Leaving work due to mental illness

[Frederick8248]

Hi all,

Has anyone left their job due to mental health illness?

My depression and anxiety it currently out of control, and is severely impacting my performance at work. I am scared to bring this up with my employer due to their inability to understand mental health illness and conditions.

However, I am at the point the work is effecting my sleep and eating patterns, time with my children, I sleep all the time and I I am the unhealthiest I have ever been and I am constantly in bed with migraines.

I work closely with a psychologist on a regular basis, however I am trying to find real life examples.

If anyone has any experience or has left work due to mental health, it would be great to hear from you.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you

[james1]

Hi Frederick8248,

Welcome to the forums!

I'm really sorry to hear that your mental health has reached such a low point that it's affecting so much of your life. I understand how scary this can be, and just wanted to say good on you for reaching out to us here.

I have not left my work due to mental illness, but I've taken a break here and there because of it. I actually went to see the GP once during my lunch break, and they made me go to hospital, so that was a bit of an awkward call back to my manager asking them to put my stuff away because I wasn't coming back after lunch. Thankfully my manager was quite a lot more understanding than I expected, and it was no issue at all.

I'm glad to hear you have a regular psychologist as that can be really helpful just to try and manage the day to day troubles. May I ask what you are thinking about at the moment? It sounds like you want to talk to your manager about the impact this is all having on your work performance, but are you wanting to tell them you intend to quit, or are you hoping to stay on?

James

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi there

I did over a decade ago, but I’ve learnt a lot since then and would be inclined to do things differently now.

I’m wondering if your employer has demonstrated a lack of understanding around mental health issues? Or if that’s your perception? There’s a lot more awareness out there nowadays. One of the things you could do, if so inclined, is talk with your psych about the best way to approach the convo with your employer. Since Ive started being a lot more open about my MH issues, I’ve found people to be understanding and willing to work with me.

Also, have you spoken to your GP about your migraines? Lots of options out there to try get those under control too, as I imagine that isn’t helping your mood any. They’re awful things!

Anyway, James has asked some relevant questions. Check back in and let us know what you’re thinking. Katy

[Prudent_Avocado_Toast]

Hi Frederick8248

I read your post and wanted to reply because it reminded me so much of my own experience. I’m sorry to hear about your depression and anxiety.

I left my job due to stress it was causing me earlier this year. You mentioned you sleep too much – I could barely sleep at all! I started to ruminate obsessively about my work and was constantly exhausted.

I have a new job with less hours. I still have anxiety/depressive mood, but I can sleep normally now.

My old workplace was toxic. Do you consider your workplace a source of stress, or is stress from elsewhere affecting your work in this way?

Best wishes
Toast

[geoff]

Hello Frederick, thank you for your comment because I'm sure this has happened to many people, including myself where I was self employed.

There could be real life experiences but each one of them are not exactly the same, similar but not even a book can describe every different situation, but we do learn from each occasion.

If your employer does not understand anything about mental health then it's in their interest to find out, this certainly doesn't help you at all, and even if you are working for yourself then to visit your doctor will then begin to direct you in the appropriate direction, but now you are already talking to a psychologist write down some challenging questions you want to ask them, I know these may be painful for you, but might give you more insight into how you are feeling and what's happening, than actual life experiences.

Please let us know.

Geoff.

[Whippet24]

Hi Frederick,

I left my previous job for MH reasons as well. It was a toxic, stressful environment and the workload was insanely high. I blamed myself for so long after I quit, thinking I was a failure but came to realise that it wasn’t the right place for me and was severely damaging my MH, to the point where I was suicidal at times. I’ve since been going to therapists and taking medication for my depression and anxiety.

There is absolutely nothing wrong w/ quitting a job for MH reasons. I try to think of it in this way: if you were diagnosed w/ a medical condition like multiple sclerosis and thus maybe couldn’t work in that position anymore, would you think it was ok to quit? Of course you would, but when it comes to more invisible health issues like depression or anxiety some people (including ourselves) think that its somehow not a ‘serious’ enough thing to quit your job over. Even world champion athletes like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles struggle with mental illness, and have stepped down from some tournaments/obligations because of it, and that’s a perfectly valid thing to do.

It sucks that your employer is a bit ignorant when it comes to mental illnesses, but try not to let their attitude change yours. Your mental health is just important as your physical health, no matter what anyone else says or thinks.

[Nervybella]

Hi Frederick

i once quit a job shortly after starting as it had a huge negative impact on my mental health very quickly and I could see myself going downhill fast if I stayed there. At the time I felt guilty and depressed about my decision, but now, a few years on, I’m proud of myself for seeing the warning signs and getting out early.
it didn’t effect me finding new work and it did make me more aware of things to look out for so that was a positive.

please look after yourself and let us know how you’re going 🙂

[Bibbetyboo]

Hi there thank you for taking the time to write this.

I am a chronic life long migraine sufferer though this is largely caused by hormones in my experience i find that oversleeping is a huge trigger for me but with depression and mental health problems also being an experience for me its. Chicken or egg sort of issue, i get that.

I was having a lot of episodes with migraines with an employer a few year ago and i was generally unhappy at work. My co-workers were really estranged and at times complete bullies. i felt so isolated that i started taking to the bottle. I wasnt earning enough money to get out of my situation however dreaded working more and studying full time as well, i was unable to take on another job.
I ended up with burnout that lasted years and it kept coming back. I finished my studies only to find i was too ill to work in that field so, i wasted 2 years. My diploma is now obsolete.
my employer wasn’t understanding. The boss screamed in my face for calling in sick (following protocol exactly) i cried i was so anxious and i was called in to be yelled at on my day off.
I put in more work than anyone or just as much at that job and to be treated like that was sad.
I was yelled at and responded that i had some mental health difficulties which was met with my boss cutting my hours. I ended up leaving which i think it what she had intended.
So, that was a bad experience but i think there is more support 10 years on.
All i can really say is not cutting back affected it more because i ended up with burnout, thats a far worse problem to solve.

[Frederick8248]

Hi everyone,
I firstly want to thank everyone for the support.
Regarding my workplace, I have 3 bosses who own the business, and they all have extremely different personality types. As a mix they all have different expectations and are very very poor communicators (and that is being nice). The work environment they create is toxic and extremely unpleasant place to work.
They have little to no recognition of mental health concerns in the workplace and feel it is not a valid reason for people to use personal days and mental health days are a dirty word.
I am under immense pressure from them all now for different things and their management style is micromanagement to achieve unrealistic targets. The reason I know that they are unrealistic is that after several conversations with my psychologist and personal business coach it seems my bosses are on a witch hunt, and are looking to make an example out of someone. They also are passive aggressive in the way they communicate with you and show signs of narcissistic personality traits.
I am a single Dad and do not have a second income to rely on, and the thought of losing my job fills me with high levels of anxiety daily, which then leads into depressive thoughts of a night when I get home from work. It also feeds a fear piece that I struggle with around custody and me losing time with my children by having to change jobs.
My workplace is not a supportive environment. But the fear of not having a job is also very fear provocting.
My anxiety and depression is unfortunatly running my life at the moment, and unfortunately is starting to impact my mood and attitude when with my children

[james1]

Hey Frederick8248,

It sounds like your workplace sucks! I was lucky to have a really good manager, but even if I didn't, I'd be expecting much more from my workplace in terms of just leaving me alone and not being passive aggressive.

As I understand your situation, you would like to leave but you also need the money to support your children and retain custody. That sounds really stressful and I understand it is really putting you under immense mental strain.

What are you thinking about doing? Have you been looking or applying at alternative jobs that you could move to instead?

James