Blog Details

Doctor’s Note: How to Ask for Mental Health Leave and Why Rest Isn’t a Luxury — It’s a Medical NeedA Message to Workers, Employees, and Employers From the Other Side of the Exam Table

Doctor’s Note: How to Ask for Mental Health Leave and Why Rest Isn’t a Luxury — It’s a Medical Need
A Message to Workers, Employees, and Employers From the Other Side of the Exam Table

As a doctor, I’ve written hundreds of medical notes — some for sprained ankles, others for the flu. But lately, I’ve noticed a growing number of requests that begin with a whisper over the phone or a hesitant look during an appointment:

“I just don’t feel like myself anymore.”
“I can’t sleep, and I dread going to work.”
“Is it okay to take time off for mental health?”
“Can you write me a doctor’s note for stress?”
“How do I ask for a mental health day without sounding weak?”

Let me make one thing perfectly clear: mental health is health. And when your mind is suffering, your body, your relationships, and your work will suffer too.

The Hidden Epidemic in the Workplace

You’d be surprised how many high-functioning, seemingly “fine” employees walk into my office on the brink of burnout. Some are dealing with toxic work environments. Others are overwhelmed caregivers. Many are caught in a cycle of perfectionism and people-pleasing, slowly unraveling under the pressure.

They come in asking things like:

• “Can I get a medical leave of absence for anxiety?”
• “How do I explain burnout to HR?”
• “Can I take sick leave for mental exhaustion?”
• “Is it okay to say I’m not coping?”

These aren’t excuses. These are warning signs. And they deserve to be taken seriously.

What I See — And What I Recommend

When someone sits across from me and tells me that work has become unbearable, that their chest tightens when they think of Monday, or that they’re crying in bathroom stalls or skipping meals due to stress — I don’t brush it off. I ask questions. I listen. I validate. And when appropriate, I provide a doctor’s note for stress leave or recommend short-term leave for mental health recovery.

In medical terms, this might fall under:

• Adjustment Disorder
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Major Depressive Episode
• Occupational Burnout

But let’s put the labels aside for a moment.

You don’t need a diagnosis to deserve rest. You need honesty. You need care. And often, you need permission — especially when you’ve been taught that rest must be earned through exhaustion.

What You Can Say to Your Doctor

If you’re struggling, here are some helpful phrases that can guide a conversation:

• “I’m emotionally and physically exhausted every day.”
• “I can’t concentrate at work — I feel completely drained.”
• “I think I’m experiencing burnout and it’s affecting my health.”
• “I’ve been anxious, irritable, and not sleeping well.”
• “Work has become overwhelming and I don’t feel okay.”
• “I need time to reset before this gets worse.”

We are trained to recognize these as clinical red flags, not personal failures.

To Employers and HR Professionals: This Is Real

If someone presents a mental health-related medical note, don’t dismiss it. Don’t eye-roll or ask for “proof.” Instead, understand this: They had to break before they could even admit they were breaking.

Offer flexibility. Encourage boundaries. Normalize therapy, breaks, and human limits. Your team’s productivity depends on their well-being.

To Workers: You Are Not Alone

You don’t have to wait until you’re crying in the car before a shift or lying awake all night staring at the ceiling. You are allowed to say: “I need help.” You’re allowed to ask for a break. And you’re allowed to prioritize healing over hustle.

Final Note From the Doctor’s Desk

If you’re Googling things like:

• “How to ask for stress leave without getting fired”
• “What to say to get a doctor’s note for burnout”
• “Is anxiety a reason to take sick leave?”
• “Can I get time off for mental health from a doctor?”

…please know this: you’re not the only one. And yes, these are legitimate concerns — with legitimate medical solutions.

This is your doctor’s note, your permission slip, your wake-up call: You’re not broken. You’re human. And rest is part of the prescription.

🩺 Take care. We’ll be here when you’re ready.