I had this idea that teaching high school English would be an amazing job. I had visions of being an inspiring teacher pouring my wisdom into eager learners. I knew I had it in me to be as inspiring as Mr Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) in Mr Holland’s Opus or Mr. Keating (Robin Williams) of Dead Poets Society or even the quirky yet caring Tripper (Bill Murray) of Meatballs. Like most cinematic fueled fantasies, I was way off the mark.
As a high school English teacher I was anything but amazing. I was in no way prepared for the stress, the self-doubt and the feeling of being a failure that plagued me daily. I had too many classes, too many kids and too many demands to succeed. I dreaded my tear-soaked drive into work every day. And this was back in the good ol’ days when teaching was relatively simple. So much more is expected of teachers these days.
Teachers have to jump through more hoops than ever just to keep their jobs.
Class sizes have expanded and budgets have shrunk. Teachers report stress at an all time high and job satisfaction at an all time low.They are asked to do more and more in the classroom with little support from administrators who change jobs every couple of years. Each year teachers have to complete Individual Professional Development Plans which outline what they will do on top of teaching to improve their professionalism. Teachers are expected to take classes, collect data on students, prep students for state testing, keep up with technology and teach 5 or 6 different classes a day. Not to mention that teachers sometimes have to act as social workers, parents and cops with their students. So, is it any wonder that more and more teachers report experiencing anxiety?
What is anxiety? Is it just worrying?
Anxiety is defined as excessive worry that lasts over a 6 month period. It is chronic and is present in most settings of a person’s life. The redundant 
thoughts can make life really difficult. Anxiety can sometimes be accompanied by panic attacks or the sudden feeling of distress; quickening heart rate, shallow breathing, sweating and feeling of doom. Panic attacks last only a few moments, but can be terrifying.
What to do about it
- Be compassionate to yourself. Teaching is tough. You are likely not the only one to be experiencing anxiety. It is the job and not something you are doing wrong. There aren’t many people who could handle such a demanding job. I know this because as a licensed professional clinical counselor many of my clients who struggle with anxiety are teachers.
- Make a self-care plan. Weekends are for recharging your batteries. But, I know that there are teachers who spend their weekends prepping for classes and grading endless papers. But self-care is so important. Teachers need to schedule time to exercise, shop for and prep healthy foods, take naps, meditate and hang out with family and friends.
- Find a good therapist There’s nothing quit like being with a good listener to help sort out your thoughts and come up with a game plan. A good therapist can teach you about the brain and how it responds to an overload of stress; as well as, how to bring joy back into your life.
Want to learn more about counseling? Call, text or email us today. We get it. Anxiety is awful. We can help!