Agoraphobia & Social Anxiety Support Group
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape. As a result, sufferers of agoraphobia may avoid public and/or unfamiliar places. In severe cases, the sufferer may become confined to their home, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place."
Hey everyone, this is my first time posting here, but I need to get something off my chest. I've been substitute teaching at a preschool since January and all of the teachers who I work with absolutely hate me. I've seen (and heard) them all talk about me when they think I don't notice and today was another one of those days. I can't help but cry about it. I'm incredibly kind, playful, and energetic with the kids and I often play with them far more than the other teachers do. The kids really seem to love me, but the teachers certainly don't. (For example today I saw another class I've spent some time with in the past, and a few of them greeted me enthusiastically, but then the teacher angrily told them to stop and eat their lunch quietly.) I'm always kind to the other teachers as well, so I really don't understand. Not to mention it makes my social anxiety even worse. It breaks my heart and I don't know what to do about it. Any insight would be amazing...
As you mentioned 'social anxiety,' it's probably a challenge for you to make social changes. And in your situation you are the 'Newbie', so you have to read the social climate and learn to navigate in it successfully
You may be overly sensitive or trying too hard and getting push back from the other teachers who are most interested in how you'll fit in with them. Maybe dial down a bit, look at how you can be of help to them, and show your desire to want to be their friend too...not just the kids. Love is unstoppable in melting hearts :-)