To be utterly exhausted

[Farontothemaddingcrowd]

I want to get off the treadmill. My day goes like this:
Up at 6 (though I usually haven't slept well and have woken several times, so I'm exhausted).
Get kids up. Nag them to get up and get dressed. Get myself up and dressed. Do house jobs like feed cat, put food in slow cooker etc. Leave house at 7.30. Drop two youngest kids with grandparents for them to be taken to school. Drive dd1 to high school which is near the school I work at.
Do photocopying and admin stuff. Teach all day with a club at lunch. Get dd1 and tutor for an hour sometimes, before picking other two from after school club.
Do the usual dinner and washing up. Wash uniform and nag dc about homework and teeth and bath etc. Do some school work. Collapse into bed. And repeat.
I have depression, sleep poorly and also now need to fix a serious fault with my car.
I have nothing left.

How are you today, OP?

I'm ok thanks. Hosted a sleepover last night which was tiring. Feel half dead still. Think I'll have a bubble bath tonight. Work is draining.

Hope you managed to have a relaxing bath. Have you been able to figure out a way forward?

I don't know to be honest. I'm getting by but it's a struggle.

Did you start your medication?

Yes I am back on the meds now.

First of all prioritise and don't think I am being harsh but you are putting the welfare of other kids before your own health and wellbeing which in turn must directly affect your DC.

Sod your exam classes. YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT.

take some time off work and if you can't do that get the DC on board with help and chores for pocket money. Tell,your parents and ex how exhausted you are and that you need some help.
stop the sleepovers and any extra stuff which you don't have to do u till you're feeling better.

Please look after yourself.

From what you have posted i think the biggest issue is depression. Are you getting help for it?
Teaching is hard because you are kind of in the spotlight every day. Whereas in other jobs you can hid behind the sceeen on a bad day, you cannot do that- you have to be upbeat and prepared and engaged.
Why are you depressed, is there anything else going on in your life?

I've restarted sertraline but it's not working yet. I'm hugely panicking today

Are you ok OP? What's making you panic?

Did l see in the middle of all that that you tutor. Please stop that as its more stress. I have 3 confident dc in their 20s. I never homemade them a cake for school or ironed their uniform. ( just throw in drier) . Please cut back on the unnecessary stuff at least for now. Teacher is an exhausting job as l know so be kind to yourself as much as possible.

Hi. I'm only anemic and work pt BUT being anemic is like wading through treacle. It's hard to do anything, I'm living in coffee to function which isn't helping my sleep or iron levels. This alone will have huge impact on being able to function. When my iron levels come back up everything just seems so much better

Op if you were my sister ( one of them is a teacher) and feeling like this I would be telling you that you need to get signed off. Please. Not just for you but also your children. You are not going to win any awards for being such a trooper and you are easily replaced, harsh but true.
Use the time whilst your off to look at other options for work using your teaching qualification, Please rest whilst you can, I hope you soon start to feel better.

I'm sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. I felt exhausted when my DD was going through her ASD diagnosis. Dangerously close to some kind of breakdown. I'm married but DH was throwing himself into various projects to distract himself. My job is stressful at times but I can hide behind a screen at work and drink hot tea. Teaching is really hard.

Can you get the kids onboard more? Tell them you are a bit unwell and need some support? Have a break from sleepovers and cake sales for s little while. My two are 9 and 7 and even the Aspie understands that mum is shattered at times and needs some cooperation.

I hope the nausea passes (I gave up as I couldn't tolerate the sickness). Be kind to yourself.

Sertraline does take a while to make a difference, OP, I do remember that, but it did eventually make a difference to my anxiety levels, and enabled me to think things through more calmly. Give yourself time and don’t expect too much too soon. (Easier said than done, I know.)

I found that one of the side effects of sertraline is nausea, in my case bad diarrhoea. Very unpleasant but my body adjusted.

Op, my day isn't dissimilar to yours. I'm not a teacher but I lead others in a stressful job, train people and am studying for a professional qualification outside work hours in the spare time I don't have. We have a 45 min commute each way every day. The dcs are currently at different schools so double school run to juggle. Same arrangement with dcs - xh has them every other weekend only.

The only way I can cope when it gets really tough is to say a flat no to anything I don't want to or have to do outside work. We go back to basics - easy quick meals, school lunches and non iron uniforms. No play dates in the week, dcs do after school sports clubs but no other evening activities. They're with their friends all day so have never minded this even though I feel bad.

Usually after a few weeks of this, I'm feeling a bit stronger again. Sympathies to you- you certainly don't have it easy but hang in there until it passes. Rest as much as you can on child free weekends and be kind to yourself.

I'm feeling a bit better. I got a new car today and that boosted me a bit.

That sounds a gruelling daily schedule. I couldn't do It, I have anaemia too and it makes things heavy going. Can you go part time or get a different job? I know it's easier said than done but your health is important.

Yanbu - that all sounds exhausting.

I would definitely consider getting signed off while your meds kick in and you regain some energy. I know you worry about letting your students down but you'll be so much better for them once you're back on track.

Be kind to yourself 💐

I am pleased you are feeling better today, but as someone who has emerged from the fog of depression relatively recently (within the last 6 months) I implore you to take better care of yourself.

I do agree with PPs that you should take some time off, get signed off sick now, probably at least until Christmas. Then you will be able to give your DC your all and take care of yourself. You would hopefully be able to return to work in January, like a new person and be able to give your pupils 100% too.

start taking vitamin B6, evening primrose oil and iron tablets daily.
It takes a few months to kick in but it really help my anemia and tiredness.

Would your ex to have kids every weekend for the next month so you can recover emotionally as you sound like your about to drop!

I'm not a teacher, but my friend teaches secondary and is almost always on burn out and very stressed.

My ex won't have kids every weekend but he has agreed to do an extra day a fortnight. I will take vitamins and start taking my iron which should help.
I can't take till Christmas off work, it just wouldn't work. But I can try to make other bits of my life easier.
I was reading threads I posted two years ago under an old user name and although I'm down, I'm a lot more clear headed and calm than I was then. I've certainly made progress, so that's great

I could have written this post! Hope you are feeling better? I am a teacher and have refused to do all the extras at work for the sake of my mental health. It isn't being unreasonable and you are often pressured to do them but my health is more important!

I'm still shattered and I was late for work this morn after fighting through horrendous traffic. Hope to get an early night tonight though!