Hi Tony,

As Helen says I am on a phased return to work.

- I started on 3 hours per day for 3 days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for three weeks after which my progress was reviewed with my line manager.
- As It wasn’t going too badly, my hours have been increased to 5 per day, again on alternate days - this will be reviewed after 3 weeks.
- If all goes well, I’ll go to 3 full alternate days per week for 3 weeks.
- Then four full days per week for 3 weeks (Wednesdays off - so I don’t have to do more than two consecutive days without a break).
- Then eventually full time.

I have an agreement with the Senior Director, where I work, that if I increase my hours and I have an adverse reaction, at any stage, then my hours will be reduced again to a level where I’m comfortable. Also part of our agreement is that if I feel my stress levels increasing I have to tell them rather than struggling on as I was doing before.

You might also be interested in these two qoutes taken from the Direct Gov web site about the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA):

1) “If you are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 then your employer has a legal duty to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to your work.”

2) “If you feel you have been discriminated against because of your mental health problem you may have a case under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.”

You can find out more about mental health at work by following the link to this site: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HealthAndSupport/MentalHealth/DG_10023434

I hope you are feeling better soon.

All the best,

Karma

Hi all,

I came across this guide for managers supporting staff with mental health conditions recently, thought it might be helpful for your situations. I know how hard it is to offer guidance to your manager (they’re meant to know it all, right?!) but I reckon most managers will actually appreciate it.

http://www.mindfulemployer.net/MINDFUL EMPLOYER Line Managers Resource.pdf

Gemma

Dear Gemma, what a great site, thank you for that.  Great idea to blog your experience Gemma.  Others can benefit from it too and it often helps to write things down doesn’t it?  Helen

Dear Karma, are you still finding your phased return to work ok?  I hope so and I hope that you’re having a lovely weekend in this beautiful sunshine.  Best wishes, Helen

Hi Helen,

Thank you for thinking about me. My return to work is going quite well so far, in fact most of the time I feel like my old self. I still get the occaional wobble but these are getting fewer and fewer.

Gemma: How are you getting on with your medication?

Hi Karma,

I’m really glad to hear your return to work is going well.
Me coming off my medication isn’t going too great unfortunately. 2 weeks ago I had a massive freak out and a huge panic attack. I went to the doctors and she said I should go back on my meds every day. I was really gutted and felt like a total failure. But it did make me feel better. I saw the doctor again today and she said she’s confident I’ll be able to come off them in the future, but just need to reduce the dose even more slowly. So I don’t feel like it was totally my fault…

Oh wow Karma that is such great news.  As capable and brilliant as you are and not that I would wish wobbles on you Karma but maybe the wobbles could be serving a purpose for the moment to stop you from going the whole hog at once!  Take care Karma.  Best wishes, Helen

Hi Gemma, the fact that your doctor was willing to help you come off your medication shows she knows you’ve come a long way and will do so.  The fact you have the courage to do so too is amazing and shows how strong you are.  As your doctor said, the chemical balance that has been created by taking the antidepressants probably just needs to be reduced a little more gradually.  At least you know you can do it when the timing is right.  You’ve already done it and written about it so you know what to expect.  Next time it will be without the bad bit as you’ll do it more slowly.  It sounds like you are doing alright again at the moment Gemma?  I do hope so.  Sending you lots of good wishes, Helen

Thanks for the kind words Helen
Apart from the big crash 2 weeks ago I’ve been doing ok, just really tense at the moment, not sure why, I have headaches and toothache all the time from grinding my teeth. I need to chill out abit! I should try to do some meditation or something…

Dear Gemma,

I just wanted to say that I hope you’re still doing OK.

Please don’t be too hard on yourself for having a crash a couple of weeks ago - its completely normal to have the odd bad day while you’re on the road to recovery. I still do, however, compared to where I was a couple of months ago I feel like a different person. In time I hope to make a full recovery and, judging by your posts, I’m sure that your will too.

Wishing all the very best.

Karma

Hi Karma,

Thank you, I appreciate the positive words. I’m doing ok this weekend. The GP I went to see on the day I had the massive panic attack wanted me to go back for a check up last Monday, she wasn’t the one who advised me about coming off the tablets in the first place, and she said on Monday that she would’ve weaned me off more slowly than the other doctor had advised, and she seemed really confident that I’d be able to try again in the future. So I don’t feel as guilty after that - it was the weaning off process that wasn’t right for me, not that I can’t do it

Hope your Sunday is nice and relaxing.

Hi everyone, Im a newbie here, hope i am welcome to everybody’s topic. I was a working with a boss, and its hard to work when the time is certainly manage by someone or by a company. I hate to wake up early but there’s nothing I can do but to make the daily routine. Wew, I hate routines, boring! So, I quit my job and start online. I have a time of my own and earning more than what I receive in a company. A complete satisfaction.

Hello Hazel, welcome to the site.  Wow that sounds like an amazing, brave and empowering move you made.  Well done you.  How are you doing?  They are now your own routines for you which is great. Thank you for sharing your decision with us and the outcome.  Maybe it will give others confidence to do the same if they are thinking about it.  Best wishes, Helen

@Helen, I’m doing fine, i’m always with my family, a simple daily routine. Happy life with no pressure! Wew! Love love it! Yup, I hope I inspire somebody but i’ll say it not easy but you need to be fully motivated because you’ll be responsible with all your decisions. There is always a chance to fail, but luckily i didn’t. Thank God. Just pray and everything will be fine.

Hi Tony, it’s been a while since we heard from you and I’ve been wondering how you are, if you’d had any progress with either your GP or your employer re your phased return to work.  Anyway we’re here if you need us Tony and I hope you are OK.  Thinking of you.  Helen