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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

Going back tomorrow after anxiety stress- scared!

64 replies

AmIGoingMad · 06/01/2013 21:43

Hi!
I'm going back in tomorrow after being off since end nov with anxiety and AND. Dr has given paper to phase return over the first week. Meeting head first thing in morning. Just scared in general at the thought of going bk. have been in much better place mentally and physically last few weeks and dreading setting myself back. I do feel though like the longer I'm off the harder it will be. Is this job even for me? Aargh! Driving myself mad!

OP posts:
ep1977 · 06/01/2013 22:09

are you a teacher? i do pt supply since having my dd 3 yrs ago. its a stressful job and you are in the limelight. its natural to feel nervous so just do your best and try to enjoy it! if your doubting if its the job for you then can you afford to change jobs.. do u need a high wage to meet bill demands etc
Good luck x

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 06/01/2013 22:12

Yes. Secondary and teach 0.8 timetable. Have been finding it so much harder since having my beautiful dc and am now pregnant again. Think I just have to try my best to get through this week and really do some soul searching- and bank account checking Hmm

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Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 06/01/2013 22:13

And thank you for you reply and good luck wish!

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icepole · 08/01/2013 22:25

How did you get on? Am off myself ar the moment and am very anxious about going back. Hope the school are supportive.

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 10/01/2013 10:06

Sorry only now posting icepole- as you can imagine the last few days have been a bit busy!
I was in tears the first morning and cried right through my return to work meeting. It did however help head see that dr recommendation for phasing return was a sensible one. Have had 2 days non contact to catch up on stuff and then taught a couple of lessons. It went ok. My colleagues have been incredibly supportive, as have some of senior staff. I still don't feel quite right and being there isn't easy but I do feel its getting easier. I feel I'm at a point where I can manage ok- let's hope I still feel that way after a full day!
I'm still questioning if its the job for me but that's a whole other thread I think.
I hope that you find someone supportive to help with your return. When are you due back?

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icepole · 10/01/2013 11:18

Great you are getting support. Don't know yet, dr next week, see how I feel from now till then. My school are not at all supportive which makes it stressful.

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 10/01/2013 15:15

Sorry to hear that icepole. If I'm honest my friends in work are the ones who have made it more manageable. There's one person on slt who has a more human side and I've been going through him on most things. Have they asked about referring you to occ health? Could that be a gd way of getting some support? I haven't had meeting with occ health yet but have asked for one to support my return. I was scared at the thought before but a colleague went to them a whole ago and felt that they were very supportive of her needs, before the school's.
The tough thing when you're off with stress/ anxiety/ depression ( not sure which if any are relevant to you) is that you also feel you can't leave the house when in fact you need to get out to raise your spirits. It's such a tough time.

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icepole · 10/01/2013 15:37

I am off with post viral fatigue which
I am pretty sure was triggered by stress.

I have asked for OH 3 times now, school refuse to refer me. I want there support as I can't trust SMT to be decent.

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 10/01/2013 16:43

Is there any of contacting human resources and inquiring direct with them? Not really sure how referral thing works. Can you get your dr to put in paper that you might be up to a phased return conditional on oc health assessment and then stay off if school don't comply? What have your union said?

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icepole · 10/01/2013 17:11

Union said I could self refer, hr say I can't, going to email them again tomorrow. Has been a nightmare! I went back once before with a phased return agreed to do mornings only. Arrived and they gave me much more and when I said it was too much they said I had to do it. I was in tears by 9:15 and signed back off. Spent the next two days in bed.

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 10/01/2013 22:19

Oh icepole that's awful! Have you asked your union to meet with head or hr to get this sorted? How can you be expected to go back to such a hostile environment when you're still not back to feeling like yourself?! Surely it's in the schools interest to support you and get you back healthy as soon as possible! This must be making a tough situation even more difficult for you.

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Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 11/01/2013 19:13

So much for that! I really thought I was on the mend then I went in today and they tried to go bk on phased return agreement. It took me having a meltdown for them to reinstate it. Managed to stay there for the day but really feel back to square two if not one. Should really have left this morning but really feel like I feel a little more normal in home life with some sort of structure to my day and not checking over shoulder when out of house. Don't know if I can stay in this profession- it seems to be driving me slightly mad!!!

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icepole · 11/01/2013 20:47

That's awful!! What reason did they give? I don't understand why they do it, is an awful way to treat somone. That is exactly what they did to me. I got an appointment with OH finally.

I need out, I used to love teaching but I hate it now. This school has broken me.

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 12/01/2013 21:14

Just said it couldn't be covered so I had to do it. Didn't in the end but it was stress I didn't need that definitely set me bk. dreading a full wk including parents evening this wk- hope I don't break down if any parent gets arsey!

When is your appt with oh? At least that's been sorted now which is a small step in the right direction.

Do you want out of profession altogether or current school? I'm wondering about the profession and if I can stay in it too at the moment to be honest.

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orangeandlemons · 12/01/2013 21:22

This was me in July. I had been off six months with stress and anxiety and went back on a phased return. I also had to cope with no one there to cover my classes.

However what I don't understand is the terms of your phased return. Are you going in all day every day, and just picking up a few lessons, or are you only going in for the lessons you have picked up. Am very Hmm at you do parents eve. The length of time you have been off, you should be doing a 6 week phased return.........

However, I was terrified at first, and it took me quite a long time to get back into the swing (about October 1/2 term) but actually am fine now, and just see it as a job....I am however stuffed up to the eyeballs with paroxetine which has been marvellous in making me not care. hth

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 13/01/2013 00:07

They seem to have phased me over one week with idea that I go back to normal as of mon. I've been there all day but only in the agreed classes. Noone even had a meeting with me at end of wk or arranged for one for mon to make sure I'm coping. It seems that I'm in a sink or swim situation to be honest. They are still going to refer me to occ health but while I'm bk in normal job rather than to get me into it. They seem to be trying to get their pound of flesh and I'm trying to stay above water. DH wants me to go bk to docs and go bk off but I feel like I'll find it harder and harder to go bk the longer I'm off. Also feel like I'm prisoner in house if I am off as I live in catchment too. Bit of a lose lose at the moment.
Oranges- how long did it take for you to feel normal about going there in the mornings? Right now I have to psyche myself up massively to get there and before each lesson.

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orangeandlemons · 13/01/2013 11:08

How long we're you off for? 6 weeks? I would have thought this would have meant a 2 week phase or 3. However bearing in mind that you have been off with stress it is up to them to decide the most suitable time. Basically it is at their discretion how long it is? Was your union involved at all?

It does seem a bit much one week phased and then straight in.......

orangeandlemons · 13/01/2013 11:11

I was off for six months. It took about 6 weeks to feel normal and about another six weeks to start enjoying it again. Just, when I had started to feel fine, bloody Ofsted came in! But I was ok. However I am on very very good meds that just make me not care about much! I think you might need longer off if you still feel wobbly

icepole · 13/01/2013 14:08

My appointment is the 24th. Hopefully the dr will keep me off until then.

I want out. I hate the job now. The school I am in is especially bad however, staff treated really badly there. I know they will not give a shit once I am back, I am hoping OH will protect me a bit. Want to cry every time I think about having to go back in there.

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 14/01/2013 20:24

Well today was slightly easier although I did have a difficult class but was just happy that I made it through that. That said today was probably the lightest day on my timetable. Tomorrow will be the biggest challenge with parents evening. Just hoping I don't have any confrontational parents as that could well tip me over. I'm still going ahead with oc health referral as I really think I need help to sort myself out in the long term. Wish me luck for tomorrow! Although oranges that probably seems like a walk in the park when you had ofsted to contend with.

Icepole- have you spoken to your dr? It seems to make sense for you to stay off til you see oc health if you feel you're getting no support from school. How are you feeling at the moment?

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icepole · 14/01/2013 22:17

Pretty good day today, think I am getting a better handle on what my body can cope with. Before as soon as I felt better I was rushing around and then ending up back in my bed. I want to wait until I see OH, do not trust SMT, but I think if I do they will cut my favourite course. Catch 22.

Hope tomorrow is ok, will you be alone meeting parents? We have to be two staff to a room here.

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 16/01/2013 20:25

I'm glad to hear that you're starting to feel a bit better. It's nice to feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel!
I actually coped with parents evening! I was half expecting to need to leave in tears before it but I pulled it off. Was in rm with one colleague. Had expected slt members to call in during evening to check I was coping but that didn't happen HmmSuppose I should have known that from the start. Each day is making me feel a little stronger but I'm generally not having contact with slt as that could be more scary as I'm not sure how they feel about me now. Full day on fri- will see how that goes ...

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icepole · 16/01/2013 22:51

Glad you got through it. Know what you mean about SMT, hate dealing with them. Dr tomorrow for me, want to stay off until I see OH if possible. I had a bad day yesterday, ok today. This is what is worrying me, it's all a but random as to when I feel well and when I don't.

Original poster
AmIGoingMad · 17/01/2013 09:19

Good luck with dr. I'm sure he/she will understand and be supportive.

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icepole · 17/01/2013 09:54

Just out and signed off for 4 weeks. Relieved but dreading letting the school know!