work related problems need advice

[sparkle2012]

hi
been off work for 4 weeks and my manager wants me to go in for a long term sick meeting!! i feel i cant do this as im suffering from really bad anxiety attacks and the thought of going into work for a meeting makes me feel sick and brings all my symptoms on, i dont know what to do how can i tell them im not well and cannot face a meeting at the moment have the docs on monday so im hoping they will give me some further advice :((((((((((( also, i didn't tell them on my application of previous illness of depression which happened 3 yrs ago can they sack me for this!!!!!!??????

[Annie0904]

Sparkle I will pm you...I am going through the same thing at the moment with my work and it is such a pain...but I have sought advise.

[sparkle2012]

aww thanks hun i appriciate it lots thanks xx

[tanyat]

I'm not sure what the employment proceeders are there. But anxiety is concidered a mental illness and they cannot fire you because of this. It's not like you have a flu. Make sure to get another doctor's note requesting an extension of sick leave. If your company were to fire you it's discrimination. Huge lawsuit.

[Ghostd]

Jees,4 weeks?? Im really sorry to hear that. Ive been off for 10 weeks now and only emailed my work.They also asked for a GP report which he sent.My wife has spoken to them. I feel my career is over and i cant go back,i feel i am hopeless at my job and struggle to even leave the house at the moment. I would resign tomorrow and live off my wife's wage but that would virtually be career suicide and my PDoc has told me not to do it as im still being paid and am not thinking straight at the moment. As i said i can understand how you feel and am sorry to hear that :-(

[Annie0904]

Ghostd, 10 weeks is not long to recover from anxiety. Work doesn't hep because we feel guilty for being off and that in turn increases the anxiety. It also increases anxiety when we are asked to go in for sickness reviews. As I explained to Sparke, my anxiety got worse again when work contacted me about meetings. I have now contacted my Union and hopefully they will deal with it for me and represent me in meetings. If you read the last post that I made there is some good advise there from Elle-Kay (it is quite a long post and Elle-kay's advise is at the end.

[Ghostd]

Ghostd, 10 weeks is not long to recover from anxiety. Work doesn't hep because we feel guilty for being off and that in turn increases the anxiety. It also increases anxiety when we are asked to go in for sickness reviews. As I explained to Sparke, my anxiety got worse again when work contacted me about meetings. I have now contacted my Union and hopefully they will deal with it for me and represent me in meetings. If you read the last post that I made there is some good advise there from Elle-Kay (it is quite a long post and Elle-kay's advise is at the end.

Thanks Annie,i will read it. Ive confined myself to my "safe place" at the moment which is my flat and local area, outside that i struggle to cope. Its total avoidance behavior and dysfunctional but it keeping me calm until i get my psychology treatment. As i said i would resign tomorrow if my wife and PDoc hadn't told me not to.Work is such a horrible stressful thing and it ruins my life completely.I would just love to be a recluse.

[Mark13]

hi
been off work for 4 weeks and my manager wants me to go in for a long term sick meeting!! i feel i cant do this as im suffering from really bad anxiety attacks and the thought of going into work for a meeting makes me feel sick and brings all my symptoms on

Wow, I could have written that myself, I'm in exactly the same boat. A 28 day review at work for sickness. I've told him (my line manager) I'm not up to it, and he's referred my to our occupational health advisors. Hope tthey don't push me into it, it's work stress that triggered my anxiety.

Is it the same for you? I'm in the Civil Service, but most employers have similar procedures I believe.

Mark

---------- Post added at 00:57 ---------- Previous post was at 00:51 ----------

...10 weeks is not long to recover from anxiety. Work doesn't hep because we feel guilty for being off and that in turn increases the anxiety. It also increases anxiety when we are asked to go in for sickness reviews. As I explained to Sparke, my anxiety got worse again when work contacted me about meetings. I have now contacted my Union and hopefully they will deal with it for me and represent me in meetings.

Well put, if I may say so, Annie, I feel exactly the same. This is the first time in 5 years I've been off with anxiety, it's triggered by work stress / not enough management support, and they want me to attend a meeting. I've told them - do you want me to break down and cry in front of you - it won't be pretty and will embarrass us both (I put it more politely). That's beasically what I'm afraid of, that I won't be able to discuss matters without blubbing, or that he'll give me info about my job that I don't want to hear and will just set me back.

Mark

[Annie0904]

Same with me Mark, I just get in such a state even thinking about work at the moment but I can't stop thinking about it because I keep getting letters/emails! I would suggest the same to you Mark..involve your union.

[Mark13]

Same with me Mark, I just get in such a state even thinking about work at the moment but I can't stop thinking about it because I keep getting letters/emails! I would suggest the same to you Mark..involve your union.

Thanks Annie. Unfortunately I'm in a specialist union, not many members where I work and no Union rep in our building or city. Last time I asked for help (rep in London) they were rubbish. So I'm hoping our Occ Health advisers will back me up. To be fair they have been quite supportive so far and my boss is just doing things by the book I suppose. But I have warned him, if I get pushed into attending it may delay my recovery. I'm keeping everything in writing in case the worst happens (warnings, referral for dismissal).

Mark