You're not alone: it's normal, everyone experiences these emotions

There can be lots of reasons why you might feel upset, experience anxiety or be angry during these proceedings. Lots of people feel this way, you are not alone. These feelings can be difficult and overwhelming, but you are not the only one to have experienced them. They are a normal human reaction to being in a difficult situation.

There will be lots of thoughts and feelings going through your head at different times. These can include:

• Why has a referral been made?
• Concern at the length of time and the loss of control
• Being uncertain about the outcome
• Discrimination
• The impact it has on you, your job, your reputation, impact on family and friends and your employment

Its important to remember that when you are being represented by a member of UNISONs Professional Services Team (PSU) they will support you throughout the whole process. It's important that you are open and honest with them if you feel anxiety, stress or are simply worried. If they know, they can help you.

Our aim will be to work with you to provide your regulator with a range of evidence. This may vary depending on your case, but they will discuss all of this with you. They will advise you on reflection, on training you can do. They will look at all the evidence the regulator will be using and advocate for you. Different things can contribute to or cause stress, anxiety or depression:

Different things can contribute to or cause stress, anxiety or depression:

• Stressful events in life, not just being reported to your regulator you may have other life events taking place
• Lifestyle can contribute a poor diet, lack of exercise, health conditions
• You may have low serotonin levels
• You may have any one or a number of these things, but they all interact with each other and impact on you, how you feel and how you respond to things.