Sick leave with stress - the phases after the stress collapse
You have now reached a point where your stress state is so bad, you have gone too far into the four stress phases that you will now have to report sick. It has certainly been a very difficult and tough decision, but now the decision has been made by you, your manager or a doctor.
Just as I work with four phases before a stress collapse, so I also work with four phases after a stress collapse.
Phase 1 "after" the stress collapse:
This first phase of a sick leave can be harsh, exhausting and exhausting, it can be decidedly uncomfortable.
You have just been reported sick and are about to get used to the idea of being sick with stress. For many it can be a difficult and gloomy thought, many feel that it is a personal defeat, but it is far from it. You will typically also have a host of bodily symptoms during this period, it obviously depends on how far in the stress first stages you are, but from dizziness, malaise, headaches, restlessness, sadness, irritability, sleep problems and you struggle with a lot of thoughts and emotions. In this phase, it is often difficult to accept that you are ill and often struggle with the following sentences "I will soon be healthy" etc. It is best if you accept your illness and do not stubbornly maintain your work identity or sense of normalcy.
Communication with the outside world
At the beginning of the sick leave, there will often be some contact with the doctor, job center, your immediate manager, etc. Make sure that you are protected as soon as possible. All communication must be at a minimum, as you are on sick leave. You need total peace of mind to be able to recover and recover as best you can. If you have the opportunity, seek out a professional who can guide you through this period and who can handle all the communication to your workplace etc.
After a period of time you will slowly experience a gradual improvement, it often feels like a step forward and two back, but with time, patience and with small safe steps you move slowly forward.
Remember it isvery individual and different how long it takes to go from one phase to another, it depends on one's history, personality, how much help you get - and how stressed you have been or how long the duration of stress was before sick leave.
Phase 2 "after" the stress collapse:
At this stage, you are still affected by bodily symptoms, however, the worst symptoms may have subsided, but they return quickly if you go to work too quickly.
Often you actually feel worse here, you feel like you are in free fall. Many have the feeling of giving up and "I do not feel better at all". You usually need to hit the bottom all the way down before you see progress. But don't worry, it's part of the process. The more you listen to your body, the faster you will heal up in body and soul. In this phase, you need to have a lot of focus on recovery, calm, love, care and spare your strength. In this phase, you can start getting the first de-stressing tools on the field.
Phase 3 "after" the stress collapse:
In this phase, you will find that you have now let go, you have hit rock bottom.
You may feel the aftermath of the last phase, but you will quietly find that it is starting to go a little better.
There are good days, but there are still more bad days.
You feel it all waves up and down, it often feels like two steps forward and one back.
But slow and with small safe steps, then you will become more and more stable.
Phase 4 "after" the stress collapse:
In this phase you will find that now it starts bubbling in your stomach, you start thinking more about to return to your work.
Your symptoms are greatly reduced. You should like to have several days without symptoms. Once your hair has been symptom-free for 14 full days, then you can gradually begin your work.
When you return to work, it is important that you have an experienced stress counselor by your side or on the sidelines.
It all needs to be carefully planned according to the type of work you return to. You need to slowly reintegrate back into the job market as you need to slowly go up in time. It is also important that you get the right work assignments in the beginning.
It all needs to be done in small safe steps.
You should reluctantly have a relapse. Therefore, it requires that you have one by your side.
You are not healthy when you start back at work.
It's you only when you can work your full number of hours a week without problems, while at the same time having a surplus for yourself, your family and your leisure time.
