How can I get over this?

[Ollycat]

I’m not a teacher but work in a secondary school with vulnerable young people and those with SEND. I’ve been here 8 years, work very hard and have always been good at the job and made a different to the educational outcomes of the young people I work with.

This school year I feel like everything has improved imploded - I can’t give specifics as it would be very identifying of me and our school. I’ve had the most awful half term - even thinking about work makes me tearful and anxious. I can see no other option other then leaving. Thank have no confidence in my abilities and the effect the stress is having on me and my family is massive.

Has anyone ever been in this sort of situation and turned it around? If so what did you do? I have no idea how I’m going to physically get back to work after half term at the moment and feel quite desperate.

[isthistoonosy]

Is it possible to just switch off mentally and distance yourself, don't engage with other staff socially etc while you look into other work options?

[Bananasandchocolatecustard]

Does your local authority have a confidential counselling line? If so, I would phone and talk to someone. If not, speak to your union for advice? Don’t suffer in silence.
I hope you find someone to talk to.

[Cynderella]

Being blunt, I think the answer to your question depends on the trigger or catalyst for the change this term.

If it is something that will go/disappear gradually or become less important, then yes, you can come out the other side.

If it's something that is staying, then you need strategies to cope with it.

If you cannot identify a reason for the change, it all becomes a lot more difficult.

Identify what YOU can do to effect a positive outcome. What could others do? Are these changes possible? If yes, then you need to work out how to make these alterations. In other words, focus on what you can do, step by step.

[Blueemeraldagain]

I teach in a school for student students with social, emotional and mental health problems.

Are you able to say if the source of your distress is the students or staff or the % split between the two?

[Ollycat]

It’s predominantly staff changes (line manager), coupled with some very challenging students (but none more challenging then have had before). Anyway it seems like it’s all reached a resolution- am on half term and was emailed by manager to ask whether or not I was resigning, so I have . Am really sad about the whole thing - it’s not really what I wanted and feel a bit like I was backed into a corner but at least the situation has reached a resolution.