Comments on: Teacher Burnout: A Sad Story http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/teacher-burnout-a-sad-story/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Patsyhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/teacher-burnout-a-sad-story/#comment-6942 Patsy Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:30:29 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1831#comment-6942 I have been struggling with my teaching job since I had cancer 5 years ago. I love my work but I hate the fact that I have lost my energy and feel so drained all the time. I am lucky to be alive yet don't know how to keep going. I can't afford to just give up because I am self-supporting. But I am afraid that if i carry on, I will eventually be dismissed because of capability issues. I couldn't bear the shame and disapointment. If I have any more time off I will be dismissed for absence. I don't want that . I look back to when I started out as an enthusiastic and idealistic young teacher. I could never have imagined that it would end up like this. I am trying to be positive but it is so hard. Look after yourselves and live for the day. You don't know what tomorrow will bring. Thank goodness for my children. I have been struggling with my teaching job since I had cancer 5 years ago. I love my work but I hate the fact that I have lost my energy and feel so drained all the time. I am lucky to be alive yet don’t know how to keep going. I can’t afford to just give up because I am self-supporting. But I am afraid that if i carry on, I will eventually be dismissed because of capability issues. I couldn’t bear the shame and disapointment. If I have any more time off I will be dismissed for absence. I don’t want that . I look back to when I started out as an enthusiastic and idealistic young teacher. I could never have imagined that it would end up like this. I am trying to be positive but it is so hard. Look after yourselves and live for the day. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Thank goodness for my children.

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]]> By: Lindahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/teacher-burnout-a-sad-story/#comment-5919 Linda Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:12:19 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1831#comment-5919 Thank you for responding. I have pretty much decided that I cannot go back to my place of employment. That's not to say that I want to get away from the profession. I think I just need to worry about myself for a change and take care of me. I can't help a child If I can't even help myself. Children pick up on things others might miss. The last thing I want is for one of the kids to pick up on my stress and tension. If I'm down, I will bring the kids down. And that's the last thing I want. Rest, relaxation, and a change of scenery I think will do me good. In the fall, I'll see if I can find something else. Until then I'll take it one day at a time. Sincerely, Linda Thank you for responding. I have pretty much decided that I cannot go back to my place of employment. That’s not to say that I want to get away from the profession. I think I just need to worry about myself for a change and take care of me. I can’t help a child If I can’t even help myself. Children pick up on things others might miss. The last thing I want is for one of the kids to pick up on my stress and tension. If I’m down, I will bring the kids down. And that’s the last thing I want. Rest, relaxation, and a change of scenery I think will do me good. In the fall, I’ll see if I can find something else. Until then I’ll take it one day at a time. Sincerely, Linda

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]]> By: KDAhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/teacher-burnout-a-sad-story/#comment-5917 KDA Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:58:58 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1831#comment-5917 Dear Linda, When I first left the classroom, I was diagnosed with chronic stress syndrome (AKA: burnout, mental exhaustion.) I resisted the need for time to regroup, but the doctor ran numerous blood tests to prove to me that my body was in a state of exhaustion; that it wasn't just a mental condition. He stated I could try to go back to work with my systems shutting down and see what happens or I could take the time, go on disability, and let my body recover. It might be a good time to see your doctor and explain what is happening. Mine had been building for years also. I think anti-anxiety medication only allowed me to continue working until it got to the critical stage. I wish that I knew back then what was happening, but who knows if I would have cut back at that time? I thought I was invincible and my students couldn't live without me. I was wrong. Peace to you, KDA Dear Linda,
When I first left the classroom, I was diagnosed with chronic stress syndrome (AKA: burnout, mental exhaustion.) I resisted the need for time to regroup, but the doctor ran numerous blood tests to prove to me that my body was in a state of exhaustion; that it wasn’t just a mental condition. He stated I could try to go back to work with my systems shutting down and see what happens or I could take the time, go on disability, and let my body recover. It might be a good time to see your doctor and explain what is happening. Mine had been building for years also. I think anti-anxiety medication only allowed me to continue working until it got to the critical stage. I wish that I knew back then what was happening, but who knows if I would have cut back at that time? I thought I was invincible and my students couldn’t live without me. I was wrong. Peace to you,
KDA

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]]> By: Lindahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/teacher-burnout-a-sad-story/#comment-5915 Linda Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:10:15 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1831#comment-5915 two and a half weeks ago I called off sick for one of the first times in my 8 years of teaching pre-k. It was a thursday. The next day I called off again and informed the director I couldn't come back. Just the thought of having to go into work had me running to the bathroom. I felt sick every time I thought about going. I'm on my last week off paid time off. The first week I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Now as my last week home relaxing gets closer to the end I;m feeling sick again. I can't afford to be without a job, but I can't go on like this. Is this an actual medical condition that a doctor could help me with? This didn't happen overnite, It had been building up for a long time and I just woke up one morning and decided I couldn't go back. Thanks for listening. Linda two and a half weeks ago I called off sick for one of the first times in my 8 years of teaching pre-k. It was a thursday. The next day I called off again and informed the director I couldn’t come back. Just the thought of having to go into work had me running to the bathroom. I felt sick every time I thought about going. I’m on my last week off paid time off. The first week I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Now as my last week home relaxing gets closer to the end I;m feeling sick again. I can’t afford to be without a job, but I can’t go on like this. Is this an actual medical condition that a doctor could help me with? This didn’t happen overnite, It had been building up for a long time and I just woke up one morning and decided I couldn’t go back. Thanks for listening. Linda

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]]> By: KDAhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/teacher-burnout-a-sad-story/#comment-5873 KDA Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:57:53 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1831#comment-5873 Dear Monika, Thank you for your wisdom and examples of how others have handled similar situations. I keep praying for that sudden feeling of peace that lets me know which path to follow. I never wanted to leave teaching. There were enough signs pointing to serious physical events on the horizon if I didn't take a break, though. I know that I have not overcome those personality traits that led me to the brink of disaster. My goal was to be at a place where I had healed physically, emotionally, and mentally enough to return with confidence that I was on the right path. Next year was my plan, but this is the year the position opened back up. I also fear making a terrible mistake by giving up this position running a program that I practically gave my life for to implement. I am completely invested in this intervention program. Through these interventions, struggling readers became excited, proficient readers. I'm sure you understand how rewarding it was to hear them say, "I like reading now." Still, I know my strongest trait as a teacher, patience, is seriously compromised right now. It is a vital personality trait when working with kids who struggle and have low self esteem. Your teachers are fortunate to have you. Before I decide, I know I need to go to the school and spend some time in the room where I will be teaching. I need to overcome the fear of returning to the building and seeing the old familiar faces knowing the questions lurking in their minds. Maybe it will be like "taming the monster" or maybe it will be enlightening in other ways. I've called a friend, we'll be partners again if I return, and asked her to accompany me on this soul searching journey. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughtful insight. Sincerely, KDA Dear Monika,
Thank you for your wisdom and examples of how others have handled similar situations. I keep praying for that sudden feeling of peace that lets me know which path to follow. I never wanted to leave teaching. There were enough signs pointing to serious physical events on the horizon if I didn’t take a break, though. I know that I have not overcome those personality traits that led me to the brink of disaster. My goal was to be at a place where I had healed physically, emotionally, and mentally enough to return with confidence that I was on the right path. Next year was my plan, but this is the year the position opened back up.

I also fear making a terrible mistake by giving up this position running a program that I practically gave my life for to implement. I am completely invested in this intervention program. Through these interventions, struggling readers became excited, proficient readers. I’m sure you understand how rewarding it was to hear them say, “I like reading now.”

Still, I know my strongest trait as a teacher, patience, is seriously compromised right now. It is a vital personality trait when working with kids who struggle and have low self esteem. Your teachers are fortunate to have you.

Before I decide, I know I need to go to the school and spend some time in the room where I will be teaching. I need to overcome the fear of returning to the building and seeing the old familiar faces knowing the questions lurking in their minds. Maybe it will be like “taming the monster” or maybe it will be enlightening in other ways. I’ve called a friend, we’ll be partners again if I return, and asked her to accompany me on this soul searching journey.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughtful insight.
Sincerely,
KDA

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]]> By: Monikahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/teacher-burnout-a-sad-story/#comment-5870 Monika Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:13:26 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=1831#comment-5870 Dear burnt-out teacher, I write to you from Germany. In my position as vice-principal I have been in close contact to colleagues who were in a situation similar to what you described. All of the people who ended up quitting had one thing in common: they doubted and considered leaving and re-considered but after a while they all suddenly had this special moment when they knew for sure: "I'm not going there anymore. Never." They woke up in the morning and knew. Or, they were sitting in the garden and suddenly they knew for sure. Considering that you have been absent for such a long while and are still without a definite decision looks to me as if you are not ready to quit, yet. If you decide to go back to teaching you should find yourself a teacher's support group headed by a trained supervisor. It works miracles to keep one's expectations real, one's emotions sorted and it is so good to be able to have a good old whine-fest every now and then without having one's professional competence questioned. Just one thing to remember: teaching may be a vocation, not a job, but teachers too should work to live not live to work. Hang in there! Dear burnt-out teacher,

I write to you from Germany. In my position as vice-principal I have been in close contact to colleagues who were in a situation similar to what you described.
All of the people who ended up quitting had one thing in common: they doubted and considered leaving and re-considered but after a while they all suddenly had this special moment when they knew for sure: “I’m not going there anymore. Never.” They woke up in the morning and knew. Or, they were sitting in the garden and suddenly they knew for sure.

Considering that you have been absent for such a long while and are still without a definite decision looks to me as if you are not ready to quit, yet.

If you decide to go back to teaching you should find yourself a teacher’s support group headed by a trained supervisor. It works miracles to keep one’s expectations real, one’s emotions sorted and it is so good to be able to have a good old whine-fest every now and then without having one’s professional competence questioned.

Just one thing to remember: teaching may be a vocation, not a job, but teachers too should work to live not live to work.

Hang in there!

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