[xRavenx]

Does anyone here feel guilty when you take off work for day, because you feel overly anxious or that your BP symptoms will interfere with your day? For me, today it is mostly anxiety and mixed symptoms. I feel I cannot focus today, and I have a job where I'm always working with people.

I feel tension in my chest from anxiety and feeling anticipation. I hate that some of this is situational, because I am waiting on an important decision. Sometimes my approach is, "Maybe work will get my mind off of things." That sometimes that works, but today I just felt too drained and off track to be able to drag myself to work. Also, I tried challenging myself today by thinking I'll feel better once I get to work, but something is telling me not to go in today.

I hate the guilt with having to call out, because a lot of people depend on me. Maybe it's good that I'm doing this though? Any thoughts on how to cope with the conflicting emotions from taking "mental health days" off or experiences? I feel more pressure now.

[Unrigged64072835]

It's hard to have to take time off for mental health. However, it helps to take a break every once in a while. I used to have a high-stress job and just called in sick when my anxiety was high. Unfortunately, I had a nervous breakdown and no longer work, but the days off did help.

[raspberrytorte]

I was always the same way. I always felt guilty calling in. Just guilty feeling whenever I had to miss work for a mental health reason.

Hugs.

[wildflowerchild25]

I feel guilty calling out no matter what the reason. Towards the end of my last job I didn't feel all that bad because I hated it so much but there was still a twinge of guilt. I hope I stay stable with this job so I don't have to utilize my sick days too often. I'm going to need to leave early next week to take my son to the dr so I feel bad about that.

I always felt guilty, too, although I don't think I should have. My prior work environment really didn't approve of anyone calling in sick, so that didn't help. Also, I was the only person handling legal so there was absolutely no one to cover for me if I was gone. I definitely would have a pile of work waiting for me on return. If I did take time, which was rare, I'd often get called at home because they need fires put out and didn't know what to do.

It's a tough thing ... bipolar disorder and working. The stress is the "killer" for me. Sometimes I wish I'd become a librarian.

[NoIdeaWhatToDo]

My boss takes mental health days routinely - she just shoots our team an email saying that's what she's doing. If I need to do it, I don't worry about it. But honestly, I have the advantage of working from home, so I can mostly make my environment suit what I need to work. Some days the distractibility from my symptoms makes it really hard, but I can take my sick time in hours, too, so I can always walk away for an hour or two and see if it improves.

I LOVE that my employer is really supportive of taking care of yourself. I don't get paid what others in my field are (few at my work do), but the benefits are so far beyond any other workplace that I've been in, it's absolutely worth it to me. In another workplace, my symptoms could have gotten me written up or fired, I'm sure. And where I work doesn't even know I have BP - I can just say I need a MH day, and that's that. No guilt.

[mindwrench]

When I worked normal jobs, I seldom took days off. This was likely a bad approach for me as I usually toughed it out till I snapped and just walked off the job, or quit never to return to that job. I went back to working for myself to have more flexibility, but over time I have turned down enough projects that the phone doesn't ring any more.

[wiretwister]

my work stress was my greatest trigger ... and caused ip .... after meds (and I mean a lot) I was able to handle the stress .... over a long time and tapering down ... almost four years later I am able to handle the stress and have removed the meds for that ... I still have to use my skills to handle those "tough" times.... but 98% of the time it is enough ... I do carry xanex with me ... and I do take "mental health days" as needed ... my work has even suggested I do so ... but not that often anymore ... my advise is just give yourself time .... Tigger

[JustJace2u]

I always feel slightly guilty, especially since we are currently short staffed at work. I wish I had the option to work from home, even just 1 day a week.

[bioChE]

I don't feel especially guilty taking a day off to deal with symptoms. For me, it's the same as any other day of PTO, hence it's no big deal. Matter of fact, I did it yesterday to help get through a med change. Just said I wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be in.

[Gs550]

I'm in the midst of taking a big chunk of time off. It's helping me deal with things I've been too busy to address. The only reason I feel any guilt is that I don't get PTO so I'm losing out on money.

I don't feel guilty, but to be fair, I work full-time and use up my vacation time whenever I need a "mental health day".

Since I work from home a lot and I don't always need a full day to recuperate, I'll take like 6 hours off in the morning, then work an extra 3 hours at the end of the workday and an additional 3 hours the next day.

I don't feel guilty about it. We all have those days, even people without mental health issues take days off because they just need a break. But taking a day off is almost more stressful than going to work for me. I'm a teacher, so I can't just call in. I still have to go up to school and set up lesson plans (often something completely different because a substitute can't usually do what I had planned). At that point, it's often just easier to go in and teach quite frankly.

[Gabyunbound]

I actually just took a mental health day yesterday because I hadn't slept much in days, got super hyper and thought I was going hypo (turned out I wasn't, just needed sleep and that I did -a lot). Anyway, I'm one of those people who feels guilty for taking days off due to MI issues, so I very much get where you're coming from. The responses you've gotten are great and have actually helped me too. So let's not feel bad, it's not only okay, but probably for the best to take time off when needed...

[Tucson]

One time I took about a week off without calling in for the first couple days. I was suffering from severe depression. I take care of my mother, so a mental health "day" is passing out on the couch for several hours ignoring my mother, which is risky for my mother, or going into my room while I attempt to relax. Also every day I have about a hour and a half going anywhere and doing anything I want. So I have mental "hours". But every two to three months I schedule a few days as a respite.

Tucson

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Gabyunbound

I actually just took a mental health day yesterday because I hadn't slept much in days, got super hyper and thought I was going hypo (turned out I wasn't, just needed sleep and that I did -a lot). Anyway, I'm one of those people who feels guilty for taking days off due to MI issues, so I very much get where you're coming from. The responses you've gotten are great and have actually helped me too. So let's not feel bad, it's not only okay, but probably for the best to take time off when needed...

You're absolutely right. Great responses here. I recognize it's normal to feel guilty and even overwhelmed about the work that I must face when I come back, but it is technically now a long weekend for me since I have off until Tuesday...so that should give me enough time to recuperate. I'm going to work on not putting as much pressure on myself, like you said, not feeling so bad. We are obviously conscientious for caring about our jobs, so we need to give ourselves a break every now and then....especially since extra stress is linked to episodes.

[gina_re]

Every other week for the past couple of months I've had to do so. It's annoying. But my boss knows and understands. I start the day with every intention to work, but if I'm blank and find that I'm not working, I tell him I'm taking FMLA for the rest of the day.

[Stuck1nhead]

People take off for physical illnesses all the time. So why not mental illnesses?

On that note, I do feel guilty at times because of it. But honestly when I take off it's usually for the violent thoughts and the emotional anger that comes with them. It's not that im going to lash out unprovoked but im in the customer service field and I have to be unaggressive.

[BipolarMama31]

At the job i just left, i felt huge guilt! Even when i called out for a day off, i would still be checking emails at home, worrying about quotas and sales stuff.

When i went on my frist leave of absence for disability, it took a good 2 months to convince myself that the company will survive without me there.

Now i am at peace with not working. I also have the benefit of private disability, so i still get paid while out for 2.5 years. They just stop holding my job after 6 months.

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.

I don't feel bad about it anymore, although last year I would. It's hard to get a replacement for my position too. I've yet to return to work after my last episode that resulted in hospitalization about a month ago. My work needs a doctor's note to go back after being out for 3 days, and I've been out almost 30 and have yet to get that note. I plan on going back this weekend and only working fridays through sundays.