I was taking any days of work and still used to go in but in the long run I realised it was only making me feel worse. In your case you said you was feeling dizzy and unsteady on your feet and that’s your body telling you your not ready for this. Putting yourself first isn’t letting yourself down but it’s doing yourself a favour. Work isn’t going to make you better so try not to feel guilty! x

[Cs131193 in reply to -Rinaaa]

Thank you for the reply -Rinaaa, oh no! I hope you feel better soon! It’s horrible isn’t it! That’s what I was thinking, I need to put my well-being first. I’ve had a few days when I’ve felt unsteady in work but not to this extent so I’ve managed to get through it. I’ve told my boss I’ll be in today even though I feel absolutely rubbish again but I can’t afford the time off. If I feel ill when I’m there I’ll just come home. Doesn’t help when I’ve had next to no sleep the past few nights. I hope you have a good day and feel much better soon 🙂

[-Rinaaa in reply to Cs131193]

Try to get as much rest as possible! x

[-Rinaaa in reply to -Rinaaa]

Also can you not get your doctor to sign you off then get sick pay? xx

[Cs131193 in reply to -Rinaaa]

I will be sure to rest up 🙂 I can’t unfortunately 😞 Not until I’ve been off for at least 5 days, but I’m doing overtime in 2 weeks and more next month so I’ll make the money up again 🙂 xx