From personal experience it’s always been a last resort for me to be on sick leave.
I was given antidepressants for the first time in January 2025 and still take them and I was off work from mid-November to the end of 2025. Again I’ve been off for over a month in May/June 2026 because of work-related stress and I find it really hard. Whilst employers have a responsibility towards health and wellbeing of staff, employees need to take steps towards this too.
I’m conflicted between feeling lazy and selfish for taking time off and acknowledging that I’m better returning to work when I feel I can cope with whatever it throws at me.
To get to this point I need to develop strategies and go-to techniques to regulate with the knowledge that I tend to become dysregulated by a number of triggers.
Being dysregulated for me is the feeling of disconnection , lack of balance and rising anxiety and it’s hard to relax when in that mind state. Regulation for me is when I feel neutral or even better positive/happy/content etc. Not asking a lot but just being ok.
What do you do when on sick leave?
Depends on why, right?
If due to physical illness it’s a bad look to have photos on your Facebook of you skiing with your reason for being off related to a knee injury, but what about mental health?
I’ve missed a number of gatherings, concerts, sports events when on sick leave as I just don’t think it looks good even though it would possibly help me to feel connected and happier.
For me it’s a combination of rest (good luck with that), sleep (ditto), ADHD coaching and therapy and I’m drawing up a plan, my very own personal business continuity plan for me. I’ve been challenged to pre-empt triggers that I might come across at work and think of how I’ll handle them.
I’m now on ADHD stimulant medication though after a little lift perhaps in the second week I’m not sure if it’s doing what it’s meant to do. Exercise is really important and I continue to get as much of that as I can, playing squash can be a great stress reliever (and trigger depending on the result).
I hope to be back soon on a phased return and in a way I need to go back to remain sane. I had a good return to work chat earlier yesterday which was helpful – Occupational Health referral and some talks about how to make work as manageable as possible on the way.
Any tips for how to go back to work in the best place possible?
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