Sick Note for Panic Attacks and Social Anxiety
Panic attacks and social anxiety are clinically valid reasons to take time off work, issued by a UK GP with full sensitivity and confidentiality.
You should not have to explain yourself in a waiting room to get the documentation you need. Get a signed GP sick note most same day, all by 9AM next morning. No appointment needed.
✔ Covers panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and related conditions.
✔ Treated with full clinical sensitivity and confidentiality.
✔ Most same day. All by 9AM next morning. From £47.
✔ Full refund if we can't issue one.
Get my sick note 
Dr Maria Knobel Medical Director Need ongoing support documentation? See also our mental health support letter and stress leave certificate.
Get your medical certificate delivered straight to your inbox from £37
How It Works
Complete a short online questionnaire
No appointment required. Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Receive your certificate
Certificates arrive most same day, all by 9AM next morning, delivered as a signed PDF direct to your inbox.
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They meet the incredibly fast turnaround stated (certificate/letter sent before 9am the following morning if the doctor feels that a letter/certificate is appropriate) which is incredibly quick and I am really grateful for the help provided!
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Sick Note for Panic Attacks and Social Anxiety
Panic attacks and social anxiety disorder are valid clinical reasons to take time off work. Get a signed GP sick note from a GMC-registered doctor, most same day, without leaving home.
How panic attacks and social anxiety affect your ability to work
Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that trigger severe physical symptoms. They can strike without warning, making it impossible to concentrate, attend meetings, or carry out normal duties. Social anxiety disorder involves persistent, overwhelming fear of social or performance situations, including workplace interactions, presentations, phone calls, and team environments.
Both conditions are recognised medical disorders under ICD-10 and can be documented on a sick note. They frequently occur together, and many people experience panic attacks triggered by the social demands of their workplace.
Panic attack symptoms at work
- → Racing heart, chest tightness, difficulty breathing.
- → Dizziness, nausea, shaking or trembling.
- → Feeling of losing control or impending doom.
- → Intense urge to leave the workplace immediately.
- → Avoidance of situations that previously triggered an episode.
Can you get a sick note for panic attacks or social anxiety?
Yes. Both panic disorder and social anxiety disorder are clinically recognised conditions. A GP can issue a sick note if either condition is affecting your ability to attend or perform at work. You do not need a formal diagnosis, a referral from another professional, or a prior history of treatment. The doctor assesses your current symptoms, their severity, and their impact on your work capacity.
Common situations where a sick note is appropriate include experiencing panic attacks at work or on the way to work, being unable to attend the workplace due to anticipatory anxiety, finding that workplace interactions are triggering severe distress, or needing time off to begin treatment such as CBT or medication.
How to get a sick note for panic attacks or social anxiety online
You do not need to visit a GP surgery. MedicalCert connects you with a GMC-registered doctor who reviews your case online.
Complete the online questionnaire
Describe your symptoms, how long they have been affecting you, and how they impact your ability to work. Include any relevant details about triggers, frequency of panic attacks, or avoidance behaviours.
Upload supporting evidence
A short video or written description of your situation, plus photo ID. Previous prescriptions, GP letters, or therapy records strengthen your case but are not always required.
Doctor reviews your case
A GMC-registered GP assesses your submission individually. No automated approvals. If the doctor cannot issue a certificate, you receive a full refund.
Receive your sick note
Most same day. All by 9AM next morning. Delivered as a signed PDF direct to your inbox, ready to share with your employer.
Panic attacks at work
Having a panic attack at work can be frightening and disorienting. The physical symptoms, including a racing heart, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and shaking, are often mistaken for a heart attack or other medical emergency by colleagues. After an episode, many people feel exhausted, embarrassed, and anxious about it happening again.
If you are experiencing regular panic attacks at work, or if the fear of having one is preventing you from attending, a sick note gives you documented time to recover, start treatment, and plan a return with appropriate support. You do not need to have had a panic attack at work specifically. Anticipatory anxiety about attending work, panic attacks before work, or panic attacks on the commute are all valid grounds for a sick note.
Taking time off is not a sign of weakness. Panic disorder is a medical condition, and continuing to push through episodes without support often makes the cycle worse. A period of rest combined with treatment, whether CBT, medication, or both, is the clinically recommended approach.
Social anxiety at work
Social anxiety disorder goes beyond ordinary shyness or nervousness. It involves a persistent, intense fear of being watched, judged, or humiliated in social situations. In the workplace this can make routine tasks, including team meetings, phone calls, client interactions, shared lunches, and open-plan environments, feel overwhelming.
People with social anxiety at work often develop avoidance strategies that gradually limit their ability to function, such as skipping meetings, declining projects that involve collaboration, avoiding break rooms, or calling in sick on days when presentations are scheduled. Over time this pattern can lead to performance issues, disciplinary action, or burnout, none of which address the underlying condition.
A sick note acknowledges the clinical reality of your situation. It protects your employment rights while you access treatment, and it opens a formal conversation with your employer about reasonable adjustments that can support a sustainable return.
Are panic attacks or social anxiety a disability under UK law?
Under the Equality Act 2010, a condition qualifies as a disability if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. “Long-term” means the condition has lasted or is likely to last 12 months or more.
Both panic disorder and social anxiety disorder can meet this threshold. If your condition has persisted for 12 months or more and significantly affects your daily life, including your ability to travel, communicate, or work in standard environments, you may be entitled to reasonable adjustments from your employer.
Examples of reasonable adjustments
Working from home on days when symptoms are severe. Flexibility around meeting attendance, such as joining by video rather than in person. A quiet workspace away from open-plan areas. Gradual exposure to anxiety-triggering tasks rather than immediate full duties on return. Adjusted performance targets during recovery. Time off for therapy appointments without requiring annual leave.
Your employer cannot dismiss you for disability-related absence where reasonable adjustments have not been explored. A sick note from a GMC-registered doctor provides the medical evidence needed to support any formal request for adjustments or to defend against disciplinary action related to absence.
Returning to work after panic attacks or social anxiety
A phased return is often the most effective approach. Rather than going back to full duties immediately, a phased return allows you to gradually rebuild confidence in the workplace while your employer makes any agreed adjustments.
Phased return
Start with reduced hours or fewer days per week. Increase gradually over 2 to 4 weeks based on how you feel. Your sick note can recommend this approach.
Workplace triggers
Identify specific situations that trigger panic or anxiety. Discuss alternatives with your manager, such as written updates instead of verbal presentations.
Ongoing treatment
CBT is the recommended first-line treatment for both panic disorder and social anxiety. Medication such as SSRIs may also be prescribed. Continuing treatment during return improves outcomes.
Fit to work certificate
Some employers require a fit to work certificate before allowing you to return. MedicalCert can issue one alongside workplace recommendations.
Sick pay and employer obligations
If you are signed off work with panic attacks or social anxiety, you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provided you meet the eligibility criteria. From April 2026, SSP is payable from day one of absence. The previous three-day waiting period has been abolished. The current rate is £123.25 per week or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. The lower earnings limit has been removed, meaning more employees now qualify.
Your employer cannot refuse to accept a valid sick note from a GMC-registered doctor. They can request a second medical opinion through occupational health, but they cannot simply dismiss the certificate. Each MedicalCert sick note includes the issuing doctor’s GMC registration number and a unique reference number for employer verification.