Has anyone here been on long-term sick leave for depression or burnout?
Has anyone here been through long-term sick leave for major depression or burnout in Belgium, especially if you're a foreigner with permanent residency?
I've been living and working in Belgium for 7 years and have a B card (permanent residency). I've always worked and paid my taxes, but earlier this year I was diagnosed with major depression and burnout.
Looking back, I think I ignored the warning signs for a long time. I used to work 16-hour days. I know that isn't normal, but I was constantly terrified of losing my job because, in my mind, losing my job meant losing my right to stay in Belgium. Whether that fear was rational or not, it completely took over my life.
It got to the point where work controlled everything. If I wasn't working, I felt guilty and anxious. If I went for a walk, I couldn't enjoy it because I was convinced everything at work would fall apart while I was away. Even on holiday I couldn't switch off. I was constantly thinking about work instead of relaxing.
Eventually I reached a point where I just couldn't function anymore. I couldn't focus, couldn't think clearly, couldn't make decisions, and even simple tasks became overwhelming.
I've now been on sick leave for almost 4 months. I recently tried returning to work part-time, but I still don't feel like I'm recovering.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? How long did it take before you started feeling like yourself again? Did you eventually recover and return to work?
And if you're also a foreigner with permanent residency, did you have any issues with your residency or employment while you were on long-term sick leave?
I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences because right now it's difficult to imagine that life will ever feel normal again.