"One day, on a perfectly normal morning, the voice in my head could no longer be ignored. I stayed in bed. Just an empty shell. I heard my daughter Franzi making noise in the kitchen. But I didn't move. I simply couldn't. The thought of going on like this for another day paralyzed me. All I wanted to do was cry. And deep down - disappear.

Week after week, I became more and more weak and irritable

I had been looking forward to taking on more responsibility at work again. I worked in an agency with many important clients. At last, Franziska was big enough to stay at home alone for a few hours and I was able to increase my working hours to 35. I was full of energy and was put in charge of lots of great projects. I didn't even notice that I soon stopped taking lunch breaks, was always the first one in the office and locked the door at the end of the day. At home, a 12-year-old daughter and my husband Ralph were waiting to talk and have dinner. Oh, and of course the dishes had to be washed and the carpet vacuumed. Somehow I managed it all for a while. And I was damn proud of myself. But after about a year, the downward spiral gradually began.

My elation gradually gave way to a lack of concentration. Insomnia, headaches and anxiety attacks came along with it. I felt tired and exhausted more and more often, struggling in the mornings with the desire to just stay in bed. The fun and easy-going woman I used to be had turned into a nervous wreck who was negative about everything and everyone. Everything was too much for me.

Will I be able to work again in the future? I don't know

After not going to work that morning and the days that followed, I also realized that I needed help and went to see a doctor. The diagnosis: burnout. A hard blow! However, it wasn't just my health that worried me, but also the question of what would happen financially. Luckily, at my father's insistence, I had already taken out disability insurance when I started my job. The reduced earning capacity pension would not have been enough. I was put on sick leave for six months and given medication. After a long wait, I was later able to start therapy. But even after six months there was no improvement. Only now, another year later and after a stay of several weeks in a clinic, am I beginning to see land. Will I ever be able to go back to work properly? I honestly don't know."

Tips and information on the topic

Burnout, depression, anxiety - mental illnesses are still on the rise. Dr. Annabel Oelmann, Director of the Bremen Consumer Advice Center, answers the most important questions on the subject here.

Why are mental illnesses so common?

Increasing stress, pressure to perform and the growing acceleration of life as well as an increasing blurring of boundaries between work and private life could play a role here. In addition, depression, burnout and anxiety disorders are now better recognized and therefore diagnosed more frequently than in the past.

What is occupational disability (BU)?

In most cases, it is when you are less than 50 percent able to do your job for at least six months due to illness, physical injury or loss of strength.

How important is insurance?

Alongside liability, it is the most important form of insurance. If you lose your ability to earn an income, you can quickly find yourself at the end of your financial rope. Whether insured persons receive a statutory reduced earning capacity pension depends on whether they are able to work less than three hours a day in any activity. Those who are able to work more than three hours but less than six hours a day receive half a reduced earning capacity pension. But even if a statutory reduced earning capacity pension is paid, it is usually not enough.

I am already ill. Can I be insured retrospectively?

The earlier you take out disability insurance, the better and cheaper the policy. If you are already ill, you must state this when you take out the policy. The insurer can then reject the application, exclude certain illnesses or demand risk surcharges. In the case of pre-existing mental illnesses, it is often no longer possible to obtain an acceptable contract.

How long does it take until I receive the financial support?

This varies greatly. It can take many months before the pension is finally paid. Only in rare cases is it quickly clear that the job can no longer be performed permanently.

Should I expect the disability insurance company to refuse to pay?

In the case of mental illnesses in particular, experts often come to the conclusion that there is no occupational disability. If you seek advice at the time of application, you increase your chances of receiving the pension.

Who can help with the application?

The consumer advice centers provide advice on concluding contracts. When it comes to applying for a private occupational disability pension, various mistakes can be made. Documents are often requested and applications rejected. Specialized law firms are then available to help for a fee.

Occupational disability: affects one in four

Many Germans are afraid of no longer being able to do their job. According to a recent study, the biggest concern (37 percent) is how they will fare financially. More facts and figures:

Who is affected? Burnout, depression or anxiety disorders affect mainly young women in their 30s (47%) - regardless of their occupational group. For young men, on the other hand, accidents are the number one cause of occupational disability.

Back to work Mental illnesses often last a long time, making it difficult to return to work. This is why it is important to take out disability insurance to protect yourself in the event of an accident. Nevertheless, a good one in five people only rely on statutory cover. But whether this is enough is questionable.

Don't confuse occupational disability with incapacity for work. The difference: occupational disability is when you are permanently unable to work. Incapacity to work is only short-term and temporary. In this case, the employer must continue to pay wages for up to six weeks. Sickness benefit or injury benefit is then paid by the statutory health/accident insurance for 78 weeks.

Useful links:
Information on possible insurance policies, tariffs and what to look out for. www.berufsunfaehigkeitsversicherungen-heute.de
With lots of useful tips and information on the topic. www.berufsunfaehigkeit.com
Compact and independent: Information from the consumer advice center. www.ratgeber-verbraucherzentrale.de

You might also be interested in this:
Disability insurance yes or no? Advice from a professional
Recognize burnout symptoms and take action
Common disease depression: symptoms, treatment, forms
Suddenly unemployed! What's next?
Burnout syndrome: Is my tiredness already an illness?
The right insurance cover - what do I really need?
Women in the pension trap: making the right provisions now