Mind needs sickies too
WHEN was the last time you took a mental health sick day?
For most of us, that answer is probably “never” – or at the least, we’ve never admitted to taking a day off for a mental issue.
When it comes to colds and minor ailments, however, we’re way more willing to call our bosses to beg for a duvet day.
But we should be doing the reverse, a top doctor says.
Dr Arun Thiyagarjan, medical director at Bupa Health Clinics, has declared stress is a more legitimate reason for taking time off than having a cold.
“Excusing all the sniffles, it is perfectly fine to go into work while suffering from a cold,” he said.
If you’ve got something like flu or diarrhoea, then yes, you should be in bed – but you don’t have to put yourself in quarantine for a cold.
But when it comes to stress, you’ve got to take action.
“If left, stress can become a much bigger mental health problem, which can lead to long-term illness,” Dr Thiyagarjan said.
There was no great prowess attached to never taking sick days, he added.
It doesn’t mean you’re any healthier than the next person, it simply means you’ve got a better immune system when it comes to common viruses.
And, of course, people who don’t prioritise their mental health may still come to work while suffering from chronic stress.
Last month, the World Health Organisation officially added “burnout” to its International Classification of Diseases.
The WHO defines burnout as being caused by “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.
Here are the key signs you could be on the verge of burning out:
■ Poor sleep
■ An unsettled stomach and poor digestion
■ High blood pressure
■ Constantly thinking about work when at home
■ A snappy and irritable mood
■ Never having enough time for work deadlines, projects, family or even yourself
■ Poor concentration
■ Socialising less. So watch out for what is triggering your stress and try to nip it in the bud.
And if you need to take a mental health day, do. You’ll only end up taking more days off if you leave it.