I have been diagnosed with anxiety linked to my job as a teacher. My last day was in January, when I left work with my heart rate high, chest pains and strong tingling sensatiosns in my legs.

Sometimes now, I feel really good and wonder why I'm off, but thoughts of school, or even talking socially with a colleague from school can set off the symptoms to some degree.

If I return, can these symptoms cause long term harm, or am I better staying off, resigning, or waiting until I am eventually dismissed on the grounds of ill health?

The symptoms relate to poor leadership over 6/7 years, continual reviews of the school, which is in a very poor area with lots of associated problems, and ageneral negativity from the children and the reviews.

Nooooooo!! There IS life after teaching. Can you ditch full-time teaching and go on a relief roster, teach part time, tutor or do any easier teaching-related job. Life is too short to be stressed out by your job. Is it possible maybe to transfer to a different school. It will not get better if nothing changes and you go back into the same situation. I am married to a teacher (retired) and know whereof I speak. I have seen good people burned out. The ones who lasted are the proactive ones who changed their jobs, schools, whatever.. Good luck, let us know how you go, Cheers, Sera

If I tell you 3 staff went off with breakdowns in 2006, and the head, who the LA have been after him for over 2 years went off last week sick, it shows how peoples' lives have been affected.

Sounds fairly typical of the Govt school system here too! Don't go back!!

I am going for a chat with a councellor on Thursday. I am heavily involved in my golf club and find that very theraputic. I have to deal with upset members from time to time, and this does not bother me in the least, so why teaching, nearlt 23 years of tit, should be affecting me now, I don't know. Maybe I just care too much, and along with poor suppotrt in recent years, all has caught up with me.

I have my first counselling session today. Does anyone have experience of these and how successful they are in alieviating symptoms?