Stressed teacher wonders about exiting from profession

Dear Amy: I’m a 27-year-old teacher of remedial English at a high-needs urban high school. I’m in my second year, and this job has completely worn me out. It has been a constant barrage of disrespectful students, absent parents, zero funding, lack of curriculum and unsupportive administration every day for nearly two years.

I began having bouts of insomnia and anxiety regularly. I could tell my attitude and health were getting bad, and I applied to another school for a midyear change (a very drastic thing to do in teaching). I quickly got an offer at a much wealthier school that will supposedly solve all my problems. However, I’m still strung out with anxiety and depression, which had been manageable for years, and now what I really want is just a break. From life, from work, from having to try so hard to get anything done.

I am going to start taking some kind of antidepressants (through my doctor) and will be re-entering therapy, but I just don’t know if I can deal with the stress of teaching again, even if it is with a higher-performing group of kids.

I also feel guilty about possibly passing up this good opportunity and about changing jobs so often. Shouldn’t I have settled into a great profession by now? Won’t I just look flaky if I keep changing jobs, although I do feel like I’m growing with each position, learning what my strengths and weakness are, etc.?

I know there will be other opportunities for me. I am so scared of starting this new job, and I just want to stop.

— Needs a Break

Dear Needs: It sounds like part of what is going on right now is anxiety about starting at this new school. Starting a new job at a new place is extremely stressful for anyone. Are you able to handle this universal stress, which would pass in a week or so, without it triggering more health problems? You and your therapist should discuss it.

My own opinion is that you should accept that you are nervous and have your goal be to teach until the end of the school year, and then use the summer break to reassess your situation. Ultimately, teaching might not be the best profession for you, but teaching at this new school would help you to decide.

You should continue to search for a profession that provides the work/life balance you require to be healthy. You can write Amy Dickinson at askamy@tribune.com or by mail to: Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.