Any teachers out there struggling?

You are not alone @skttrbrain !

We have so many teachers here on the forums and hence under 'spaces', we have an Educator's Hub.

I'm sure you are not alone with how you are feeling, and hence so many walking out of the job. In my area, they are crying out for teachers and pretty much anyone who is registered and willing gets a job. Unfortunately, that means quality goes down. It also means high staff turnover which means those who stay have to pick up the pieces of those who leave.

I notice you said you had an unsupportive boss. That is very stressful in itself. Did you ever reach out to EAP services?

With your current anxiety, what do you think it is around? No meeting targets? Incidents at school? Not being able to manage?

Tagging some teachers for you @Former-Member @Snowie @BPDSurvivor @Spirit_Healer

Morning @skttrbrain ,

Totally get it. I love my job but I also know it’s time to move on. I’ve been at this same school for close to a decade and I know my time is up as though it’s a chapter closing.

With a teaching degree, you aren’t just restricted to teaching. What’s different in my case is that there’s work everywhere so I can move to any school. But for now, I think I’m just going to step away and have a break.

Im guessing you don’t have many opportunities for relief work?

When I mean I’m going to have a break, I’m not just sitting idle. NAPLAN is coming up and I’m a NAPLAN assessor.

After that, I’m going to take it easy and maybe do 1-3 days of relief work and spend the rest on self-care. I feel life’s just too short to run myself to the ground when my gut is telling me to move on.

I’m interested to hear what you think. It’s good to be able up talk to other teachers here.

Thanks for your reply. I've thought about stepping back to do relief but I don't think that is the change I need. The job has just changed so much. The expectation and pressure have gone way up while the level of issues you have to deal with the kids has exploded. It's just undoable and I've let the pressure get to me now where I feel like I'm just a really anxious about everything. I remember being an easy-going person where nothing bothered me but now I feel almost traumatised (not trying to sound too dramatic). Anyway, time to check the job adds 😁

Me. I’m struggling… @skttrbrain

Im in a leadership position so I don’t have allotted classes, but just seeing the stress of teachers, them crying, really struggling, limited support staff… it’s hard.

Does it take someone to break before they get support?

I’ve had a few sleepless nights recently and on the verge of quitting. I even told everyone I was resigning. Then when I spoke to the prin, she was very open and said ‘It’s just that feeling in your gut that you know it’s time to move on’.

Then the next day, I got a job down the road from me. 3 days a week. But I haven’t confirmed if I’m taking it as I’m torn whether to leave or not.

I just want you to know you are not alone in having teacher fatigue/burnout.

i really hope to hear from you because i feel that you are probably feeling as lost as i am - perhaps we can be lost together?

Hi @skttrbrain ,

im just reading about how you said you used to be so easy-going and now schools is so anxiety provoking.

Do you think this is a hormonal thing that comes with age? Or do you think anti anxiety meds will help?

i take anti-anxiety meds. Just a low dose. I’m at a good baseline with the meds I take.

Sometimes I consider whether I should reduce or stop taking the meds, but then again, mentally, I feel I’m in a good place and able to manage this situational crisis.

Without the meds, I not sure I could manage as well as I have now.

Just something to consider