A
female
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anonymous
writes:Thank you in advance for reading and responding to my question....I greatly appreciate it.I am a special education teacher. In the summer I work hard on course work to upgrade my skills but this summer I find I am constantly fighting back tears...this is new and scarey. I am a full time teacher and an itinerent so I have a large caseload of very vulnerable students.Yes I have access to an employee assistance program which I will use and I have an enlightend doctor who will assist with meds. I have a friend in the know who suspects this may a combination of depression and compassion fatique.I work with approximently 70 students with significant developmental delay and it is hard at times...the aggression, the seizures, exhausted parents.I have been doing this for twenty five years. Despite having an ok support system and other interests and hobbies I am starting to be emotionally affected now where for years I was ok.My question is this: Is there anyone else in a helping or related profession who has experienced something like this and how did you deal with it. Reply to this Question
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reader, Denizen  +, writes (19 July 2016):
 I don't have personal experience of this but I know people who do. I have to tell you it is time to change what you do.
There is a fairly common trait among The Samaritans for example. After a while they say, 'I need to take a break for a while'. What they really mean is, 'I'm finished'. They might try coming back but really it is over.
I'm so sorry. You have my greatest respect. However I think the tank is dry and you now need to think about doing something else.
There is only so much self-sacrifice you can do.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (19 July 2016): Are you sure that it is work related? Maybe it's easier to think that it is about work than something personal?I have been a teacher for almost 20 years and what you describe sounds very much like depression triggered by compassion fatigue.Are you taking care of your own needs first?Sometimes if we do not put ourselves first (in a healthy way) we simply grow tired and certain negative thoughts and feelings can creep in and parasite in our minds.It's important to know what you need and be honest about it. Sometimes the mere act of letting what has been unconsciously bothering you (or what you have been trying to suppress) become visible can make a difference.You don't give much information, so this is a wild guess, but maybe you grew tired (at least for the moment) of your work. Maybe you need a change? It could be also that you are more focused on your professional than personal life and that you feel that something is missing. You are the only one who knows. And becoming aware of it is the key. Your body is telling you that something IS wrong. Listen to it. Listen to yourself. Ask yourself, dig deep. And most importantly take care of yourself.
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