This happened to me. At the end of a long and stressful divorce, I realized that I needed to take some time off (or else). Took about six months and then discovered that it's very difficult to get rehired after such a gap. (Being "old" doesn't help either.)
You have to play the cards you're dealt, though, and if you really need a break, it's way better than the "or else".
You just say "My ____ died and I had a tough time with that" (where blank is mother, father, daughter, son, whatever). If they have a problem with that you don't want the job anyways.
You have to play the cards you're dealt, though, and if you really need a break, it's way better than the "or else".