Stella999
08-04-2008, 11:49 AM
I work at the Los Angeles office of an international company. I am currently the secondary caregiver of a friend who is dying of cancer. My job is generally fairly stressful, but I like it very much and have no desire to leave. I suffer from panic disorder and take medication for it as well as meditation, etc.
Currently, there is something going on at work that is insanely stressful and adversely affecting our clients. I have been working nights and weekends on this, to no avail, and I am dedicated to getting it fixed, but for the most part the 'fixing' is out of my control.
I had planned a vacation for July of '08, but was able to be flexible and decided to put it off; it's now August and my boss is telling me this thing has to be fixed. This problem has been going on for nearly a year with, as far as I can see, no end in sight. I haven't had a vacation since a long weekend in January and I'm hitting the wall here.
I've been seeing a therapist since my friend started really going downhill, but it's just more than I can handle emotionally. I've started having chest pains, can't sleep at night, am not eating correctly and am living on xanax and zantac. I sit at my desk and cry (I'm not a crier; I'm quite strong and this is disturbing to me).
I am aware of many people at my office that have taken stress leave, so I know it's available, but I also know that some of them were scamming.
I have no desire to alienate my bosses, whom I respect and like very much.
My immediate plan is to e-mail them and lay all of this out (they are aware of my person situation) and request at least a week off. I realize my personal problems are just that, but it's to the point now where I can't even think and I don't feel as though I'm being anywhere near as effective as I usually am.
I'm not even sure what I'm asking; maybe I just want some validation. I guess I'm afraid that if my boss refuses to let me take the time off I will have to go over her head and fear alienating her. The worst part is that we are running on a skeleton crew, and she will end up having to do my work.
Any ideas or comments are welcome.
Thank you.
Currently, there is something going on at work that is insanely stressful and adversely affecting our clients. I have been working nights and weekends on this, to no avail, and I am dedicated to getting it fixed, but for the most part the 'fixing' is out of my control.
I had planned a vacation for July of '08, but was able to be flexible and decided to put it off; it's now August and my boss is telling me this thing has to be fixed. This problem has been going on for nearly a year with, as far as I can see, no end in sight. I haven't had a vacation since a long weekend in January and I'm hitting the wall here.
I've been seeing a therapist since my friend started really going downhill, but it's just more than I can handle emotionally. I've started having chest pains, can't sleep at night, am not eating correctly and am living on xanax and zantac. I sit at my desk and cry (I'm not a crier; I'm quite strong and this is disturbing to me).
I am aware of many people at my office that have taken stress leave, so I know it's available, but I also know that some of them were scamming.
I have no desire to alienate my bosses, whom I respect and like very much.
My immediate plan is to e-mail them and lay all of this out (they are aware of my person situation) and request at least a week off. I realize my personal problems are just that, but it's to the point now where I can't even think and I don't feel as though I'm being anywhere near as effective as I usually am.
I'm not even sure what I'm asking; maybe I just want some validation. I guess I'm afraid that if my boss refuses to let me take the time off I will have to go over her head and fear alienating her. The worst part is that we are running on a skeleton crew, and she will end up having to do my work.
Any ideas or comments are welcome.
Thank you.
