Teacher anxiety

[G1997]

Hello!

I am a graduate teacher who recently took over in a maternity position role. I have OCD, general anxiety and depression but I am fairly on top of it usually. Last year, I worked my butt off going to therapy, a healthy diet, exercising everyday and completing self care practises and it made the world of a difference. I went off medication and felt like I was really in control of things. I love my job a lot and have enjoyed the term thoroughly. However, when it came to report writing time I suddenly started to experience anxiety around it. I had no motivation to go to work, I have been panicking about it and obsessing over it wherever I go. Even when I am in bed reading my book or scrolling on my phone it’s all I can think about. I was having a panic attack almost every single night after work. Logically, when I speak to people I am able to think about things clearly and feel calmer but it’s not long before I spiral again. I ended up going to emergency as I couldn’t calm myself down and I had recently moved house where I had not set up a GP or psychologist in my new area. They gave me some medication to get through the weekend which helped but I was to the point where I couldn’t complete reports without having medication. I saw a doctor who put me back on medication but most psychologists are currently not available until September and it’s tricky that I work school hours.

I have reached out to my school who have been super supportive and I expected to feel relief after having a good conversation with them but it hasn’t gotten any better. I am still either consistently anxious or I’m sleeping all day and not getting out of my pyjamas. I am to the point where I want to leave my job or ask for a job share position. I feel like a failure though because I worked really hard at uni to achieve this and I feel like I’m throwing it away. I’ve been told that I have so much potential as a teacher and that I am doing a great job but at the moment my anxiety is crippling me. I don’t want to give up but I don’t know what the best decision is for my health. Does anyone have any advice or has been in a similar situation??

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

It's a little late for me atm to answer fully, however we recently had a teacher write in here with anxiety problems at a new school.

If you like, have a read and well chat soon.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/experienced-male-primary-school-teacher-new-job-riddled-with-anxiety/page/2#BXIHtsF_ZU-VKWx5kaGoPw

TonyWK

[Petal22]

Hi G1997,

Wellcome to our forums!

Sorry you have been feeling this way…..

Thats great that you have done so much to help your mental health!

I understand anxiety I had severe anxiety OCD and have now recovered from the condition…

Im sorry you are experiencing anxiety again…….

Thats great you saw a doctor and they have put you back on medication hopefully it will help you soon….

I did an 8 week therapy for my OCD, OCD is a vicious cycle….. do you feel like when you are obsessing that you are getting caught up in the OCD cycle?

In my therapy I was taught how to break free of the OCD cycle…….. it takes practice but you can learn how to break free of its grips…

Have you ever done meditation? We were given a specific meditation in our therapy for learning to watch our thoughts……

You sound like you are a wonderful teacher who loves their job, hopefully when your medication begins to work you will start to feel more calmer so hang in there!

Have you learned any strategies for your OCD?

Im happy to help you with some if you like?

When you talk about Spiralling I think you may be getting caught up in the OCD cycle…….. you can learn to disengage from this……. I no longer do compulsions…… one of my compulsions was seeking reassurance and googling symptoms I’ve now stopped doing this, by stopping my compulsions I have disengaged from my OCD cycle…..

Happy to help you… here to chat