Comments on: Teaching with Depression: Is There Any Way Out?

By: Sleep Well

Sleep Well — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:14:43 +0000

There’s a part of me that is thinking “wow! there are others like me out there!” However, the part that is mired in the tar pit of hell is thinking “WTF nothing changes! No one understands!” It’s absolutely the pits when your depression is dragging you down so far that you can’t even see daylight that is shining brightly upon you.

I too try to think positively. I have a beautiful bright teenage daughter. I thought teaching was a way to share my love of “helping” others. I also thought “hey who else in the world loves you even when you’re yelling at them?” Kids. That’s who. I thought it was enough to want to share with them my passion for learning, but the reality (or is it the depression) is speaking really loudly that being a teacher sucks. The long hours, the failure rates exceeds the success rate, and you spend half your time being their substitute mom.

My depression is so bad right now — and to think it became aggravated by principal who micro-manages. As my friend said today “hostile work environment”. OMG I’m rambling!!! Sure sign I’m having a depressive attack. I just wish that this type of illness is visible — I feel like such a faker!

By: outlet

outlet — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:36:49 +0000

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By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:42:13 +0000

Hi Zam,
Thanks for your input.
Are you a psychologist? With insight like that you really have put everything in perspective i guess i will just lighten up..Thankyou very much.
S

By: anna

anna — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:04:47 +0000

I feel exactly the same. Depression and anxiety circling my mind and affecting me physically. I think this is depression anyway. Lying awake at night worrying about going to work the next day is the worst feeling. Wondering how I can snap out of this. Feeling helpless and hopeless. Wanting to quit teaching and the many responsibilities that go along with it. Where do you go for help?

By: Nacho Cheese

Nacho Cheese — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:25:17 +0000

A good day in the classroom can do wonders to lift one’s spirits; a lousy day can be devastating. The key to survival is to not take things personally, but teaching is one of the most “personal” occupations there is, and after many years, I have not learned how to de-personalize what is at times a hostile work environment.

I get the feeling most on this thread teach lower grades. I teach HS. Two quick stories…

I offered a student, who had copied another’s work (just crossed her name out and wrote his) a second chance to do the work and submit with no penalty. His response? “F**k that!” A few days later, another student, irritated that I paused while waiting for the class to settle down (some simply cannot), bellowed, “What the F**K are YOU waiting for?!” Of course, the student denies it and tells the parent(s) the teacher has it out for him/her. Old news.

I had a supervisor a few years ago who said, “Students have a right to fail,” but most (safely out of the classroom for years) administrators I’ve known adopt the “it’s always the teacher’s fault if a student fails!” mantra. Can’t have 18 yr olds taking any responsibility, can we? Of course, there’s also the daily hallway barrage of obscenities, profanity, saggin’ pants, f*** this and n*gga that on top of it all. Unlike manufacturing corporations who can reject/return damaged raw materials, public educators not only have to take ‘em all, we’re expected to spin straw into gold.

What keeps many going is the handful who are polite, respectful, make an effort to learn, and exhibit “normal” behavior. Each of us has to determine our own tipping point as to how long to stay in this profession.

I leave you with this: to paint toenails, cut hair, fix pipes, or do many other things, one needs training, to pass a test, and to get licensed; to reproduce requires nothing more than two fertile people of opposite genders. I’m just sayin’.

Good luck and happy new year to all…

By: chris

chris — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:38:38 +0000

Perhaps some of you don’t understand depression. I have had 9 principals in 15 years in the classroom. Each one had different expectations. When I would become confident in my skills, they would change the rules. Content experts are no longer needed. A psychologist blended with a cheerleader and social worker and camp counselor would be the best mix. No wonder the US is falling behind the world. When your livelihood is threatened for not being warm and fuzzy enough, a depressed person takes it very personal and very serious. A depressed person does not wake up in the morning and decide to be melancholy that day. Should I chose to leave teaching because of my depression is up to me, not forced by an evaluator. It is not about stress. It is about being degraded as a person and a professional.

By: Zam

Zam — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:00:50 +0000

I don’t know, I think you’re making this ‘teaching and depression’ thing into a big drama, so little wonder you’re depressed. You take it all too seriously, and are too attached to being ‘super teacher’ putting all of this unrealistic expectation on yourself. Detach and wing it more. Sometimes in life you have to say to yourself ‘screw ‘em’ and just do your thing. Who cares what others think. If the teaching sucks and is getting you down, simply move on and do something else. Okay, you’ll think I’m being sexist here, but most of the posts here seem to be from the female side of the aisle and…erm….you sound really whingey and like a bunch of whiners. Lighten up.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:04:41 +0000

Angie, Boy you almost described my life to a T. I refused myself to have a boyfriend and kids because of my dedication to the classroom. Last year I switched disciplines, hoping that would help, but the principal keeps harassing me. I adopted a special needs dog, who really needs more of my energy. If I tell my administration about my depression, what “accommodations” would they be able to do within the ADA? They put me on probation, but how do I tell them that if they give me some breathing room and are very clear about expectations, things will get better. Hovering around and criticizing every move I make, things will get worse.

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Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:35:20 +0000

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By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:30:17 +0000

I am also a teacher and I get very depressed sometimes. Sometimes it feels like all the effort in the world not to cry. I find a good thing to do is, even if you don’t feel like one of those people who shrugs everything off- just pretend that you are. Eventually that feeling will start to feel natural, and soon you’ll be sailing through the day. Trying to get to the bottom of the problem only makes it worse. There is no bottom to depression, and if you try and look for it, you’ll just fall deeper and deeper into it. The only thing to do is pretend like you don’t care. Live like a goldfish. The people who know and understand you know that you care- that’s all that matters.