h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hiya nicky. First of all, welcome back - haven't seen you in quite a while.

Just wanted to offer a bit of advice but in a slightly more private place. I had a hell of a time when I was doing my PGCE and early NQT year with the depression and stress and I just thought I'd let you know what helped for me.

Are you in one of the teaching unions yet? If you aren't, join one and if you are, find your schools union rep and have a conversation with them: they'll be able to help with getting more support from school. It's all confidential so you don't need to worry about it becoming public.

Make sure you have a decent amount of time that has nothing to do with school - no marking, no planning, no nothing. I also set aside a room where nothing school-related was allowed inside so I could just purely relax in it.

I found talking to people helped a lot, but St John's Wort was immensely useful too - I'm a bit wary of going the doctor and asking for meds.

Look after yourself,
Iago

Thank you.

I know that the job will be causing some of the problem but its something which I have sufered with on and off for 7 years. I;m suspecting its not al down to the job.

I am with a union but we dont have a rep at school.

I am going to go down the counselling route to start off with. I probably need the help because of the self harm.

I will have a look for st johns wort though - does it interfere with other medication?

I dont do much work at home other than in the holidays so i get loads of time to be alone with nothing to do and to think not sure thats good!

I haven't been around for quite a while but its nice to be back.

How are you?

You must have a local union rep if there isn't one in school - in a way that might be better, because there'll be less of a problem with being "outed"

What I discovered was the teaching pushed my symptoms into overdrive. It didn't cause the depression, but it made it far worse and meant I couldn't really deal with it. In the end, I resigned and found another job but that's not an option open to everyone. I might return to teaching, I might not, but I had to get out at that point.

I don't know if St Johns Wort interferes with other meds - ask your doctor if/when you get prescribed anything. Or Ed the Bonobo might know - he's pretty knowledgeable on pharmaceuticals.

I'm doing alright - I was made redundant at Christmas and I had a difficult few months but I seem to be out of the woods right now. It's not easy, but I'm still standing. At the end of the day that's the only thing which matters.

I will have to check it out - I am asthmatic and therefore take medication on a daily basis.

I can understand how teaching may have pushed you over the edge - I think it is having a big effect on me but I do like my job and like being busy. Less time to think.

Thats really rubbish about your job.

Hi Hl,

thank you for this help last year. really appreciated!

how is everything with you? hows things on the job front?