I am an ex teacher married to a teacher and during my time working in schools, I completely lost my sense of self. I felt numb to my own needs, feelings and emotions and revolved my whole life around the school, the kids, my classroom, the other teachers. I was crap at listening and spoke the language of the school and very soon lost my passion. I was even numb when I became a mother and overwhelmed without a plan, a set routine to follow on the days I was at home. I had no confidence in myself as a mother or person.
On leaving the profession, it took 6 months of recovery before feeling myself again.
I'm still married to a teacher and I worry he's now too institutionalised. He's cold, insensitive and apathetic. He ticks the boxes of his job with little enthusiasm or feeling but meets every deadline. He never questions the horrific amount of work he's required to do and does it, robot like, without any passion at all and on very little sleep. He's an illness waiting to happen I think.
Can any teachers or spouses of teachers relate? How did you or someone you know become institutionalised by teaching? How does teaching affect your ability to regulate your own needs and emotions?