Hi Mustardseed, I'm so sorry you are feeling the way you do at the moment. I work in human resources, and the advice we would give would always be - talk to your manager. Do you have a reasonable relationship with them and would you feel able to share with them how you are feeling right now?

One thing I have learned over the years is that work is - just work. We sometimes feel indispensible and as though if X doesn't get done the world will almost stop turning. But the fact is, there are always ways of resolving things. If I am out of the picture for a little while, someone else will step in and do what needs to be done - particularly if you work for a larger company.

The important thing to recognise is that your stress has become 'distress' and you are feeling immobilised when you sit down and try to do some work. That's a clear message that you need to take some steps to resolve things. No employer wants someone who works for them to be feeling that way about work.

Hopefully your manager will be supportive, but if you have any concerns and there is an HR function within your company, I would certainly have a chat with them too. Also, does your company have a stress policy? It may be worth checking. Many larger companies will. Ours has a stress risk assessment form. You work through this with your manager to identify stressors, and then look at what steps can be taken if these arise.

I hope these suggestions are useful, Mustardseed, and that you'll start feeling much better soon. Take care (((Mustardseed)))

T 13 M 7
Me 48 H 46
SS 15
BD 7.14 PA
D final 5.16 (H filed)

We receive & we lose, and must try to achieve gratitude & embrace with whole hearts whatever of life that remains after the losses - Dubus