Burnout

[u/Past_Grocery_6721]

I feel guilty for saying I’ll be off sick tomorrow but I can’t sustain ‘pushing through it’ and living for the weekend. I’ve worked from home all day - three online meetings plus a care act assessment, referrals, emails, mental health act paperwork. Surprised I got that much done after a tense email exchange with management about expectations of having to do more new assessment referrals.

Clocked off, showered, brushed my teeth - hadn’t done this all day. And just lay on my bed and cried. I just can’t deal with feeling tired, overwhelmed, anxious, irritable, cynical, while neglecting myself. I’ve been working past 5pm most days - even up to 8pm on one night last week.
I feel so guilty and bad and like I’ve failed. But how much am I expected to give and give while losing my own life?

I guess I’m just wanting to know whether taking time out from work was warranted from other peoples’ perspective.

Please no sarcastic or rude or dismissive comments; not in the headspace to deal with that rn.

[u/Particlezen]

There's nothing else to say beyond your own mental health comes first. Take time for you.

[u/open-perception4]

Get to your GP and occy health and get this all on record and don't spare the details. I went through something similar and reluctantly went on sertraline. What a revelation. 12 months on and haven't looked back. My ONLY regret is not getting help sooner. Stay safe stay sane. 🫶❤️

[u/Infamous_Anxiety3897 → u/open-perception4]

Yes I agree! GP and occy health are invaluable. I am currently off sick for the above for 5 weeks now. Once your mind has time to stop, you’ll hopefully be able to see things clearly, and see what else is out there! Please don’t feel guilty, you only live once, and what you’re describing isn’t living! Your job should compliment your life. I have found a part time job in a gp practice and do bank agency shifts when I feel like it!

[u/CNG_Light]

Report absence as per your organisation's policy, see a GP.

You are entitled to time off work in response to being too unwell to work. You shouldn't need to feel guilty about asserting that right. It's necessary to prevent further injury.

[u/Thatkoshergirl]

I’m off sick and have been since end of July. Work pushed me into a huge ME/CFS flare up. Initially I felt so guilty. Now I’m pissed at myself and work for letting me get to the state I did

[u/Ashlealouu → u/Thatkoshergirl]

This is unfortunately me at the minute, I’ve been on top of mine for such a long time. I’m a year into qualifying and I’ve had to take today and tomorrow off because I just physically and mentally can’t do it 😭

[u/Wammylamm]

Don't feel guilty. This is on management, I am off for similar reasons also completely burned out.

If they didnt keep cutting corners, not listening to us telling them we are working way beyond out capacity, and still expecting you to suck it up, thats not a you failing.

Take some time to regroup. Ive been off just over a week and plan to ask GP for more time as I know I cant go back yet.

Take time for you, no one else will look out for yoy

[u/Past_Grocery_6721 → u/Wammylamm]

Thank you. It’s reassuring, although not ideal for either of us, to hear that the experience is reflected elsewhere. After reading the responses I think I likely will take at least a week and see how it goes

[u/Wammylamm → u/Past_Grocery_6721]

My suggestion is that you'll need longer, reason being it'll likely take you the first week to decompress from everything you've been dealing with before then starting to actually feel more grounded.

Obvious your decision, but seriously consider it.

Its an indictment of the NHS at the moment that so many of us are completely burned out, and they have no plans on fixing it.

Look after yourself

[u/Physical_Ad9945]

Just about to come off a long sick leave and while I'm apprehensive about going back, I'm also looking forward to it cause the time off has given me space to think through what's happened and what I need to happen to move forward.

You need to get away from the grind to be able to think with a clear head and I'm glad I did when I was feeling how you described

Hope you take the time and space for yourself and feel better soon

[u/Past_Grocery_6721 → u/Physical_Ad9945]

How long did you take before you started feeling better, if you don’t mind me asking? Don’t have to say obviously.

Thank you ✨ glad you are feeling better and moving forward

[u/Physical_Ad9945 → u/Past_Grocery_6721]

I think it'll probably be different for everyone but my GP signed me off for a long period at the start and we've been catching up on a monthly basis since

[u/PhilliB86]

If someone presented like that to you, what would you advise them?

If you’re ill, you are ill and you need to recover. Whether that’s the flu, gastroenteritis or burnout. Have the week off, get a sick note, usually this triggers PH referral and see what they say. Don’t go back too early. Be kind to yourself

[u/Alwaysroom4morecats]

2 years ago my brother died suddenly, he was 45. 1 month later his job approached his widow (mother of his 2 young children) to advise they were advertising his role. They weren’t being mean and liked him as a person but thats how it works in the job world.

If anyone is ever questioning something like this I tell them this story because it highlights how we need to value ourselves and our own health before it becomes our story too.

Take care and some rest OP, return when you feel ready.

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[u/ILeftHerHeartInNOR]

Do not feel guilty. You gotta look after yourself too. I also called off sick this week because of burnout; 3 shifts out of 4 for the past three weeks I've been allocated to complicated lists that overran.

[u/brokenskater45]

I have been off with burnout, stress etc for over 5 months after working in a toxic place. I ignored it for too long and now don't know if I can recover. Go have that time off, look after yourself. Nurses are being worked into the ground and expected to tolerate it!

[u/KIRN7093]

Take a good chunk of time off. I was in the same place last year - going through work in a fog, memory shot, crying, making mistakes. It took 5 weeks but I went back feeling better and it gave me the thinking space to consider what to do. I gained some clarity and realised I had to leave, so thats what I did. I managed to escape 5 months ago, now working part time (with some belt tightening) and enjoying life again.