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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

Teachers wishing to be injured

39 replies

TeacherTutu · 31/05/2015 21:19

A number of years ago I read something about the amount of teachers who drive to work in the morning wishing for an accident - just enough to be in hospital for a while and not have to teach.
At the time, I realised this was me, and has been creeping back into my morning routine.

I was chatting to a friend (another teacher) about this over the weekend, and she suffers from this too. We talked about thinking lots about the type of injury that would be best.

Obviously, when it has got to this stage, you must be really stressed (but, obviously you don't want to go down the signed off with stress/capability route).

Does anyone else feel this way? Has anyone resolved it?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 31/05/2015 21:25

I had this in a previous job where I was so unhappy I got to the pint of boiling the kettle so I could "accidentally" burn myself so I could avoid going to work. I went to to go and got signed off with stress and changed career shortly afterwards.

It depends how seriously you are actually considering doing this (as in realistically rather than giving yourself a serious injury). If you are that unhappy look at talking to your head of department, changing schools or changing career. Life's to short to be so unhappy in work.

Asleeponasunbeam · 31/05/2015 21:25

I changed jobs. Fairly frequently. Now older, children of my own, different priorities, maybe wiser. There are things that seriously piss me off but I either deal with them, or leave. I've learned a lot about how I react to things.

Don't put up with it. Change it or put your efforts into preparing to leave.

PurpleDaisies · 31/05/2015 21:26

Wow, apologies for all the typos there. My English is normally better! It makes me quite emotional thinking of that period in my life.

pookamoo · 31/05/2015 21:27

Not just teachers. I had this and some of my colleagues.

Broken leg, anyone?

MsDragons · 31/05/2015 21:30

I felt like that in my previous school. It was awful.

I changed school, this one is so much less stressful even though the academic expectations are higher. I've been here 9 years and I've not had any thoughts of injuring myself since I moved here.

Chipsahoythere · 31/05/2015 21:32

In the autumn term I spent a lot of time thinking about driving off the road during my commute home, or falling down the stairs and breaking my leg!
It wore off because I always find autumn term the worst anyway. I expect to feel that way again come September.
I also try to trick myself into loving my job. I pretend to myself that I'm excited about going to work and that I'm excited to teach bottom set year 9! The more I pretend, the more it's working. I count 10 good things before bed and 10 good things when I wake up.

Tragic!!

maskingtherealme · 31/05/2015 21:33

In my school, it's getting pregnant (and planning it so it coincides with OFSTED, report writing and a potentially horrendous year group/class that you may get) that teachers strive towards (Mainly female staff) which is difficult as the HT (a mother of two young children herself, so what I am about to say is hypocritical) is not 'fond' of teachers who are of a child-bearing age. She responded with such disdane when I said I wasn't going to have a third child and she didn't believe me!!!!
A teacher at my school recently told me that her and her DH are going to try for baby number 2 soon. I wished her luck - not that she needs it to 'get pregnant' but she needs it to get a positive response from the HT.

Original poster
TeacherTutu · 31/05/2015 21:34

Broken leg was our preferred injury, yes!

It is tragic. And sure, not just teaching. But so very depressing that it affects so many of us. :(

OP posts:
catsrus · 31/05/2015 21:35

I recently had a cancer scare (all clear) but found myself thinking it wouldn't be so bad because at least I could leave work Confused (higher ed not school). I realised at that point I needed to get out. I'm in the process of working out how.

fiveacres · 31/05/2015 21:35

'In our school, it's getting pregnant ... Mainly female staff'

Mainly? Confused Grin

Yeah, I used to feel like this too ... it's horrible.

Anothernumber99 · 31/05/2015 21:41

I'm not a teacher but in my last job (which I hated) I was involved in an accident on the way home from work and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

My injuries were unpleasant but not serious, they probably looked worse than they were to be honest as there was lots of bruising.

Once the doctors had confirmed that there was no serious damage, I realise this sounds terrible, but I was actually relieved to be in hospital, to not have to worry about work.

I handed in my notice a few months later and I am much happier now. Still get slight Sunday night blues (as I'm sure many people do) but I no longer spend Sunday feeling sick with dread.

karbonfootprint · 31/05/2015 21:45

I really did break my leg. several seconds of blind agony, then when I realised what had happened, utter elation! One of the best moments of my life.

Original poster
TeacherTutu · 31/05/2015 21:48

Oh God, that doesn't help! So, it really is worth it?!

OP posts:
EndoplasmicReticulum · 31/05/2015 21:49

Sometimes I think it would be nice to just keep driving, past the school and away where nobody could find me. That might be easier than an accident.

JessiePinkman · 31/05/2015 21:52

Wow. I went through this in an old job, I never verbalised it, just thought it was so unusual to be feeling that way. I was obsessed with trying to break my foot Shock I gave myself a helluva lot of bruises but never 'achieved ' a break! This is s revelation to me to hear others contemplating this & feel very sorry for those currently going through it as it's very traumatic Flowers

pookamoo · 31/05/2015 21:53

I had lunch with some old colleagues one day last week and popped into my old work to say hello to some others.

The elation as I left the building was immense.

It's sad that we are all under such huge stress.

karbonfootprint · 31/05/2015 21:54

So, it really is worth it?!

Oh yes, it was like winning the lottery.

of course there was pain, and swelling, and disability, and hardships running the home, and financial problems paying for taxis too and from hospital repeatedly.... etc,

but I wasn't allowed on the school premises for two months! for insurance reasons.

NorbertDentressangle · 31/05/2015 21:55

I'm not a teacher (although ironically trained and qualified as a teacher) but have had jobs where I've wished for similar injuries meaning an extended period off work, without long-term health repercussions of course.

Another irony is that I did break my ankle ...... but whilst I was a full-time mum and not in paid employment!

karbonfootprint · 31/05/2015 21:56

I also have a friend with cancer, who describes similar jubilation at being handed what she calls her "get out of jail free" card.

Original poster
TeacherTutu · 31/05/2015 21:59

Oh, that is horrible, poor woman. :(

OP posts:
FOFONAR · 31/05/2015 21:59

Been there in a previous job, not had it since I've moved school. It was the head which made the job so unpleasant, continuous bullying, huge expectations and no support. I would decide which points on my commute would be thebest to drive into causing enough damage to me for half a term off but no risk to my life and general public. Quite disturbing now I think back but pleasantly surprised to see it's not just me!

herethereandeverywhere · 31/05/2015 22:07

My colleagues and I used to discuss this (junior lawyer). Being run over without major injury was one of our favourites (as that could happen on the way to work and 'save' you from the day ahead.)

And then in quite quick succession one of our group (who we'd been envious of as the first to go on mat. leave) lost her baby in childbirth and then we had colleagues caught up in 7/7. After that sort of perspective we stopped wishing misfortune on ourselves.

trixymalixy · 31/05/2015 22:10

Not just teachers. I had this in my previous career. I used to fantasise about stepping in front of a car on my way to work.

I changed careers 15 years ago and have never had such thoughts again.

SocksRock · 31/05/2015 22:16

I had this last year - not a teacher though, construction professional. Ended up off sick for 9 weeks with acute stress - counsellor I saw said it was as bad as she had seen in 15 years - am now SAHM. Life is harder financially, but I'm not going into the office at 2am because a child has been sick and I have deadlines so I can be home by 10am for my husband to go to work. I'm not doing calculations on my phone at 3am when I wake in a blind panic. For a couple of months I couldn't even drive down the route that lead to my office as I would start shaking. I would have bloody loved a broken leg!

FabulousFudge · 31/05/2015 22:51

Yes I had a horrible Head and once felt like throwing myself down the stairs for a bit of respite. I left that job pretty soon afterwards and I'm much happier now thankfully. I'm sorry you feel this way.

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