I've been thinking about you. This is a crazy time of year for teachers & I know my stress level is sky high right now. (Some days I'm not sure I'm going to make it another 30 school days :eek:.) I really hope that you're doing okay & are able to get things "back together". I'm sure there are lives you've touched in a deep and profound way, even if those kids don't come back & tell you so.

C.

I am not doing well ... thanks for asking though. Struggling a great deal with my depression and drinking/pain meds problem. Seven days sober but not doing well -- still depressed and very unhappy -- a great deal of hatred towards myself and my inability to live life. Hiding it from those around me but don't know how long I will be able to keep that up. Thanks again for asking and I wish I wasn't so negative.

Hope you are doing well.

Hey Coach,

I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling real well, but I congratulate you on your "7 days"!! Perhaps alot of how you're feeling is a direct result of withdrawl. I'm sure it doesn't matter much right now....but it WILL get better!! Continue to hang in there!!

Wishing you happier days!!

mj

7 days off is good! mac is right it could be withdrawal. take care coach :) and please try and stick in there

Brett :angel:

Hi Coach :wave:
I am glad that you have 7 days sober...good for you! I sure hope things get better for you soon. When do you get a break from school? I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Best wishes,
Sam :angel:

Hi Coach - I've been thinking about u too - glad u're still there - and congrats on 7 days ! Hoping it gets better for u.

strength
jj

Found out today I lost one of my high school students to a stupid car accident last night. Been a VERY rough day -- it has really SUCKED!! So hard losing someone that young -- I have been depressed all day ... crying on and off...and I REALLY want to drink!!!!!!! So tired of feeling like this and today really made it worse.

Oh Coach! I'm so terribly sorry. It's one of the hardest things a teacher has to face. One of my students was killed in a gang-related incident a few years ago. I experienced many emotions from being broken-hearted when it first happened, to being angry as hell for a long time. It's a situation that's out of our control. Drinking isn't going to make it better--I know from personal experience. You still have to go through the stages of grief and it hurts. Talking to a close friend or family member is advisable and if no one is the type to listen, talk to a counselor. We all need other people and this is a time to hang on tight. It may not be easy, but you're going to be ok. Let us know how you're doing Coach. We'll be thinking about you.

I knew it would be hard to lose a student but I am really struggling right now. It has to do with the student dying but I know it is more than that. I feel like I am ready to throw in the towel -- just so tired and exhausted all the time. And I am trying not to drink means I cant get numb from it -- I know that is for the best but struggling to NOT do that. Sorry -- just need some place I can talk about this -- feel like it just isnt worth it anymore. BUT I know that it is -- just trying to hang on.

Coach,

Sorry to hear about your student. I lost my daughter in a car accident her senior year of high school, so I can sympathize with the pain of losing a young life. Letting grief take it's course is a hard thing to do, doing it sober is even harder. However, as hard as it is now, if you can stay away from that all to easy "pain killer", your grief will run a much shorter and direct course.

I agree with Soibhan, talking about it will certainly help. Go ahead a yak away here if necessary...... you'll have alot of support......

Take care Coach.....

mj

Coach, wow... Talk about the very last thing you need. You poor sweetie. I hope you are able to keep strong through this tough time and work through your feelings sans pills or alcohol. I know you can do this. The important thing is, is that you don't throw in that towel. Have you looked into reasons for your extreme fatigue, by chance? (Hugs.)

MJ, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter. That's a type of pain I don't think I could ever endure. I'm glad you were able to cope and you are the strong person you are today. You have learned so much from life and I'm glad you're around to share your wisdom. (Hugs.)

-EoR

Coach, I am so sorry for the loss of the student. Did you building/district have grief counselors available for you? Even in my podunk town of 1800, we would have that available to us. Congrats on the days of sobriety and, even though it's tempting to numb the pain, I hope you are continuing to stay sober.

Please, please, please vent away here. It sounds like you have a lot of pain & I'm hoping that sharing that pain with us helps get you through things.

C.

My students viewing is tonight and funeral is tomorrow -- cant write much right now because I have to teach class but having a VERY bad day already. Just needed to share that.

hi Coach

horrible horrible thing - for all of you invollved - will the schooloffer any kind of counselling for the students - maybe some of the staff ccould be part too - I agree with everyone else out there that talking it out certainly helpstrength again
jj

Getting ready to go to the viewing for my student -- and I am not ready for this. I don't know where my emotions are going to go...and I am scared I am going to drink. TERIFFIED I am going to drink!!!! Oh well, if I do I do. SO MUCH crap going on and I dont know how to handle it anymore -- behind in my grading, in my bills, emotions all over the board...just so much.

As sad as the situation is - What would be gained by drinking? It is such a temporary fix and one that will cause you to lose the one thing you can control...Your sobriety. This world is such an unstable place, we can always find excuses for addictions. However in the end what will you have gained if yoy drink? What will you lose if you drink? You will have some difficult moments but staying sober is the only way to have self-respect. I have lived a life with an alcoholic parent and that is the biggest loss in an alcoholics life.

I'm new here, but drinking or taking pills is not good. All you do is postpone all of those feelings. You are not living life when you are drunk or on pills. You are hiding. It can't stay like that forever. All of your problems that you are hiding from will just get worse, your life will just get worse. I know how hard it must be because I have a brother-in-law that drinks all the time. He has nothing to show for all of his years of being on this planet. No house, no family (was married twice and divorced twice), none of his children want anything to do with him anymore.

When you drink you are not living, you are hiding. When you become sober everything is still the way it was or worse.

Talk to somebody, attend AA meetings, get a sponsor, anything that helps you get through these tough times.

Coach,

How are you doing today? Am really hoping that you were able to deal as best as you could last night. I know how hard it is......my thoughts and heart are with you. Am hoping you were able to "hang tough" and stay away from "self medication". Please let me/us know how you're doing.............

mj

Coach,
I am so sorry for your loss. It is a very difficult time for you and I know you are hurting. It is never easy to lose someone so young. I hope you keep posting to let all of us know how you are doing.

You are in my thoughts and prayers,
Sam :angel:

Hi Coach :wave:
I just wanted you to know I am thinking about you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Best wishes and many hugs,
Sam :angel: