Do I need to go off ill with stress, and if so, how?

[Stressedoutteach]

Teacher here.
Having cried for 2 hours non stop today and on and off through the afternoon, I really feel I have reached my limit.

There has been a consistent pattern over the last four years of senior leaders blaming me for things that I haven't been told about or aren't my fault, plus the never ending negativity and pickiness about tiny things. SL can be rude and abrasive. Ofsted is around the corner which makes everything worse, everyone is on edge and snappy.

Today I was told that something I have done for the last 5 years, that works, that has been witnessed through observations, that I believe was well known about and approved, suddenly is not and has never been allowed and I have gone against policy. Apparently something else should have been done that I have never once been told about.

I defended myself and stood up to SL and...they did not like that.

My anxiety is through the roof, I feel sick, my eyelids hurt and are tender from crying, and honestly I feel ill from the stress of it. This has been going on a long time and I have finally broken.

I only work part time and actually have a doctor's appointment to review medication before I'm next in. If I tell him how I feel, would I get a sick note? How does that work? How long would it be for?

Doctor will give you a short term sick note, maybe two weeks and then a review.

Hand the note to SLT and switch off. See how you are in to weeks and if not feeling better ask for more time.

At least reconsider a new career.

Awwww, so sorry to hear how bad things are...

Thinking of you... x

Definitely tell your GP how bad you feel, don't downplay it. I'm fairly sure they're used to hearing this from teachers. Something really needs to be done about it. Look after yourself

Ex teacher here.
I totally get it.
SLT nearly broke me and I avoided a breakdown by quitting.
Loved the students, passionate about my subject, but couldn’t cope with the never ending demands, changes in curriculum with little notice and constant observations. Did it for twenty years. Left 15 months ago. Unions in every term, loads of teachers off with stress, horrendous environment…finally had enough.

Go to GP, self certify until then, and get signed off. Take the time to rest and reflect, and only go back when you’re ready.

Thank you for the comments. I will see what the GP says. I just wondered whether I was being unreasonable or not. I'm sure SLT will think I'm being pathetic but this really has got me. I feel sick to my stomach.

Non teacher here ....you are not well and should not be at work. Please call in sick and take 7 days self certified, see your GP as planned and get signed off for a further 2 wks. See if you can get a therapy appt to talk through what is going on and what happens next. Can you access support within school, do you need to find another school or look to change your career?

Good luck with whatever you decide xxx

Hi op,

Fellow teacher here. Remember that you can self certify for 5 work days so I would do that to give yourself space to think. If your anxiety and upset is still making you ill then absolutely go to the gp and get a bit longer off to help you make a plan. Ultimately, the problem won't go away and you need to address that as well.

The trouble with teaching is it's a hard job and when you have difficult colleagues /slt / or other difficult working conditions it makes it unbearable, exhausting and all consuming. It can be hard to see the wood for the trees. You might want to reflect on what your end goal is....in reality if this sl is so bad you are probably best off moving schools. You shouldn't have to but once that sort of culture takes hold in a school you are fighting a losing battle and it will undoubtedly take a huge toll on your mental health.

The prospect of a new job can be a really daunting when someone is making you feel shit about yourself at work. You might need to make a plan. Start building your cpd accomplishments to make yourself more employable (run a lunch club, volunteer to mentor an ECT, send your details to schools so you like the look of so they can keep you in mind if a job comes up).

In terms of dealing with your difficult line manager you could just just submit to her shit way of doing things until you can escape. That way, if you are following her SoW /planning etc and Ofsted doesn't go well it's her fault not yours. I've had great HoDs and terrible HoDs over the years and I can tell you now I wish I hadn't wasted so many years in the schools where I was unhappy.

The other alternative is to look outside of teaching but I don't know if that's an option financially for you? Making a plan or taking some decisive action to change things will really help you feel better, as will deciding to take a week off and having a plan to see the gp.

Non teacher here. I've had experience of bullying at work so have tactics that might help. I do agree with pp, self cert for the first week and see your GP for more time. Find another job or school.
My work tactics are:

• The bubble. Imagine you're in one all day, like a zorb ball. All comments and digs bounce off and don't affect you. Takes a bit of practice but it's effective once you get the hang of it. All these comments are only other people's opinions anyway and you don't have to agree or absorb them.
• Masking. Imagine yourself a different person at work, like putting on a work persona or acting. A simpler version of yourself. Wear that work persona at work. Stops you giving so much of yourself and makes you less vulnerable. Also can make you feel like the attacks are aimed at someone else, which is definitely beneficial.
• Care less. And I suspect this is much harder in your profession. You just have to stop giving a f about your colleagues words, actions and opinions. You have to stop caring about the goalposts being moved. You do a great job and as long as you feel good about how you are working, your abilities, your practice, then what they think is irrelevant. Have faith in yourself. Adopt an 'I'm alright' mindset. Tie this in with the masking, nod, smile, play among, but think your own thoughts. Be your own best friend.

Good luck. No one should be so upset over work, it's just the thing that pays the bills, part of your life yes, but don't let it consume you.

By all means go sick, but also hand your notice in and get a different job since it's the job causing the issue.

Thank you all. Honestly, I love the job, it's these two members of SLT who are making it a misery. One of them is due to retire in a couple of years so I've been holding out for that.
All the other staff members are great and we get on well. It's literally just those two.