Doing a PGCE and constantly nervous

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... nearly posted this in mental health. Does anyone have any recommendations for medication, homoepathic or otherwise, that will calm my nerves? I'm normally a calm, rational person (40 plus with children), but finding this course very hard, can't switch off and have nerves that feel as if they want to leap out of my body. Am finding it almost impossible to switch off from thinking about all the things I need to do, am sleeping badly and if I wake up during the night, can never get back to sleep.
I am taking a homeopathic remedy called Kalms from Boots, but it doesn't feel as if it is doing the trick. Any other tips?

Try writing down everything that you need to do to stop it buzzing around in your head.

And what exactly are you nervous about?

You sound very stressed.

Perhaps you should see a GP for proper advice and maybe take time off to consider whether teaching is for you.

Notepad and pen next to your bed so when thoughts come in you can write them down 'for the morning'... Rescue Remedy to help you feel calm... tell PGCE mentors how you're feeling... GP.

Good luck

Have sent you a PM

Are you me?

Just wanted to empathise. Have that non-stop nagging worry and anxiety about workload, children, placements, assignments. Horrible.

Can echo what others say and write down and PRIORITISE what you need to do. Maybe write it in a diary format so you can plan your workload. I give myself weekend days off usually although this weekend I have an assignment due (obviously having a break now though!) and do some work late Saturday and Sunday afternoons and early evenings then wind down.

I think if you start to feel in control of the work then you may feel better. I couldn't switch off either and actually made myself buy some decent fiction so that those few times when I could spend a little time doing something else (on the tube for example) then I would be absorbed and not just worrying about the next deadline.

I second talking to tutors, family, friends. I have bored everyone with it! At least they now understand. Can't wait to finish this course and do understand. My DH gave me some good advice actually. He said not to give my all to every single activity/task/assignment. Get by on everything but really focus on what is truly important. It can be hard to do that when all of it is new and maybe difficult. Maybe your personal tutor could give you some perspective.

Good luck. Are you primary or secondary?

I am a teacher and had this during PGCE and also bored friends to tears talking about work. I found the only way to get through it was to actually work all the time but I didn't have kids/DH then! I agree that writing things down and planning in diary format when you will deal with each thing you need to do can really help you feel more in control. Exercise is also really good - I did my only ever half marathon while in my first term as an NQT (had started training during PGCE though to stay sane!)

I still, 6 years on, have to work some evenings and most weekends (for a few hours at the weekend, not all the time) but that is my choice as I have taken on some managerial responsibility now. IT DOES GET BETTER!

Thank you everyone for words of advice. Keep it coming! I know it will get better, I know it is good to go through one day at a time, I know it helps to talk - I just wish I could get rid of the completely irrational butterflies in the pit of my stomach and my tingling nerves....

Sorry. I get the nerve thing too. It is difficult to treat--it's just the way your body responds to stress. As far as sleep disturbance goes, i can heartily recommend the Paul McKenna tape (I can make you sleep). It helped me through a very rough patch. Worth a try. If you sleep well then other aspects of life are easier.

the PGCE is a hard course - are you on teaching practice? Actual teaching is much nicer.

Yes I am on my second teaching practice and counting down the days. Paul McKenna sounds worth a try - just need to find time to buy it!

As a teacher myself, you have to ask yourself whether you want to be a teacher and whether you enjoy it - if the answer's yes then fine, but you need to try and work out what is making you so nervous and stressed, is it worrying about not meeting all the demands being put on you? is it a feeling of low self esteem? is it how you are in situations normally?

If you are not happy with teaching then get out now - there's no shame in going now - life is too short to do a job for the wrong reasons or to do a job that causes you so much stress
I know of too many teachers who don't enjoy the job and stayed in it for all manner of reasons and ultimately they cause harm to themselves and to their families and the kids they teach

Have a hard think

What crazynell just said makes sense. Think long and hard. What effect will 20 years of this kind of stress have on your health?

I find yoga VERY helpful for my racing mind and constantly jangling nerves. My evening class is the only peace I get from it at the moment and I try to do a20 minutes at home every day. My nervous anxiety is caused mostly by an overactive thyroid though but the stress of work can make the anxiety worse.

I have come to this a bit late but was just scanning down all the messages.

I did a PGCE a few years ago and found it very stressful at the time - felt like I was going mad! It coincided with some other things going on in my life and I felt awful and nearly gave it up. I have to agree with the message above - do some yoga. I bought myself a book and started to do yoga and meditation in the evening at home. I couldn't get on with classes as I found them distracting. It really did the trick and has helped me on numerous occasions since that time.

Teaching can be stressful, but also is great fun when you get into it and more experienced. It's totally normal to get stressed about it, but yoga and meditation help to control the stress to a manageable level. It gradually gets easier too so that you aren't spending every waking minute preparing lessons and marking!