So, most work places don't or would not (I'm surmising anyway) accept the reason/excuse of a mental health day, but they accept sick days. Yet, sometimes, I know I'm not the only one, we as people, need a day off. At least I do sometimes. My job just takes so much energy out of me, forcing me to be 'on' all the time. That's hard, 'cuz I'm normally more introverted and thoughtful. Outgoing people usually just (sadly/ignorantly) interpret this as dumb, boring, no personality, depressed, etc. Though, I do occasionally still suffer depression from things in my past that have left me deflated, and I don't know how to approach this subject with my significant other. I don't think he'd understand. I explained it away as fatigue and mental exhaustion from my diet and then I sneezed a little (regular allergies) and promised to cook him a really nice dinner. He's fine with it; though he has to take the brunt of my absence though at work today. I feel bad, but I also would feel worse if I had to do any work today, social interaction is tiring, and I don't think I have the mental health strong enough to work every day. Maybe every other day. Too bad that's not an option. I'm more of the introverted creative type anyway. I want to save up money, start writing more and get into the jewelry business. I've worked in the past part time for a local successful jewelry maker. She taught me the main techniques on making the twist off, the gems and colored glass and infiltrating them into the piece etc. I was wearing one of my pieces I had made to a trunk show not too long ago and the other women there said I should seriously consider going in to jewelry making, as they were very surprised and elated to find out I had made the necklace myself. I think I would really enjoy it. I just need to take care of this problem I have. Low self esteem and anxiety has plagued me all my life. I ran out of my meds the other day, I have to go pick them up soon, if I can make it out of the house that is. Well, I've sort of gone off on a tangent here, but please tell me I'm not the only person who feels this way. I think it's unfair of the stigmatism that the majority of American society, and the world at large seems to still have against mental illness. In essence, it's the same as physical illness, only WAY more crucial to a happy and healthy person. I think it's time a mental health day is considered equal, if not more important as a physical sick day. Now a day I think people use 'family emergency' or just regular sick days, but I'm tired of feeling guilty about it. It's my life, and if I'm extra groggy, can’t think straight, extremely negative and goofy at the same time, extremely fatigued, and overall feeling out of it, I should be able to take a sick day and not feel bad about it. Sure I could go to work today, but my work would suffer, as I would not be operating at 100%

Well-stated, LabLover23.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Hello LabLover,

First I must point out that I couldn't read the complete initial post. I have eilepsy and conentrated text can for some reason induce a seizure and since I had 2 siezures in the last 3 days I didn't want to test it.

So this is based on what I could read which was the first couple of sentences and the last couple which was all I could read. So please don't take anything personally

We get sick days we can use those as mental health days...I don't see a reason to shout from the rooftops that I have a mental illness. Not because I'm embarrassed about it but because it is my business and until it causes a problem for someone else I keep it to myself.

I would tell my employer I have a mental illness, what ever name it be known by. I wouldn't think it fair if there were a "Bad foot day" or a day for any other particular illness. Sick days encompas mental health.

I don't think things should be kept "hidden" because they are an inconvenience but I don't want to jump up and down in the office because I've got mental illness and someone refuses to give me a mental health day, when I could just take a sick day...

I've never been comfortable with people who jump up and down and make my illness a cause in this ever burgeoning politically correct western world...

Never be ashamed ...but never be so outspoken that you end up being ashamed...balance is key

Im not really too out spoken about it. Thanks for the kind words. =)

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Originally Posted by LabLover23

Im not really too out spoken about it. Thanks for the kind words. =)

Hello LabLover,

No I wasn't trying to indicate you were outspoken on this subject, in fact you are particularly quiet on it.

I really wasn't meaning you personally. Thats why I put the "please don't take this personally".

The reason I responded is because there was a political incident here over the weekend where an ex politician who is known to have a mental illness which seems to incite him to be beligerent and physically threatening bailed up our prime minister in a most threatening manner bending right over her accusing her of complaining about him now being employed by a television network as a political reporter.

He has always been outspoken about his mental illness and has caused himself more trouble than being outspoken is worth. Not because of the mental illness but because he expects the whole world to revolve around the fact that he has a mental illness he chooses not to take medication for.

That choice has seen him redundant as a politician, and any other job he has tried to hold. He becomes so outrageous in his behaviour that he simply cannot hold any position he tries for. He will not take medication but will not apologise for scaring people and being threatening to them.

I hope this post makes sense of the first one...??

[Perna]

The last couple places I worked had "personal" days where you could take off for whatever reason you wanted. True, they had 2-3 personal days and then only 7-8 sick days (so you got the same 10 days off, they just apportioned them differently :-)

[Fresia]

I am so sorry you are having one of those days. It is not easy and am sending you wishes for better days.

I greatly appreciate the idea, it would be nice if there were no stigmatism. However at this point, there is no way I would tell an employer about my mental condition unless I absolutely have too b/c of the strong stigmatism and problems in the past that I have encountered. I like the guise of a sick day to be used for mental health too; these are sick days in my eyes, pdoc and T's too. I hate having to do it but at least having the days is better than none, as have had jobs that this is the case as well, no sick day benefits. I would like to be more forthcoming instead of hiding behind sick days but the ramifications are too great in my experience otherwise.

[barleysmile]

I have to mention that allergies can take their toll on your 'mental health'. Even when you are not really obviously sick from allergies, your body is fighting them. It takes energy, a lot of energy. Many times people don't even realize the toll their immune system takes from their energy bank. If your body is always having to fight off allergens doesn't it make sense that your energy level will suffer? Anything that strengthens your immune system will give your body a break. Fresh fruit, fresh veggies, obviously will strengthen you with their anti-oxidants.

I have green smoothies: blend kale, bananas, orange juice and ice until smooth like an icee. If it's to syrupy add kale. If it's to bitter, add a banana. To thick? Add orange juice. You'll find the right mix after making it a few times. Hopefully this will leave your body with what it needs to fight off allergens and keep going.

Another thing I do to fight allergies and illness that leave me feeling low is "contrast water therapy." I alternate warm and cold water in my shower, beginning with warm and ending on cold, about three to five minutes on each, twice. So it's begin with warm, turn cold, back to warm then end on cold. I know it sounds crazy but it's known to strengthen the immune system. You can look it up in massage therapy books at your library under "hydrotherapy". Few people, I've discovered, are willing to actually do this. I swear by it. Grew up with allergies. I guess it depends on how desperate you are. I put a link to a post about contrast water therapy. It doesn't mention building immune system but I wanted you to see that it is a real therapy and can be done easily during your shower. As far as I know, your need for down time may not even be linked to your allergies. Just a thought. Peace out.

http://www.integrative-healthcare.or...st_therap.html