Anxiety about 2nd placement school

[flingoo]

Hi all, I'm doing a SCITT and love my main school. I feel so comfortable and supported there and it just feels right.
I started at my second placement last week (six weeks and then return to my main school) and for the first time ever I am having Sunday anxiety. A huge bubble of anxiety in my abdomen that's making me feel sick and absolutely terrified!
School two is lovely too and the staff and very kind and welcoming and friendly. I wonder if it's just the change of year group and expectations and not knowing names etc but I didn't feel like this in Sept.

Any coping strategies for the next five weeks? I really want to do well and learn from this, but this anxiety is terrible and I know it's unfounded because they are all very friendly.., I just don't know where it's come from (probably the change?) and how to handle it and channel it productively. Any advice will be greatly appreciated

I keep telling myself it's only five more weeks but that feels like a mountain right now with this anxiety

I would say don’t think about 5 weeks think about one week or even one day at a time .

To get you through you might want to look at using CBT techniques (online or books) . Sorry to hear you are feeling like this. Writing down your feelings can help. The not sleeping is a bit of a vicious circle as it makes anxiety worse .

@Trebormints74 thank you tor your input. I'm going to run myself a bath and trying to focus on my breathing... I could be in an awful school and the then this anxiety would be understandable but they are really lovely . This is all me and my head I think

It's completely understandable that you would feel like this with a complete change of routine, location, colleagues, pupils... even though you know it is temporary. We often get quite reliant on our routine as teachers (I know I do!) and it can really throw us off when this changes.

You will probably find yourself so occupied with the work that you get less anxious as the days go past. But if not, speak to your mentor, or someone you trust at your main school!

And I recommend the 'Nothing much happens' podcast - helps me get to sleep when I think my brain will never switch off.

@natterer thank you. My main school are so supportive and my main mentor are in toxin frequently just checking in. I survived today and of course my anxiety was entirely unfounded. I suspect the year group and expectations may be the problem as I am used to working with slightly older children.
I have my eyes on the prize and will continue to try to keep my spirits and confidence up so that I can learn as much as possible

Have you tried any meditation at all? I find that helps me. Headspace is free to educators and it's pretty good for that

@Radagast thank you for your response. I actually had a really good week last week. Jumped in and took on lots of teaching and found it much more manageable and enjoyable. Hoping the Sunday blues won't hit again x