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If you feel your health is improving, you may start to consider going back to work. At this stage get plenty of advice from family, your GP and any other people you have been working with e.g. therapists or counsellors, as to whether they recognise an improvement in your symptoms. They might be able to help you out in assessing whether you are able to cope with the demands of employment.
If you have lost your job because of your illness and you are having to look for a new position, take a look at our useful links page as it's packed with organisations who'll be able to help you out.
If you are returning to your previous employment, plan a 'getting back to work' scheme with your employer. It would be unrealistic to expect your body to cope with going from not working at all, straight back into a busy schedule. (this expectation can come from the person as well as the employer)
Some employers will be more helpful than others, but it is still worth enquiring about the following:
Review this plan regularly so your employer understands how you are managing your time and your recovery.
Don't rush back - take it slowly
Building up your work hours slowly can help you build up stamina and provide a safety net if your health starts to get worse. Be aware that it may take many months of slowly increasing your hours before you can get back to your usual position. Don't increase your hours until you are certain that you have reached a sustainable level of activity. If you are able to do some of your work from home then mixing work-based and home-based activity could help you build up stamina.
Help yourself out by limiting the stress associated with other parts of your employment e.g. getting to and from work and making sure you have plenty of healthy snacks or a packed lunch with you, so you don't have to keep popping out of work (where possible) wasting precious energy. Ask your employer if you can locate a quiet space at work where you can go and take a regular rest throughout the day for 10-15 minutes. Listen to a relaxation tape or just shut your eyes and relax. This will help you prevent a build up of stress.
If you are not going back to an existing job, it is a good idea to consider doing some voluntary work to break you in gently.
Permitted work
Work programmes can be agreed with your doctor and social security office as part of your treatment plan. You can do a set number of hours of Permitted Work and earn a limited amount of money without losing benefits. Arrange a meeting with your benefit adviser at your Job Centre Plus to talk through what is possible.
Good luck with whatever you decide to try!
Information produced May 2004
