Signing yourself off

[kelsbels88]

Morning everyone,

Bit of an odd one and not something I condone but has anyone signed themselves off at the doctors because everything was just too much on a mental and emotional level along with what ever you were going through physically.

I’m not someone who would just go to the doctors and say I want to be signed off but I don’t know if what I am feeling is something worth being signed off for or if I just need to get it together and carry on even though it is affecting my mental health. Just wanted some other people’s thoughts.

Thanks in advance

Kelly

[luthien]

I've been signed off via the doctors for the emotional stuff / mental stuff - linked to endo but aggravated by general stresses and family. It was a short term two weeks thing; to be extended if needed.

My GP specifically said they could put me through to a counsellor as this would look good from a work point of view if work needed to know what I am doing to help myself. But a NHS Counsellor can take months, so I went privately - first consultation free and about £40 per hour thereafter. They don't send notes to anyone as it's confidential but if you want they can let your GP know you're seeing someone.

I found counselling helped and actually I only needed two weeks signed off to get my brain in some sort of order to function, then I just have a check in session once a month which work are aware of so are happy just to let me take it - my work HR have said as it's a mental health thing they don't class it as a normal appointment and therefore don't make you work it up / take time off.

I'd say there's nothing wrong with signing off as it's all a lot emotionally but you need to have a plan sorted otherwise you'll just drop off the list, and become ignored in today's society. Counselling; definitely a way to go, I found it so useful just to talk and change my thought pattern with little steps. Find one you get on with and one that can help with medical related emotional problems - see if you can call up to have a chat so you can figure out if they know how they can help you. Endo is a huge thing and it does affect us / our every day lives / our work / our relationships so it's good to be able to talk to someone to help us work out how to cope with it all and enjoy life.

x

[Fancydress-girl]

Hiya You can do 7 days sick yourself first, then go to GP if you need longer. Inform work you are off for a week which may be longer. Hope this helps. Endo is painful and exhausting then you have to explain it often to GPs who are not up to date with symptoms etc, good luck and take care of yourself xx