Hi Ayame,
I too am a teacher and the first few years are tough. I would suggest attending a meditation class or retreat to learn how to tame your mind which, at this point, is causing needless angst. Yes, there are always things to worry about, but it’s our choice how much to let this dominate our lives. Anxiety is the mind working overtime. I would also check out Youtube videos by Eckart Tolle and Pema Chodron. Very helpful to me. Hang in there. Hugs!

Thanks Jennifer and GMPete. You are in an awesome profession 🙂

Hi Ayame

I am sorry for your suffering. It is not pleasant to be stuck in the position that you are but hey, it is not all as bad so cheer up. It only gets better now 🙂

Look, you are still very young and things can often feel overwhelming in twenties. Being a new teacher can be quite confronting as well and I am aware that it can take a few years for the nerves to settle in this profession for some teachers. However, thats not the energy I sense from your words. I do not sense that work is truly the cause of your fear and anxiety. The issue is much older and something, which you have been running away from for sometime. I do not know what it is but only you know the truth and only you have the power to deal with it.

My experience tells me that we are 100 percent responsible for everything that happens in our life. This also means that we have complete power over our mind and body. Our reactions are in our hands.

Fear and anxiety usually become an issue when things feel overwhelming, our of control or when we feel that we are not good enough. When things are overwhelming, you can make things easier by prioritising and breaking things into manageable chunks. When things are out of your control, you can tell your chatterbox to shut up and believe in the higher self to work it all for you. Most often, things work out in our favour when we are able to shut up the racing mind / chatter box. For the last cause, when your self-worth is low or zero, being not good enough can take a toll on our well being. This particular cause requires a lot of self reflection, patience, time and self-nurture.

So how can you make things easier for your first day back tomo ? Here are my suggestions:

– teaching is a beautiful profession and a very nobel one too. However, it is not a job where you need to bring highly charged emotions into picture as there are no life threatening issues to deal with (unless you have kids with severe allergies, ;)). This means that you can make mistakes and you will often get a chance to rectify your mistakes as no ones life is at stake. How good is this ? Can you imagine working in a profession where your one decision could mean a life or death experience for someone ? Thank your stars now 🙂 as you get to work in an awesome profession where you are helping to set someones future without making life altering decisions.

– there are no mistakes in life as long as we learn something from them. Each potential mistake makes us into a better being. So again, wheres the need for fear ? Do we learn to walk as a toddler within our first attempt ? Do we complete year 1 in a day or does it take a full year to get through ? Do we learn to swim in the first lesson ? NO. Everything takes a certain time to master. Pls be kind to yourself. Some people are blessed to learn some things quickly, while others take more time to get better at things. But hey, we all have the capacity to learn anything if we work hard with determination and strong will power.

– working with kids or teenagers can be tricky but if you ask me, they are the best group to work with. They are at an impressionable age and with tender loving care and good guidance, you can make a positive difference in their lives. They do not judge as harshly as adults and often forgive more easily than adults too. Now how awesome is this ?

– tomo morning when you are getting ready to go to work, could you pls use the following affirmation in front of the mirror: I am safe and my higher self is looking after my every need at work today. All my students are happy to see me. All my classes are running on time and are full of learning and fun. I am an awesome teacher.

– as for the underlying issue, can I pls recommend the following book by Susan Jeffers – feel the fear and do it anyway. If the last 2 chapters resonate with you, you will find lots of useful tools in the first 10 chapters to bring about a more positive and lasting change in your life. Remember, when we run away from our issues, those issues chase us even after we have left a certain job or a situation. The moral of the story is to learn the lesson that this fear is trying to teach you and move on to better and bigger lessons 🙂

– Seeking medical attention is one option as well. Mindfulness is an excellent tool and needs daily practice.

Good luck and sending you loads of courage and positive energy. You will be fine for sure 🙂

Jasmine

Please read this article: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/overcoming-fears.aspx

GOD Bless !