I've been doing 21 hours since April last year, having worked full time since leaving education, despite bipolar diagnosis ten years ago and getting ME two (or three? I lose count) years ago. Now doc says I've got fibro as well. I worked three full days a week last year and changed to four afternoons since the New Year because I was finding it really difficult to manage a full day in the office.
I'm feeling myself rapidly going downhill, since the autumn, and even with two full weeks off over Christmas and New Year. I'm getting every little thing going, in terms of bugs (spent this weekend with my insides trying to be outsides) and stuff, I'm permanently shattered but often too tired or in too much pain to sleep. I've started using Martha because my balance is shot to pieces and I keep finding myself on my bum in all manner of places (including the Tesco spirits aisle...when entirely sober).
All I do is go to work and come home again to crash on the sofa. Oh, and go to supermarkets and my slimming club once a week. I don't have the energy to do anything else.
Would it be terrible if I stopped working? I know that, at least temporarily (and if I just went off sick for the time being rather than resigned straight away) I could afford to meet my outgoings (SSP, PHI, DLA and WTC) but wouldn't have much spare for shoes or stuff, but I also don't have any savings - or any debts (I went bankrupt in July last year), so as long as I get in enough to pay for the essentials (rent/bills/food and car payments).
I know that I *could* carry on working for a while longer. But I'm not sure whether the (purely financial, because the pleasure of working was eclipsed by pain and fatigue etc a while ago) gain is worth it? I kinda feel that I'm not doing myself any good by soldiering on - but if I stop will I be able to start again?
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