Guilty? Yes, whether it's physical or mental. I work at a microbusiness (as in the one owner, and 5 or fewer employees including the owner definition). So there is no FMLA, vacation/sick days etc. You are there or you make no money. Period.

(A bit of additional info...2 to 3 years ago, I had to reduce to a max of 3 days a week. Considerably before that point, I'd been advised to seek disability, and finally conceded I had no choice. I do not talk about my experience here because it feels cruel to share. Also, I have to avoid threads on that topic because they are very triggering.)

Suffice to say living well below poverty line. And I'm the "breadwinner" (more like crumbwinner ), so ANY time off is dangerous. I haul myself in even when I should be hospitalized (can't even tell you how many times). Symptomatic at work ain't pretty. (No work with public, that would be impossible. It's a miracle I haven't been fired a million times over as it is.) Blah, blah, blah all to explain that time off's not exactly on the menu, sooo...

How do I cope? Meet my friends, Dissociation and Denial.

Ps: yes, I do sometimes take a day off, but it has to be dire.