Did you go back to work?

[cheshire]

What was your experience of returning to work during/ after PNI?

Please feel free to commentx

If you were asked to recommend 3 things an employer should do for a woman with PNI - then what would they be?

[cheshire]

My 3 things:

- consider phasing in duties/ avoiding highly stressful situations at first
- give your emplyee some control over her work to reduce stress
- appoint a mentor who either understands the illness to a degree or who could be provided with information about it

[yoyo]

On returning to work I didn't tell Occupational Health or my supervisor at first, I wanted to try it alone for a bit. Then after a few weeks/couple of months I told a few in the office and I think that helped me as they too had been through depressed patches and knew I wasn't quite the normal me, they put it down to tiredness of having the little one. They have been great. My supervisor had a nervous breakdown 2 yrs ago and still suffers from time to time with anxiety & depression so she's very understanding of my 'bad days'.

[yoyo]

1) Tell as many or as few about your PNI as you feel you need to. It's amazing how many people don't notice it even though you feel you have a huge neon sign above your head advertising the fact!!!

2) Don't be afraid to say no - it's too much and take things slowly

3) Don't expect too much of yourself. Try and pace yourself with your work where possible and take full break entitlement.

[cheshire]

I agree - especially with your third pointxx