What would you do if tragedy kept you from focusing on work?

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It's hard enough even for the NT people to deal with the loss of a pet or a loved one but Aspies tend to really obsess over things. I mean, how would you handle it if say, your pet of 16 years died (may well happen to me, as I believe she has bloat (GKV)) or your father died or something and you cannot really focus on work?

Would you just call in sick (even if you didn't have sick days)? If you weren't allowed the opportunity to stay home, how could you focus on work with the trauma on your mind?

Mourning is a valid reason to call in sick.

To be honest, i'd *want* to come to work in such a situation, working keeps my mind off of things.
Last few years, i didn't take any leaves from work, as i knew that having nothing to do would increase my depression to dangerous levels, even weekends were an issue already

If my grief were that debilitating, I'd probably ask for a couple days off. I'd tell my boss what the situation is and plan out what my grieving process is going to be (visit a grave site, pray, write down thoughts/memories, whatever helps you individually). However, I wouldn't want to spend all of my time at home or sulking, because it's an easy way to fall into depression. I'd probably spend the rest of my free time doing something that I enjoy, while also being productive. Gardening, lifting weights, riding my bike, etc.

I'm struggling through this same sort of thing right now. I'm separated from my wife and my anxiety is off the charts right now. I'm so deeply despaired and restless. So working has been quite a challenge.

I'm off today to try and get my car looked at, and I'd actually rather be at work, but then when I'm at work I just want to leave. All I can do is force myself through because I need my job. It's literally the only thing I have going on in my life to provide any comfort at all- having money to spend.

Try to remember how important your job really is. I know in hard times it's easy to cast work aside as less emotionally important, because it is. But the fact remains it's still very materially important, and sadness tends to mess those things up if you aren't careful.

I agree with this post. It's a valid reason to call in but whenever in my life that this has happened to me I wanted to try to continue on as usually and do anything to take my mind off it. I guess it really depends on the situation and what type of work you do but I definitely want a sense of normalcy and a distraction.

When my dog died, my coworkers suggested I go home and my boss understood. I told them I felt bad because I took off more time for her dying, than my boss did when her husband died. They just said everybody grieves differently and understood.