Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello,
I know I have posted about work problems on here before but I need some advice after today.
So today I had a complete breakdown about going to work. It has been bad for a while but today was the worst. I ended up curled up on the bathroom floor crying and screaming for about 20 minutes. Once I finally got in the car (my wife was driving) I was shaking uncontrollably and babbling hysterically, saying the same sentances over and over again really fast. I was scratching my hair and hitting my head with my hand.
We had to give up and turn home.
First of all I wanted to ask if anyone else has had experiences like this about going to work?
Secondly, if I leave my job because of mental health problems and autism will it affect Universal Credit? We currently have a claim as my wife only works part time, not sure if we would get more or less if I was out of work with stress
Thirdly, how does PIP payments work? A friend of my wifes told me about it today, not sure if I would be eligable but my anxiety is so bad I am at the point where I pyshically cannot go to work
(Bear in mind I am still waiting for my official autism diagnosis. I have been on the waiting list for that since September, not long I know)
Any help with any of this I would be really grateful for
Oh no. This sounds exactly like what I'm going through too. I'm currently signed off and I don't see how I can go back to my job - I just can't stop crying, shaking etc thinking about it. I would suggest getting a sick note from your GP to at least give you some thinking time.
Thats exactly what happened to me. Im here for you, I know how horrible it is
I have got a doctors note now so thats given me a bit of time to look after mysefl. Have you managed to get one?
Hi Billy, yes I've actually been signed off since 24th September - I honestly don't know how I'll be able to go back to it. I had a teams meeting with work last week and I completely broke down - I just couldn't stop crying. I've asked for reduced hours so I only work mornings but I'm not sure that will be enough - I love working with kids but it's the rest of school that I struggle with - other adults, lots of change, lots of responsibility - I'm now thinking of a complete change - maybe going back to admin or just working in a supermarket a couple of days a week. My ideal job would be to work completely alone but these jobs seem hard to come by.
Hi Mrs G,
Im glad your meeting with HR went ok and hopefully you didnt feel too overwhelmed by it.
Admin from home sounds like a good idea. I think a lot more jobs are looking for people to work from home atm so there may be a few openings.
I totally understand how you feel. I have an anxiety attack every time I leave the house at the moment. Last week my wife left me in town by myself and I just felt so overwhelmed and anxious I had to go and sit in the library and read books till she came back. You are not alone
I am doing not too bad thank you. I am trying to focus on my writing which helps and just spending time with loved ones
Hi Billy, thank you so much for your reply.
My meeting with HR went ok - I have to have an appointment with occupational therapy for them to give a 'medical perspective' on my request for reduced hours so we'll see how that goes.
I'm rubbish with my hands unfortunately but I'm thinking about maybe an admin role for home.
I will be off until well into the new year and then I'm hoping to feel strong enough to try to return to work to at least try if I can cope with it - if I breakdown again I'm going to leave and look for something else. It's so hard though because I can't even leave the house alone at the minute. I have to have my husband or one of my sons with me.
How are you doing?
Thats ok, my wife worked in a supermarket and they treated her horrendously.
I have had so many jobs too, at once stage I had 18 jobs in 2 years. I have done a lot of retail and it has always been really bad. I even worked in a refugee support centre for a while, and have been in education on and off for the last 9 years. I have done all sorts of things and never found anything I can cope with.
How did your HR meeting go? I cant even face reading emails from my work at the moment so I totally undestand how you feel.
Are you any good at writing or making things with your hands? Either of those things you could do from home. Even training at a new skill. If you are on UC you may be able to get funding to do an adult college course where you can retrain with a trade and work for yourself. For instance, my other half trained as a beutician and worked for herself doing clients when she was able.
Not sure if any of this helps
Thank you so much for your response and your advice about supermarket working - I have been wondering if I'd be able to cope with all of the people around me.
Yeah that's what I would really like to do - work from home. I have another teams meeting with work (my head and HR) tomorrow and I'm just hoping I can do it without breaking down like last week. I'm just not sure what I'll be able to do from home. I've had so many different jobs over the years but after a short while it always just ends up too much for me and I end up leaving.
How are you feeling at the moment?
You really described exactly how I feel. Part of me wants to go back but I feel if I do I will just have a complete breakdown again as soon as I try. Dealing with other adults, lots of changes at work, computer systems I dont understnad, the long journey, its all too much. I really get how you feel
Not sure if supermarkets are a good idea though, in my expereince retail treat people the worst of all. Ive worked in quite a few retail places and its been a horrible envioronment.
Not sure but is there anything you could do from home? im looking into working from home as I do freelance writing so hoping to do just that.
Maybe you could tutor from home or something like that? Happy to come up with some ideas with you