[Leave of Absence: Adjustment Disorder] How to avoid panic during your first visit to a psychosomatic clinic
I have taken a 3-month leave of absencedue to adjustment disorder at my current company.
I was in an extremely demanding job filled with interruptive tasks, and even when I begged for overtime, I wasn't allowed to do it.
If I were to write down the petty harassment and such, there would be too much resentment and bitterness, so I will omit it.
In this post, I would like to talk about what I did and how I felt when I took my leave of absence.
In summary,
It can take a month to get an appointment for a first visit.
It is helpful to hand the doctor an A4 memo sheet with your symptoms during the first visit.
Psychosomatic doctors want to know about physical symptoms. They are not counselors.
In some cases, the patient can choose whether or not to take a leave of absence.
is what it comes down to.
1. It can take about a month to get an appointment for a first visit to a clinic
I had hoped to avoid going to a clinic in the first place, but no matter how much I tried to persuade them, the situation within the company did not improve.
My boss insisted that they wouldn't improve the situation for clearly emotional reasons, even when I made suggestions.
I decided to give up on trying to make changes within the company.
So, I decided to book a first visit at a psychosomatic clinic, butthe earliest appointment for a first visit was four weeks away.
I didn't mind because I wanted to be in a relaxed state for my first visit, butin severe cases, it might be too late.
Depending on the clinic, you may not be able to get a first visit immediately.
It is better to book a first visit in advance when you are a few steps away from it being too late, and approach the consultation with about a month of leeway.
2. Keep a memo ready for the psychosomatic clinic
I had been working in this labor environment for about five years, and I had been suffering from stress-induced hives and insomnia.
My work efficiency dropped even further, and I was completely unable to keep up with my work.
Because of this,I felt very anxious because my brain wasn't functioning normally on a daily basis, and I felt there was a possibility I wouldn't be able to explain my symptoms to the doctor verbally.
So,I prepared an A4 memo sheet to show the doctor in advance to ensure there were no discrepancies in information. I structured the memo as follows.
A Symptoms: Details of physical symptoms (insomnia, hives, uncontrollable crying, etc.)
B Causes: Harassment at work, workload, low company evaluation, etc. (write briefly)
C Do you want a leave of absence?: Write your preference for a leave of absence or treatment while continuing to work (I wanted a leave of absence)
The important thing is,
not to mix ABCs, and to separate them into paragraphs
not to let the volume of B (causes) become too large
The doctor should want to focus on symptoms, medication, and the decision regarding a leave of absence.
I believe what is important to the doctor is specifically A (symptoms) and C (desire for leave).
I understand the desire to talk about the grudges related to B (causes), but try to write them down calmly and briefly, such as in a bulleted list based on facts.
3. Doctors are not counselors
A doctor at a psychosomatic clinic is not a counselor.
They are ultimately someone who understands internal symptoms and suggests treatment.
Therefore, they are not in a position to listen to complaints.
(Though there may be doctors who will listen to complaints for a long time)
There are mountains of other patients waiting, and the time that can be spent is limited.
Therefore, I think it is better to try to convey the situation efficiently and accurately in a short time, especially during the first visit, by using notes or similar methods.
4. Taking a leave of absence itself is a potential option
As I had written in my notes, the doctor reconfirmed with me, 'Do you want to take a leave of absence? Or do you not want to?'.
This is likely because taking a leave of absence leads to better recovery, but it also carries risks.
During a leave of absence, you will receive injury and sickness allowance, which is two-thirds of your salary
After returning to work, your internal company evaluation may drop, and there is a possibility that promotion will become hopeless
After returning to work, there is a possibility that you might be sidelined from work
Therefore, the option of taking a leave of absence might be difficult for some people.
Depending on the severity of symptoms and financial situation, some people may be forced to continue visiting the clinic without taking a leave of absence.
5. If you have assets, you can prioritize health risks over financial risks
I have been talking about how taking a leave of absence carries internal company risks in exchange for health.
However, I have 40 million yen in assets.
Therefore, I was able to prioritize health risks over financial risks.
I am always frugal, so I won't be in trouble even if I have to rely on injury and sickness allowance.
I have no interest in promotions or salary increases.
I have little resistance to being sidelined after returning to work and eventually quitting quietly.
Therefore, I expressed my desire to take a leave of absence and had them issue a medical certificate for about three months.
My decision as a single person is simple, but for those who are married, there are various circumstances such as whether or not you have children and the understanding of your partner.
Let's consult with the doctor according to your situation.
[Summary] Your mind won't be working well during the first visit, so prepare with notes.
Since thinking is exhausting, you might feel like you don't want to prepare notes or anything like that.
However, answering the doctor's questions about your symptoms verbally is surprisingly difficult when you have an adjustment disorder..
So, by writing down in advance what the doctor is likely to ask, you can convey rough information to the doctor, which makes the consultation faster and clearer..
Sometimes you see reviews on Google like 'They wouldn't listen to me!'.
But, the primary information the doctor is looking for is not about 'poor you' at your company. is it?
Also, a psychosomatic doctor is someone who suggests medication based on your physical symptoms..
Don't forget that your physical symptoms and your intention to take a leave of absence will also be respected.
Regardless of whether you take a leave of absence, listen to the doctor's suggestions and work on improving your symptoms through communication during your visits.