Signed off work with stress and borderline depression

[Ben B]

Hello my name is Ben,

I need some advice concerning work and being signed off with stress and depression. And should I go back even if I'm unsure if I'm ready.

Basically my speech is mostly okay but I can occasions of stumbling over words and being unable to recall particular words during a conversation. I work in a call centre and with how my social life has stagnated and the role itself has gotten harder I've signed off with stress and depression, speaking to a counselling company has been useful its helped me understand why I seemed to be in a downward spiral and things I can do, I am feeling better but the idea of returning to work on monday when things are the same in work makes me feel very anxious, I am aware I have to go back at one point but I'm unsure if that is now, its not that I worry over my employment over my sickness but once I do come back its going to lead to last chance with a formal performance meeting awaiting me which once done any other error (which can include something as slight as a customer not confirming part of their address if its against a check for reactivating a dormant bank account, yes its detailed some times)

Off course with the amount of time I've had off recently a refresher will be essential because if I'm not familar with all the details processes for a type of call and I make a mistake then thats it, I would understand my employer should take reasonable adjustments but I don't trust them they have already dismissed me last year for too many occasions of sporadic sickness when at the time I knew of no background cause, then just before I got dismissed I was diabetes which didnt seem have much impact in their decisions until I did my appeal and then they reinstated me.

Obviously its a job I dont think I'm suited for, but I'm really at a loss on what else I can do, before my recent time off work I had a few telephone interviews for other call centres jobs but they never went anywhere so that was another source of stress.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Tom fod]

Hi Ben

First of a all I'd like to wish you a warm welcome and sorry to hear of your difficulties

While I appreciate call centre work is what you know I reckon you're capable of more with an employer more willing to take the time to develop and value you.

[morgank82]

Hey Ben

Thanks for your posting.
I am in pretty much same boat as you are in but my line of work is on boats. I passed all my probations and told the employers that dealt with the interview, I had dyspraxia and explain what it was a little . I think thats why it took a long time to get my phone call to be hired, it took a good year or so to make a disicion on there part. I even had more certifications then others on the boat dealing with a deck hand. They decide to hire me and for the few years I was working hard and happy I was able to contain my dyspraxia in the past that I worked extremely hard to get where I was able to go to school and be able to do this line of work.

But then after few years, something really was bothering me , and I kept on brushing it to the side In my work environment, cuz it was a really good paying job. It turned out the ignorence on board the ship and the manlipidation and haresment it got so bad that all my traits that I worked so hard on was depleting. I felt low and what worse is my dyspraxia showed up trice as much as before almost it almost seemed.

Well I had to take time off , and now I'm severe depression plus I have to learn how to maintain some of my symtoms all over again ,which took years and years to be able to function like others that does not have a disibility.

In Canada bc there is no awareness support or groups to go too so now I feel alone and I feel like the Dr does not evening knowledge really want I have .

Going through my long term disibility right now package , and thankfully at work ; cuz I was there for 5 years I was able to get on to there work package for disibility benifits .

I'm trying to make myself better and maintain my dyspraxia, and lower my stress so I can fix it . And start fresh . It's hard super hard now, because I think when u hit an adult it's a different world all together trying to maintain symtoms; than dealing with them growing up when your a kid.
What's even harder is you don't know when you will snap out of depression or minimize your dyspraxia to be able to return.

But it looKS like u enjoy your work what you do, but there is some ignorence and high school age against you and how u perform although u finish with Sucess inthe end little bit differently.
And your taking right steps to talk to groups or couniling . Keep on that . Cuz I don't know if u snapped or not, not its a scary feeling and situation that I almost took 100 percent control over me.I'm talking about behavior and attitude and actions that u never what to think of doing, but u can't think right, or your mind shuts off and freeze, like a black out.

This forum site is real handy to get to know more people that is dealing with simulair cases and dyspraxia , and there is no judgement either so your true feelings and thoughts u can send it out and u will get a reply thats good advice or similar topic that u posted but no nagitivity comments .

Take care bud and hopefully it gets better for u, and mine as well .

[Ben B]

Bit of an update, I'm certainly feeling a bit better, started getting out more with a weekly Astromony Club and Poker at my Brothers pub, but I'm still finding the idea of returning to work stressful as I know I will have a formal performance meeting once I come back and then one more mistake and I'm out.

I'm thinking that the whole call centre thing isn't for me, as I'm burnt out on it and the present role is just too demanding.

I've been debating if I should return to work but I don't think I'm ready.

What I am very curious about is how to get my Dyspraxia reassessed as I haven't had any support since about the age of 13 and I'm 33 now. I've always just muddled through, never gotten to be all that social and even when I'm doing okay its never more then after work socialising occasionally. Besides my speech which I can struggle with as mentioned I can't really say else how it affects me, I've noticed things like poor balance and posture for gross motor co-ordination skills, some problems with fine control, and problems with learning, emotions and behaviour, I've always been a bit withdrawn and dont like crowded situations (coming back to a busy call centre doesnt appeal to me much, I have felt awkward walking about on the work floor before I was signed off with depression)

I've spoken to my GP who weren't much help, just said try to speak to counsellers about it thats upcoming about my depression, perhaps an occupational therapist?

Also when I've got things to do I feel okay, ie reading, playing a videogame, astromony, working on a model railway but these are very much by myself

[Tom fod]

Hi again Ben

Not sure how aware your employer are of your dyspraxia (or the condition in general)? One would hope that on your return to work they speak to you about how they can help you. Is there a welfare or occupational health team or advisor within their personnel/human resources Dept? The whole threat of dismissal hanging over you is hardly conducive to getting the best from a happy relaxed but willing and conscientious employee. Sounds like it's quite a high pressure environment and not all that friendly or supportive unless you're a member of the In crowd? Sounds like my idea of hell I do wonder how I'd cope/How long I'd last there.

You could try the Dyspraxia Foundation for advice. They have a Helpline 01462 454986 (Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm) http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk. Have you asked your counsellor if he/she has any ideas about how your return to work could be managed/implemented to help your transition back into work?

Did you use Union Representation to help fight your dismissal and bring about your reinstatement? If so, they may be able to help represent you and fight your corner re work capability? Another option might be for your employer (or yourself) to get in touch with Access to Work (possibly via JobCentre Plus) to look into reassessment. If they want to force you out you're probably better off with a new employer who is more willing to value you and help you get the best from yourself.

All the best and hope this is of some value.

[Ben B]

I went to the GP but they weren't able to help with any kind of assessment as there is no funding for it, not sure where else to look.

Went back to work last thursday and so far finding it more stressful then ever and basically undoing any progress I made with coping with my depression.

Its a banking call centre job, so theres more things to learn and stricter controls, I just feel like I've been dumped back on the phones with little support. And also had a formal meeting yesterday about my performance, basically upshoot is another call that fails would invite me to a stage 3 meeting where dismissal is likely

I've always found it hard to get new work, and find this situation to be very stressful I'm not really sure what to do, so tempted to go back to gp asking for more time but it wouldnt really fix anything just take me away from the situation for a while, I know while signed off I shouldnt look for work.

Any suggestions?

[Welshcakes11]

Hi Ben,

I'm 47 and was diagnosed last year with Dysbraxia and Aspergers, and at the moment I am struggling where work is concerned, I've got to deal with small parts and I'm finding it really hard, the more I stress the worse I am, and I'm always told, not to stress but unfortunately that's my personality and I can't do anything about it, recently I broke down crying in work as it was really getting on top of me, my supervisor took me in the office and I was able to explain my condition and she was very understanding but then the next day I was asked to go into a different section of the factory where I work, so I thought ok I heard it's a slower pace so I should be better, well in one way it is but since being there my confidence and my self esteem has taken a massive fall, I've never worked with the people in there so this was hard as they all know one another and I am a stranger not knowing the ropes, I feel like a child always asking, how do you do this, this has knocked me for six, then there's the counting, small numbers but yet I'm making mistake and got to recount which is time taking, then when they put me on a line putting parts into the package I've ended up putting in too many or not enough, Friday just gone I tried so hard to do everything right but I was failing, I made quite a few mistakes and then I've got one or two people sniggering and talking about me, mind you it doesn't help that I think I'm really paranoid, so you see at the moment I am struggling and it's more now then ever before, it makes me not want to go into work, my stomach goes into knots thinking about tomorrow and I feel sick with dread. I'm seriously thinking about phoning the Dr tomorrow to ask for some tablets and to refer me to a councillor. I hope that what I am feeling will stop soon as it is dragging me down. Sorry if this feels so depressing but I feel having Dysbraxia and Aspergers is destroying my life.

[Tom fod]

Hi again Welshcakes
Sorry to hear you`re feeling bad. Please do make an appointment to see your GP and let him/her know how you're strugging and need some help.

I don't think it's uncommon for us to feel that changes made ostensibly to make things easier for us are our own fault. Having easy access to reference cards or some other memory aid to remind you and save you asking every time may be useful. Small solutiions you can come up with or adapt to tailor to yourself are likely to be most effective.

Please don't feel bad for posting. Getting it out is important.

[Tom fod]

I went to the GP but they weren't able to help with any kind of assessment as there is no funding for it, not sure where else to look.

Went back to work last thursday and so far finding it more stressful then ever and basically undoing any progress I made with coping with my depression.

Its a banking call centre job, so theres more things to learn and stricter controls, I just feel like I've been dumped back on the phones with little support. And also had a formal meeting yesterday about my performance, basically upshoot is another call that fails would invite me to a stage 3 meeting where dismissal is likely

I've always found it hard to get new work, and find this situation to be very stressful I'm not really sure what to do, so tempted to go back to gp asking for more time but it wouldnt really fix anything just take me away from the situation for a while, I know while signed off I shouldnt look for work.

Any suggestions?

It's likely you'll need to be persistent and may need to do a bit or research yourself so you can better explain/lead your GP to something closer to what you need/would like and how current situation is affecting your health/wellbeing. Have you tried the Dyspraxia Foundation or had chance to consider/explore any to the ideas I suggested in my response to this thread dated Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:25 pm?

[anna888]

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Re: Recently discovered I have dyspraxia, help?
Postby anna888 » Sat Nov 21, 2015 12:57 pm

Hi there,

I am new on here. Brief summary of my life

I am 29 and female. I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and severe depression aged 25. The depression has improved ( I'm on antidepressants) and I think it was circumstantial. I have been undergoing group psychotherapy for the last three years. I have had a difficult life since aged ten as my mother has out of control mental health problems ( possibly bipolar and or schizophrenia). So I have been working through the trauma of this and the associated anxiety symptoms. I also had to leave a PHD in English Literaure which I was three years through when I had this nervous breakdown.

Since then I have recently go my first real job. I became a piano teacher aged sixteen as a part time job and otherwise clung to staying in education for fear of the working world and the 9to 5. I am still on sick pay but after mentoring I got a part time job taking notes for adults with dyslexia. Through reading about it I eat about dyspraxia, took it into my dad and thought, that's me! I'm now wandering is it is another reason I have had trouble getting a job. I have had great trouble with my short term memory since my breakdown but am now thinking, if I already have anxiety and it's got doubled up with post traumatic stress type reaction would this make it much worse? Does anyone know? I am interrupting people dos I can't keep my thoughts before they feel like they will disappear. I have all the clumsy things too, which I always knew, I just didn't know there was a name for it.

I have been encouraged to bring this up at my psychotherapy from next week. I would also love to go to and occupational therapist if I can get one, to help me with processing and following instructions and cooking etc as I can't multitask and I get very tired and frustrated a lot. Any help, especially about an overlap with mental health issues and being undiagnosed for s long time, would be greatly appreciated as I am feeling quite overwhelmed and emotional since 'discovering' this suspicion,
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