looking for work - mental health

[CaZwAz]

I've been signed off on the sick, been given a CPN for mental health but i dont feel like there is anything seriously wrong with me, but i'm not allowed to go back to work at the moment, I have lots of stress in my life. Im a qualified Business Administrator and I studied Event Management. I'm worried that all my skills will go to waste if I dont get back to work soon, and its also very boring not working when all your friends are out. My doctor said to me, that if i broke my leg i would take time off work, so at the moment im not well... Its hard to get my head round especially since i feel fine... They gave me tablets and I have stopped taking them and I still feel fine, i've not told my doctor that though since they believe that need them,,,its all very confusing. Im a young woman in her late 20's and I just want to get back into some kind of routine, my body needs routine more than these tablets//// anyone else had experiences with mental health???

[woofgang]

What has happened to make you be signed off sick? These things don't come out of the blue....Sadly one of the symptoms of having a mental health problem, particularly a stress related one is being unable to see or acknowledge that there is a problem.

[Jumbuck]

Why would you be prescribed pills if you feel fine? Not taking tablets because they don't seem to be needed suggests either being unaware of your own behaviour, the behaviour that made the doctor decide that you required them, or (more likely) not wanting to acknowledge that there is a problem.

[boxtops]

Hi Cazwaz. Sorry that you are not quite yourself - as woofgang says, it's not easy to see in yourself if a person has mental health troubles, and it is very very easy to stop taking medication too early. Please don't stop taking the tablets if your doctor thinks you're not yet ready - it will be better in the long run to keep on with them, even if you feel well at the moment. If you have only been off work a short while then don't worry, you won't lose your skills - business admin and event management isn't going to change that much and when you do get back to work, it'll all come back to you. If you are allowed to while you're signed off sick, why don't you see if you can do a bit of voluntary work to keep your hand in? you would need to check if this is OK since employers and the DSS rules don't always allow this (I am sure other AB posters might tell you if this is OK to do if you are on sick benefit). Keeping a positive attitude is important but it can be a long haul, so please do listen to the health professionals and talk to your CPN.

[Mr Veritas]

We have a close friend who used to post here,who suffers from a Mental Health problem (depression) so I may be able to help you a little.
Scientists in the US have discovered that "workaholics" produce too much andrenalin.When the body cannot switch off (even for a short period|)the adrenalin production,it just shuts down ALL systems;which produces the depression.
I notice that you seem to have a great need to get back to work,even despite the fact that you (I hope) realise that you are not well?
This is a symptom of the above.
It is often very difficult when you are dpressed to realise exactly just HOW ill you are.Because it is the mind that is ill, and the mind controls our functions,it is easy to brush this depression off,and say if I can go back to wotk I can beat it!
Believe me if you think that way you are wrong.
Try and "work off" depression and it will only get worse.
Your mind needs " time out" now,and the two best ways are to relieve it of pressure(work) and to take medication to help you get over(in a temprary way) the feelings that you have now.
You won't be on medication forever,but you need it now,you cannot do it alone.
Your GP was right to compare it to a physical illness,if you had one you would take all necessary steps to help/cure it,it's just the same with Mental Health.
Everyone can get Mental Health problems,just because you are a qualified person doesn't mean you won't,in fact as I said before someone with a pressurised job is more likely to.
I cannot see your skills going away if you are off work,these skills are part of you,neither the medication nor the mental health problem can take them away.

[Mr Veritas]

Part2:~
I have an idea that you feel that the Mental Health problem had defeated you and taken over,this is not the case,but I could be if you ignore the advice of your GP about medication etc.
Just because you are on medication does not mean you cannot make a routine for yourself.
Mental Health can cause problems for people of EVEY age,so just because you are young doesn't mean it can't.In fact young busy/pressurised execs are MORE likely to experience Mental Health problems.
Please do not try and go back to work until you have managed to sort this out,you will only be back to square one in a short time.
At the present(although you may not believe it) your mind is screaming" let me rest"if you don't you are heading downhill fast.
Don't be in denial, accept what you have and find ways of curing it (there are many ways).

[CaZwAz]

Thanks for your answers, i've been keeping myself busy with friends staying over and have been doing some voluntary admin work which is great. I do realise that I should stay off work and get better first before throwing myself back into the grindstone :-) Also i know I'm not very well right now, i do realise this but im just saying, im sure i could go back to work right now and function perfectly... I'll just wait it out. Thanks :)

[Mr Veritas]

I am really glad to hear the words "I'll just wait it out."
This is the best thing you can do.
Look on it as a Sabbatical,a chance to look at your life and take stock,maybe even to consider doing a similar job but one that allows you leave it behind after work (many people find this impossible),or using the skills you have in another type of work.We never really look at our work,sometimes it is just what we are doing that causes us to have these Mental Health problems.
You say" im sure i could go back to work right now and function perfectly" and you might for a while,but trying this leads to only one place,a complete nervous breakdown.
Believe me I have seen it before and I wouldn't want you to go there!
Try to relax,stop ALL work (even voluntary) it won't make the problem hide or go away.
Just because you are not working it doesn't make you less of a person.
Once you face up to the fact that you HAVE got a problem the first step of the battle is won.
If you need ANY more help/advice or support please post,I am here.

[woofgang]

Oh well said Mr V

[boxtops]

NMr V, excellent advice as ever - I do wish caz well, let us know how you are getting on.

[boxtops]

^ Mr V

[CaZwAz]

thanks people, i have a mountain of stress right now, my friends dont seem to understand, they just see me out of work and dont understnad that there is someting wrong, because i seem fine, i act fine, its a very strange thing... Thanks V for your wise words, wait it out i will :)

[Mr Veritas]

Please don't forget your friends at AB as you battle through this.
There ARE many people here who have had problems like this,or know friends that have.
You are NOT alone with these problems.Ask your GP to refer you to a CPN(Community Psychiatric Nurse) who will be there for you,and will also point you in the right direction to other help.
Some of these sites might be of help?
http://www.depressionalliance.org/

http://www.mentalhealth-world.org.uk/forums/

http://www.adviceguid...l_health_problems.pdf

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/information/

Mental healrh problems/depression are one of the most common illnesses in the UK today.Just be open with your griends,you may be suprised just how many have had such problems,or have someone close to them who has.If a friend turns away from you because you mention the words"mental health" then they are no friend worth having.

Above all remember you are NOT alone in thi, if you get low just post here,it's amazing just what times of day and night ABer's are here!


The real voyage of discovery
consists not in
seeing new landscapes,
but in having new eyes."

- Marcel Proust

[Mr Veritas]

Please excuse any typos,but I am 87 and it's late now and I should be in bed;but I had too add another reply to try and make your morning(Wednesday) a little brighter.
So a saying for today:~

"Friendship with oneself is all-important because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

I hope you have a good day,and that you keep posting as to how you are doing.

[northernmonkey]

Well, I don't think that there's much more I can add as Mr V appears to have covered most things (if not everything). However, in terms of going back to working full time wait until you are off the medication. The reason that I'm saying this is that your Doctor or the DWP would not have signed you off work if you was able to work. The main things for you to concentrate on is dealing with your stress. Think about what is causing it and go from there. There's 1 thing that causes me abit of concern here: your tablets. I understand you may think that you don't need to take but your doctor
has only gave them to you for one reason - To help you. For example you have got a 14 day course, your Doctor (I assume) would have asked to see you again just before the end of those 14 days to find out how you are, and overall if you need to continue with the Medication. I would advise you to ring your Doctor for a appointment ASAP or go and see him in person and explain how you feel about the Tablets and go from there.
Sorry to have waffled on.
Take care of yourself
Best wishes
N.M

[CaZwAz]

Mr V.. Thank you so much for your kind words, they have really hit the spot and especially and i quote "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes" this will stay with me forever...
I thank you x

[Canary42]

Just one point I might add - you say your friends don't seem to understand. Unfortunately depression is one of the most misunderstood ailments today, and your friends' attitude is quite widespread - I'm afraid you will just have to put their views on one side, and listen to people who have experienced it and/or know about it (like Mr V).

Good luck, hope you get well soon.

[northernmonkey]

Canary42 - May I just say - Good point ! To me - unless you have actually been through something, it's more difficult to fully understand what somebody else is going through, and Caz something I meant to put before but didn't - Your skill's are not going to be effected in anyway / shape or form by you being un-employed for as long as you need to be. Apart from anything else, with Today's current employment situation, It may be quite difficult to get a Job that you are happy with, not just the Job, but things like the Wage as you obviously need to pay bills ect but also have money for yourself and most employers at the moment are finding that the demand for Jobs is that high, most people will accept the absolute minimal wage. Last thing but also stop the temp job, ask for a reference which you can then use once you are ready for returning to working.