In my last blog, I talked about circling the wagons as a way to help to get through the tough times and surviving teacher abuse. First, keep the communication lines open with family and friends you trust; creating a support system for you.
Understand there will be different levels of communication lines with friends and family. When this all started with me I didn’t speak to my wife for two weeks. In fact, I hardly said a word to my wife and sons that summer. I was wrong, as I look back; it made things worse for me. Talking about what you feel with people you love and trust is like a relief value. It releases the pressure and allows you to take a refreshing deep breathe.
Find friends who can keep you grounded and will let you bend their ears. However, beware that this can be a double edge sword. Almost everyone told me to quit the teaching profession. There was a bit of truth in what they said, but I wasn’t ready to hear it or except the idea my teaching career was over. Talk to your friends and even family and how they can help you. When the say something, you aren’t ready to hear, let them know how you feel. I shut down and pulled away from my friends and family. It just made me more depress, angry, and felt I was alone. How I reacted was wrong; it kept me in a dark, lonely place for awhile.
My next blog is your next step, if needed, in surviving teacher abuse. I would like to hear your comments, ideas, and what you did to survive teacher abuse. If you know someone going through teacher abuse or different situation in a school district tell them to join endteacherabuse.org and read whitechalkcrime blog. Also, on the endteacherabuse web site are more suggestions for survival tips. Click on Advantages then on Survival Tips. Let’s get a conversation going and help each other through these difficult times.
